Third wheeling two-way conversations

Street photography can be a real hassle if you’re just starting out and are afraid of the possibility of confrontation, but it needn’t be as rough as one might initially think…

Street photography – or at least the generalized kind where you walk around among people and hope for something to turn up – tends to stretch comfort levels. I mean that in two ways. First, there’s the fact that the people you’re hoping to photograph often simply don’t like having cameras aimed in their direction – and who can blame them? Second, and very much because of the first, there’s the potential embarrassment at getting caught out when shooting. The rewards are considerable – catching slices of natural human life that will never be exactly repeated is very satisfying, and well-caught candid scenes get a consistently high approval rating from viewers. But I know from my workshops that many people who would enjoy this kind of photography are put off the thought of any kind of confrontation. Landscapes and objects are safer; they don’t talk back and don’t/can’t object to having their photo taken.