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Here are my two sons at City Park taking advantage of a beautiful Spring afternoon. The shot was taken with my 80-200mm f/2.8 (love this glass). But here's the question. While I was shooting my sons, there were several very cute kids playing nearby. While I was focused on my own kids, I snapped off a couple rounds at some other kids too. One mother was fine with me shooting her little boy (2 yrs. old). The other mother seemed very suspicious and made me feel uncomfortable. She never said anything directly, but as she left with her daughter and older son, they whispered to one another. I couldn't help feeling like they thought I was some vouyer. Maybe I'll have some business cards printed up and hand them out as I snap off shots of kids, etc.; unaware (always the best shots). BTW, I failed to mention above that I had my company name and logo on my jacket. You would have to be blind not to notice. And I had this big honkin' lens on my camera; I couldn't have looked more professional if I tried.

I am getting into this street photography thing and I want to do more. I may have already answered my own question with the business cards idea; but what are your thoughts and comments on street photography?

Thanks,

dk

Having some model release forms in your bag may not hurt either and as someone else suggested, if you have the first few filled out already, even if its bogus names, it may help instill more confidence in you, but I think business cards would help. Realistically you'll have to be prepared for some people to dislike, oppose, or kick up a fuss regardless of what your doing. As long as your confident your not breaking any laws, take the shots and act confident.

I know it isn't in CC, but nice shot of your sons, a think a hard crop around the son in focus would make a real nice shot.

Wear a dirty overcoat and don't shower or shave for a week. That should dispell any misconceptions about your motivations. A bottle of plonk in a brown paper bag hanging out of your left pocket might help as well.

Carry a small portfolio of your work and you will WOW them over.

Its a sad reflection on our society, but I have long stopped taking photographs of children, especially at playgrounds and parks. And I have even password protected my Children at Play gallery on my Pbase site.

Cheers

Sheila

I'm sorry to hear that Sheila, as firstly you have a lovely knack with candids, but secondly I think you are the least intimidating person behind a camera I can imagine (I hope you take that as a compliment).

A colleague at work uses a leica d-lux 2 with quite stunning candid results, camera is 8megapixel and is so small and discrete it fits in his pocket.

I agree that you must take care with choosing subjects but so far in London it is still OK to shoot children at play in public places.

At least with digital camera any concerned parents can view your images to see the context in which you have taken them.

Sheila Smart wrote:Its a sad reflection on our society, but I have long stopped taking photographs of children, especially at playgrounds and parks. And I have even password protected my Children at Play gallery on my Pbase site.

Cheers

Sheila

Actually it is this kind of attitude exactly which causes a problem.

The mere fact that you do this means that you're pandering to the misguided majority and are furthering the belief that you expect everyone is a paedophile.

Do your bit to educate the idiots or you're just part of the problem.

These are the basic rights that we have as photographers.
If you want to see them closed over by the fact that current affairs programs "educate" the masses to believe that you don't have them, you'll lose them.

Don't wait for other people to fight the good fight for you.