berchman Loc: South Central PA

I will be in Berlin for a little more than a week and I would like to know how much difficulty, if any, I will encounter in candid street photography as compared, say, to New York City, where the difficulty is minimal.

Has anyone had any recent experiences in photographing strangers on the streets of Berlin?

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

Shouldn't be a problem but never take pictures of children withoput parental consent.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

The reason I ask is that I found the following comments on a Flickr forum dealing with street photography in Germany, not Berlin specifically:

"Here in germany, too. You have to just raise your camera, and immediately people will either stare or complain. So no street-photography for me here aswell."

"This strongly depends on your country's law. In Germany, you actually need a written permission to take someone's photo, and this alone does not grant you the right to publish it. Actually, it's potentially illegal as long as you don't have a model release."

"For example in Germany you have to have the permission of the Person which you take a photo of because of it' personal rights.

If a grounp of more than 20 people in that picture than it is seen as "public" and you do not need a permission from ervery body. Also if the person is not identificable e.g. if only the feets of the back is shown at the photo, than you do not neet a permission too.

So Street Photography is not easy."

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

It is a cultural problem that requires some agility. I usually ask first and 75% of the time get a smile and a willing model. Don't speak German? Just point and gesture - it works even better.

I like to sit at a table along side the street/sidewalk and sip coffee, or somplace that does not attract attention, usually in the shade with a dark background, and position myself to see folks coming and going. I've taken many great candit shots without attracting undue attention. I don't plan to publish, so getting written permission is mute (and in Germany, very problematical anyway).

Sirpixxalot Loc: NNJ

This questions been asked many times on UHH, in my personal opinion there is no need to get permission from anyone if you taking random/candid shots on the street. Yes, if someone is posing for you then you definitely need a permission, candid/random shots I don't think so. Think about all the movies, news reels, magazines, tabloids, news papers, wall hanging etc we see all day long that have random people in them I am sure photographer who took those shots never ask anyone for permission if that is the case then every news channel, magazine publisher, news paper company would have a department to get people permission and we won't be seeing events happened few hours ago next morning in the news paper. Now what is legal or illegal it only depends on what are you going to do with the photograph, are shooting a photo of a lady or a guy on the street and putting it up on the bill board at busiest place in Berlin, then sure you need permission, hobbiest like you and me and all other UHH members I don't think that we have to think about it as much as we do. If a person on the street seems to be annoyed when you taking a candid shot just say "I am sorry" and move on. I am sure it happen to all of us many times that someone try to take random shot of monument/street/fountain and we were in it, I don't know if anyone ever complained.

These are my 2 cents and I could be 100% wrong but this is what I think.

Fotomann Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada

I was born in Berlin (1947) and went to visit in 2008

It is a city full of tourists from around the world. Busy at all the usual attractions.

You should have no problems taking pictures.
If you go to the what used to be EAST Berlin section you may have some problems?

Places such as where the famous Berlin Wall used to be, there are people day and night(always busy).

The Brandenburger Tor, Checkpoint Charlie, Siegesseule, The Reichstag and the famous Kurfuersten Damm, are just a few attractions and you should get good shots without being in front of their faces.

I also wore my jacket that said -Canada- on it so they could see I was a tourist and some actually want to talk with me. But that's a different story.....:-)

Just have a good time.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Using whatever common sense I still have left after 74 years, I figured that it wouldn't be a problem at these tourist attractions, but I will be staying in Mitte and I like to take pictures on small, busy streets with lots of small shops. When I stayed in Berlin for a month in 1960, I wasn't into photography and it was a *very* different city than now, but perhaps, you, as a native Berliner could enlighten me as to the normal Berliner's attitude towards having his picture candidly snapped. (I realize that what passes for "native" now includes Turks, Africans, and who knows what all else.)

Frank 2012 Loc: Olathe, Kansas

September 2010 I was in Nuremberg, Munich, several other places in Bavaria also several places in Austria........took lots of pictures... nobody seemed to care what I was doing. Took pictures of people in costume, horse drawn wagons, boats, street scenes, etc.
However, I did not specifically single out individuals I did not know and take their picture. I personally think that is rude and an invasion of privacy. I think there is a cetain amount of etiquette and courtesy to observe when taking pictures. If people are part of a street scene or church scene, etc. etc. then I don't think it matters. However, I could be wrong in my thinking. But I never had any problems. All the people I encountered were very polite or just indifferent to what I was doing. Maybe it is different in Berlin or what used
to be East Germany. Also, I speak and understand a little of the German language. Many Germans speak English and American and if you have any doubts about picture taking you can always ask one of the locals working in hotels, business owners, or other appropriate people if specific picture taking is permitted. One added thought....if a total stanger offers to take your picture (with your expensive camera) in a Berlin scene........be careful.......might not see your camera again.
Same caution I would give for New York or Chicago.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

If I am desperate to have my picture taken, I will simply hold my camera with its 17-35 lens at arms length and press the shutter release. :)

Fotomann Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada

What can I say, you been there already and found out that one month is not long enough :-)

I was there from 1947 to 1965 experienced the Berlin Wall over night. We used to go for the excitement to see if anyone escaped and to cheer them on. In those days I had no camera ....years later after coming to Canada, I have returned multiple times (working for the Airlines).

Times have changed but most people are still friendly and like tourists. If you are in Berlin Mitte, well I was raised in Schoeneberg and lived also in Zehlendorf. Always used to go to the busy market in Steglitz.

Even if you are on the smaller streets as you said-if its busy then most people will not pay attention. As you can see the picture below, all I needed is a bit of a zoom and no one would know.

How close do you want to get-LOL-
I say you are pretty safe and don't need to carry any weapons.

My wife could not believe people are taken bottle of Beer on a Bus and drink it, even right in front of a Police Officer.
As long as you keep the peace and behave all is good.
:-)


Only ONE WEEK--ouch I hope its a bussiness trip ;-)

Busy street in Berlin


Everyone out shopping


On a Saturday-Sunday you will see people washing the cars at these waterpumps. Some are out of order but most are still in use.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Thanks for the pics. No, it's not a business trip. It's 9 days in Berlin and 5 days in Prague. My "big" trip comes in January--3 weeks in Burma.