well your userpage says you are 15 years old.... i wouldnt worry too much about people beating you up for taking a picture...


my only real advice is to just be confident and stand your ground, dont be afraid to be rude!! be safe but dont be afraid to use your freedoms

"Any tips on taking photos of strangers?"

yeah .. don't get caught

but for a real tip, hold you camera flat at your side with your finger on the shutter release .. and when you see something interesting, shoot. don't even think, just shoot .. i pulled off a lot of my best candids like that

oh but one thing .. if you cam has an AF assist light .. make sure you DISABLE it .. cos when you do this at night .. well, that light is pretty damn bright and people will notice you from a mile away and be VERY pissed .. i speak from experience

--
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.

I imagine it depends on where you do it though, my father occassionally takes photos of crowds, people in streets and what have you - usually when we're on holiday or there's something interesting happening. Anyhow, I've never seen anyone bother him about why he took a photo. Granted he didn't walk up to their face, point the camera and shoot - but he wasn't at all subtle about it either. He just stopped, aimed and shot the picture. I imagine then that confidence, and looking like you know what you're doing, plays a huge part in this.


Also, it might help to wear clothes that accent the possibility that you have a credible reason to be where you are, taking photographs. A young man in a band t-shirt and torn jeans will probably find himself being confronted more than the same man - wearing a smart jacket and un-torn jeans, carrying a camera bag and looking generally busy with what he is doing.


Just suggestions, I can't say I have much experience personally - but from what I've seen - nobody bothers someone who looks like they belong where they are, doing what they're doing. If you look worried, furtive and generally unsure of yourself then people may well wonder what you're up to.

Good luck

Don't invade their personal space

Don't get in their way

If it's skaters or bladers or something like that ask them first

If it's a street performer then go for it, if it's one of those guys that stands still until you put money in, then put money in first

Here are some i've done:

[link] - i asked him to pose for that

[link]
[link]

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My Photo Blog - T52.org
~hakfest-stock



"Judging soly on his DA page, hakfest is gay."

Hmmm, I wouldn't want to have my picture taken by a stranger out on the street.

Period.

I even try to get the owners permission if I take shots of an abandoned house!

Late one night I was up because of a pee and a sip of water and noticed a bunch of folks outside my house taking photos of it.
So I went out in my boxer shorts to check what their business was to take these photos (we had a lot of burglaries in the area and I'm being alerted) and they couldn't tell me so I grabbed the cam and deleted them...nobody said anything...I guess the aluminum baseball bat was too intimidating.

See, the point I am trying to make here is some people do not like it and don't care if you are 15 or 55 and give you hell for that.
I'd be really careful if I was you...but I guess that this only applies if you focus on ONE person instead of taking shots at crowds.

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_{"My heart has made me weary on a road less traveled on"}

It really depends on the situation. The one time though I would almost always say to ask is with kids. I've seen parents get violent towards people who try and take pictures of their kids who don't ask.

The thing is, most people actually DON'T like to have their picture taken by a stranger in the street. It's a fact. It's offensive to most people, to me too, that's just how it is. Be polite but determined - unless you're good at hiding your cam...

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©humªn ßeing

do it quickly no matter what. if someone does give you permission, they still don't want to stand there for five minutes so you can hopefully get a decent shot. they have a life and if they're walking on the street, they're probably going somewhere and don't have the tome to sit and wait.

if they look suspicious/dangerous (possible drug dealer, rebel, man in dark alley) asking my not get you there. it al depends on the situation, as some have already said. also, even before you ask, know what you want from the shot so you can line it up quickly.

Tips:
1) Smile alot
2) make eye contact. Let them see more than your lens
3) don't try to sneak images when people aren't looking (makes you look suspicious)
4) shoot alot even if you aren't shooting anything worthwile. If you stand around and only shoot once in a while you will be percieved as someone taking their picture, possibly making them shy or pensive. If you are shooting constantly, you become part of the surroundings and people won't pay as much attention to you and will be more receptive to you photographing them.
5) use a camera that is subtle in appearance with a small lens.
6) don't be affraid and show confidence. You'll never get good untill you try

More...
Documentary and Street Photography: [link]
Photo.net - Street Photography: [link]
Photographing People on Location: [link]
Street Shooting Tips: [link]

also, what you can do is what i call the "sit and wait" method .. that is, pick a scene and focus on it .. then you wait for people interesting enough to add to your picture, and when there are, react .. remember to do all this while stationary with your finger pushed halfway on the shutter release, though.

--
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.