Sharing stories of images - love this way.
I’ve never been to the USA, but I "know it well” from the movies 😄 Visiting this legendary country would be epic to me but it's too expensive, so it will never happen. But the whole Old World is at my disposal 🙂
There are a lot of interesting things to think about when it comes to street photography, because your usually not really asking to take photos
Imo, every photographer should answer for themselves why photographing people without asking permission is moral. If you yourself understand that you don't do wrong, nothing else (what people will think, say, react) matters. In that case, people's negative reactions and opinions are just obstacles. When you give in to them, you allow these people to steal your life.
The US can be expensive but there are ways to do it affordably, especially if you have a few friends there. There are so many things to see around the world though in countries that don't cost an arm and a leg.
I like your thought about understanding for yourself, that's pretty much how I feel about it, but it still can be a sensitive issue sometimes. I mostly just don't want to upset anyone so I try to be discreet and kind.
Me neither, mostly 😄 Let's say I don't mind to upset tuk-tuk drivers since these bastards bombard every foreigner with their "tuk-tuk, sir?" every ten meters at popular destinations in Southeast Asia... 😁
I'll add another thing here I realized recently. Sometimes, the reason we don't take an image isn't our shyness or kindness but a feeling of "so good scene but I can't photograph it without ruining the vibes". These common cases aren't lost opportunities but rather opportunities that didn't happen. In such cases, imo better to think if it's possible to ask permission. Not quite street photography but portraits from the streets; why not. Also talking to strangers about their consent helps me to feel freer afterwards when I am photographing people without asking.
Yeah good call dude, I totally agree. I've been to SEA a few times so I totally understand the tuk tuk irritations.
I agree with you about "lost" opportunities too, it's an interesting dynamic in street photography, that's one of the things I really like about it.