I always feel really awkward about taking candids. The other day I was out enjoying some afternoon beer and really wanted a photo of this guy. For almost an hour I contemplated an approach. Finally I convinced my girlfriend to pretend that I was taking a photo so that he wouldn't think that he was the subject of my attention. That's her shoulder at the bottom right. I'm far too nervous about asking someone if I can take a photo, plus they're likely to pose and smile or something. Besides, stories like these increase a photo's entertainment value.

Unless they're being photographed while they're in comprimising situation, I wouldn't ask but if for example two people are kissing, then I would ask after. Just tell them love is a good thing and unless they mind having their picture shown, I would go ahead. Good luck.

I agree with Mike. In situations where there is a central person or people in my picture, but it is of something else, I don't bother talking to them about it (like Car bomb ). I realized over time that I also decide NOT to post pictures of people that make them look bad.

The only problem with this, of course, is without a model release I don't think anyone will ever buy the rights to the picture (not a concern of mine).

But ultimately, for exceptional people pictures, I do think you need to interact with the person -- get their 'story'. Not only that, but to take a good portrait you need to be close (in most cases). I don't have any examples on my blog, but pictures like "Downtown Street Life" are just wonderful, and reading a bit of his story really helps.

But what if you want to capture a moment that doesn't help their ego, but looks great on a photo? Also, asking them creates an opportunity for them to demand that you delete. I'm curious how people would respond in that situation? If I liked the picture I likely wouldn't delete it. Some people get really uptight about being photographed.

I nearly never go up and disturb the person with permission, 'cause in the end, what am I asking permission for? I'm not publishing this in tomorrow's Star after all. If you are doing an intimate portrait, that's different, but if it happens to be a scene, then photojournalism it is. I'd have cleared the amazon of trees with all the paper i'd need for release forms by now.

It really depends on what kind of picture you want. For portraits you almost always need to be interacting with the person, that doesn't mean that they will mug and pose for the camera, you just need to make people feel comfortable with you and, for me, nothing beats the fact that someone is looking right at your lens, interacting with you on that level.

There are of course plenty of people pictures that don't need someone's interaction or attention and for those I'd say you need to judge each image. Sometimes I take a shot with someone obviously in the frame but when I've taken the image and they've noticed I just lower the camera and stare at something past them, invariably they think I was taking a photograph of something else. You just have to have a good poker face!

I think a lot of it comes down to instinct, what you think you can 'get away' with and what makes a good image. I love street portraits, composed tight and focused on someone's face, so I need to interact with people for that. I take a lot of other street photography without a subject's knowledge but somehow I never find that satisfying, it's the interaction with a subject that adds a whole new level for me.

I rarely take pictures of people.. and when I have I haven't asked permission before or after. I do feel weird taking their photos, so I usually do so on the sly, .. especially when it is of children (don't want to be 'the creepy guy taking photos of kids').

In my opinion people should be more aware (when they're taking someone's photo without permission) of what they are doing and what the implications are. I'm not saying it is always wrong -- sometimes the end can justify the means -- but when you take someone's photo on the sly and post it to the internet that can be a very selfish act in which you are taking something away from a person (mostly their right to consent & sometimes their vulnerability) and the question you should ask yourself is why are you doing it? What is the purpose? A lot of the photos I see of this nature online look as sly as they are, don't tell much of a story, are presumptuous, and lack humanity. The lack of humanity is the part that irks me most.

I find the act of taking someone else's emotions and making them public without being willing to put yourself out or put your own emotions out there like that to be a cowardly act.

I think you need to get a sense of how the person will react by observing them for a while before you start snapping candids. Body language can tell you a lot about whether a person just wants some privacy. To avoid any problems, I usually ask for permission before photographing, but make the person aware that you don't want them "posing". Pretend I'm not even here, is what I tell them. Most people I have encountered agree to have their picture taken and have never asked for a delete. In fact, it can sometimes lead to a business opportunity. I took a shot of a woman with her baby on the subway and she took my business card for a more formal portrait. A good way to avoid hassle is to "cover" specific events. The Good Friday procession in Little Italy, for example, is a great place to take candids of lots of interesting people. Participants - and even observers - in these events are usually expecting to have their picture taken. Generally with children, however, I think it's important to seek out the parent and/or guardian and get permission up front.

Sometimes there's a fine line between street photography and voyeurism.

I agree with Gayle, you have to ask yourself "What is the purpose?" For me, the picture should tell a story, show people interacting with their environment, and present some kind of context. (Covering specific events certainly counts.)

If a photo isolates a person from the environment, then it's a portrait. As such, it's probably best to get permission from the subject before posting it.

If someone notices me taking their picture, I take the camera from my eye and smile at them. Usually, they smile back and go about their business. If you take a picture on the sly because you find someone attractive (or alternately, disgusting or pitiable), then IMHO it's just plain voyeurism.

last summer I was leaving high park and a chipmunk was next to a couple balloons on the ground. rare shot, so i snapped a few.

then a lady pushing a baby carriage came around behind the tree, started freaking out and crying that i shouldn't be taking photos of people without their permission (she wasn't in my shot, but was well behind it) especially of children (she had a baby in a carriage).

obviously i can understand her concern. i tried to explain to her i was shooting the chipmunk (gone already - no alibi there) and the balloons. she was visibly upset (which got me shaky too) and didn't want to listen to me. i kept explaining and actually helped her carry the carriage up the park steps and she soon realized i wasn't a scumbag and had nothing to do with photographing her or her kid. i made smalltalk and she soon calmed down.

but every time i think about taking photos of people, i remember that day and think i'm going to upset someone again. because of that it's tough to take photos of people, especially kids