Question about candid photography!?

Question

i love taking candid photos, they usually turn out the best, because the people in the photo aren't trying too hard to look right.

sometimes, in public, i want to take candid photos, but it seems awkward.....taking pictures of a stranger. and if you ask them for their permission, it takes the whole "unexcpected" concept away.

so how do you do it? do you ask them, or do you just take the picture, and let them know about it, or what?!

Answer 1

The problem, as you pointed out, I think, is not what camera / lens to use, but how to do it without getting clobbered by the subject(s) after they discover that you were snapping photos of them.

I think using a long lens would help. In this case, Canon 135 mm f 2, like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/little_pook...

Answer 2

A lot of your question depends on what you do with the photos.  If you're just shooting them for your use, I don't see a lot of problem just shooting without letting them know.  If you decide to show them in any way, it changes somewhat.  I have cards made up with my name, cell phone # and e-mail address.  You can get business cards very cheap using Vista.com, or print your own.  If I shoot an image I might want to display on-line, after I shoot the image, I will approach them and give them a card and ask if it's alright to use it that way.  I also offer to e-mail them the image if the contact me.  This way they have to initiate the contact.  If I intend to use the image commercially, I will use a model release.  If they do NOT want me to use the image, I will delete it then and there.  Don't try to keep it and just "get away" with using it anyway.