hammond

If you're walking around with a DSLR or mirrorless and pointing it a random people in public, you're going to attract attention. In a crowded, touristy area, you're not going to raise much suspicion. But walk around a cozy neighborhood snapping pics, and you're probably going to make some people uncomfortable.

I was in Portland visiting family, and in the middle of a weekday thought it would be interesting to walk around his neighborhood taking pictures or some of the old houses, coffeeshops, etc. Started inside a cool old coffee house, and was immediately aware that my activities were making some of the other patrons uncomfortable, so I shuttered my lens, drank my coffee, and headed out to the street.

As I embarked on the sidewalk, I took a few test shots to calibrate my exposure settings, and as I was looking down at my camera, I was approached by a man who aggressively threw his paper coffee cup at my head: missing by inches, but certainly catching my attention.

"What the f-ck are you taking pictures of boy!"

I was shocked, and as I looked up and gathered a comprehension of what was happening, I realized that a homeless/crazy man was coming at me. I hadn't even taken a picture of him, but he clearly didn't like that I was taking pictures. He came at me and tried to grab my camera.

Fortunately, I am no slouch, and was able to dodge him, but he kept coming at me. I told him I didn't take any pictures of him, but he was screaming that he wanted to see my camera. Fat chance.
What ensued was a 15 minute chase through the streets of the Portland suburbs with him eventually giving up on the pursuit. But my heart was racing and my lungs burning: a less athletic victim would have faced a potentially violent confrontation.

While I'm sure this kind of reaction is probably reserved for the mentally unstable, it's likely that more reserved individuals would still harbor a bit of resentment towards an outsider entering their neighborhood for the novelty of capturing people in their home environments.

So my advice to your question would be this: street photography is probably most suited for areas that could be described as downtown, crowded, touristy, or some kind of event.

dave_roe Loc: Rome Italy

Living in Rome makes street shots on the easy side with the large number of tourists that visit the city. They do not react to being photographed if I am noticed.

I do try to avoid taking pictures of children unless I get an OK from the parents. It avoids being chased down and yelled at.

As for the locals and local events most do not mind being in a photo. I have learned from the past if in doubt it does not hurt to ask. Just be friendly. I have even offered a print if they like the photo, nice way to meet the neighbors. Most are happy to be in your shot.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

I am fortunate enough to live just a few minutes from downtown Nashville with all the different folks visiting the area it's a gold mine of potential.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Street fairs, St. Patrick's Day Parade, and folks on street dressed up, Memorial Day Parade, Indianapolis during the 500 in the streets the day and night before including campgrounds a block away from the race. As a matter of fact, any NASCAR race.
Any time folks are enjoying them selves a little too much makes great shots.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I think to be a street photographer if you just go about your business people will ignore you for the most part. The only thing close to that I've done is people at my park, national, state or local, venues or at the lake. I don't do city photos because that's not my usual bailiwick so I don't feel comfortable.

Naptown Gaijin

In The City, you will find great opportunities at Rockefeller Plaza near the skating rink, and in front of the library near the steps.
Since you stated you are in Brooklyn, it isn't too far. Chinatown is also nice. In Williamsburg, the Hasidics are sometimes very shy, so ask first. UN plaza can be a good place to find folks wearing native garb a few times a year during celebrations. Grand Central (and Penn Station) station main lobby will have a lot of people in a hurry, too busy rushing to work to stop and ask questions, but it can be a lighting challenge. Closer to home, Flatbus Ave in vicinity of open air markets. Festival days in Little Italy has lots of interesting shots.

Though I am now retired, I spent decades in the professions of law enforcement and intelligence. The general public has no clue how many undercover operators there are out on the streets trying to keep you safe. We don't want you to know!!

We might dress up as a badass biker, a hooker, a businesman, a laborer, an executive, or anything else, in order to do our job of infiltrating, surveilling, or collecting intelligence. We might be at any of the aforemtioned places, or in a restaurant... you just never know.

We go home after doing what can sometimes be dangerous work in what may seem to be a "safe spot" We shun publicity, maintain private lives, and avoid photographers, some of the paranoid amongst us even avoid family photos!!

To this day I get a queasy feeling when I see a flash go off in a restaurant.

Hope this helps you and others to understand why some people react in an unusual manner.

By using that tilt screen and holding camera at chest or waist level, you will be less obvious.... approaching the realm of clandestine photography. Smaller cameras are less noticeable, no camera bags are less noticeable: you get the idea.

Good luck!

khorinek

I think you created the very thing you were asking readers not to do, (be hostile). I'm guessing that is what you set out to do in the first place. Give the readers a chance. This topic has been discussed many time i the past with excellent advice from the readers. This forum can be very helpful to all if you give it a chance. If you are looking for a fight, look elsewhere, that's not what this forum is about. With that being said, I do a lot of street photography. Go downtown during concerts, festivals, parades, etc. those events can be very productive for street photography. My preference is to make sure the people know you are there and taking photos, that will keep you out of hot water from people that do not want there photo taken. Be safe not sorry.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nikon1201

If I find a very active area , like a swap meet or any busy place . I find a comfortable spot and let the people come to me . I only like discreet shots where the person is unaware their being photographed . I’ve been doing this for years and have never had an upset person . If I see a child with parents I ask permission and then offer to send a copy to them. It takes a little time not to be afraid or scared but it will come. Go to utube and watch some videos ,this might not be for you.

Red in Colorado

I had the same thing happen to me in a coffee shop. I was doing architectural shots from outside the building. I was confronted by a homeless woman who insisted I was taking photos of her and wanted to see my camera. I told her that I wasn't taking her photo, only the building and that I wanted her to stay out of them.
It isn't fun. The ironic thing is that she effed up the shot I had been setting up for half an hour as she parked her cart full of her worldly goods right smack in the middle of the photo four minutes before sundown. This was a reshoot from when she did it the day before.
The mentally ill are a hazard, and it is really unfair to stir them up if one has the choice.

ELNikkor

When a small town has an "old car fest" on the streets, (not a parking lot).

tommyII Loc: Northern Illinois

I couldn't agree more.

CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida

I've found over the years that bringing the camera up to your eye may be a trigger for trouble. I've practiced taking photos with the camera sideways and sitting on a table or just hanging by the strap. Holding the camera at arms length to the side or overhead can work well if you practice getting the camera pointed where you want.
Locking the mirror up and setting the camera on a stationary object and tripping the shutter with the remote works sometimes. (If it's safe to leave camera for a minute?)

MarcH Loc: Doylestown Pa

I love outdoor markets ,squares in big cities and out door cafes
Just great walking around big cities
Paris,London,NYC ,Philadelphia, San Fran, etc.