Dare to photograph strangers

It takes a certain amount of nerve to approach strangers on the street and photograph them. In fact, many highly talented photographers don't dare cross this barrier and are therefore completely unable to take the plunge. They excel in other areas, and that's perfectly fine, but they don't know what they're missing. Many cite respect for individuals or image rights as excuses. Yet street photography is an art form. It doesn't have to be voyeuristic. In fact, in addition to documenting scenes of life for posterity or prompting us to reflect and observe, street photography can often be flattering to its subjects, whether they are willing participants or not.

The most important quality of a good street photographer is passion. Of course, you need to understand the basic techniques and know your camera and its limitations. You'll obviously need to practice and make many mistakes. But if you're passionate, you'll overcome these obstacles and your shyness to step forward, take out your camera, and press the shutter to capture that scene you noticed and that moved you.

The second quality of a good street photographer is determination. If you truly want a photo, you'll get it through perseverance. Of course, you must have your camera with you. Going out without your equipment risks missing a fantastic scene and guarantees you'll return home frustrated. With practice, you develop a discerning eye, and your gaze begins to capture its own images. Gradually, capturing them with your camera becomes a natural reflex. Composition skills develop progressively. You eventually understand that you shouldn't include everything the street presents in most photos, and that you need to isolate your subject from its surroundings to better tell its story.

The third quality of a good street photographer is discretion. If you're spotted, you'll influence the scene you wanted to capture. It will no longer be completely natural since you'll now be a participant. It's therefore best to use a relatively discreet camera and avoid flashy lenses if possible. Technological advancements have made this easier in recent years. At worst, if you feel uncomfortable or are spotted, you can always ask permission afterward; you'll even have a photo on your camera to explain yourself and demonstrate your artistic skill.

Personally, I don't like asking for permission, and in fact, I almost never do, unless I've been spotted, eye contact has been made, and I'm determined to take a close-up portrait of someone. In these very rare cases, I show the result to the impromptu model afterward and offer to send them the photo by email if they wish, which usually settles the matter to everyone's satisfaction.

I'm not a lawyer, and I'm well aware that the issue of image rights arises. I also understand that the problem isn't whether you can take a photo in a public place, but rather what you do with it afterward. However, I believe I understand that it's sufficient to simply not publish or sell the photo when the subject is recognizable, isn't participating in a public event, and hasn't obtained their permission. If you're uncomfortable with these situations, you can always photograph against the light, avoid portraits, photograph from behind, use blur, or position yourself far enough away that the person isn't recognizable.

For my part, I've never stopped myself from filming a street scene for fear of reprisals, and I've never had any problems so far. I tell myself that, after all... I'm not doing anything wrong, and what I do, I try to do well!

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#street #photography #strangers