truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Do it?

Just watched some YouTube videos of a professional street photographer shooting close-ups of people with an off camera flash. Very, VERY, intrusive. He got right up into some people's faces for his shots. I take pics of people close, but not in their face with a 35 prime most times, if they say something I always talk to them, never had to delete a shot, but I would if asked. I know that if street demanded that I got up close, in their face personal (with or without a flash) I would give up street photography and just call it people shots and post in the Gallery

What say you, friends from the Street section?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

There's parts of Los Angeles where you just cannot risk doing that.

SATS Loc: Belgium

It is not just LA my friend, there are lots of cities that have their suspect parts.

Hey T, the photographer you just watched is called Bruce Gilden and Voss and me just talked about him recently. It was on the 'Looking for Ideas?' thread further down the Street page. You actually took part in that discussion but if you had never come across Bruce Gilden at that time the comment would have gone over your head. This, I am afraid is the down side of the ' No right to privacy' law and what gives some photographers a bad name. Quite frankly I am surprised that he has any ankles left to walk around on. Both of us more or less agreed that what he takes are candid portraits of people outdoors and for me most of them have very little merit and even less to do with street photography.

truckster Loc: Tampa Bay Area

Yes, that was it exactly. If someone did that to me, I would be none too happy. Take my picture all you want ... but don't be a dick about it nd get all in my face ... especially with a flash.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

No, I would not. Or, at least, not without talking to the subjects first. Of course, that takes away the spontaneity. Still, shoving a camera and flash in someone's face seems a bit intrusive.
erich

Hershel Loc: New York City

I am familiar with and have seen in action the photographer of whom you speak. While I am a firm believer in "There is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a public place", I feel strongly that his in your face style of photography is intrusive and a bit over the top and his use of "in your face flash" is downright rude, invasive and insulting at the very least and possibly harmful to someone with a sensitivity to bright light. I am by no means a professional but I have taken many good candid street photos with a 75-300 (150-600 equivalent) lens. Taking photos with a long lens serves my purpose well as my time shooting is severely limited and I don't have the luxury to schmooze with my subjects (maybe when I retire).

Just my two cents as per your request.

HERSHEL

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I would never be that intrusive, and I don't think anyone else should be, either. If the photographer in question does that to the wrong person, he might be having his camera for lunch--and I'd probably applaud if I were to see it.