Question: Has there been any discussions regarding photographing children?

[Alex Benjamin]

I think it is clear to everybody WHY i am taking the photo

How could people possibly know why you are taking the photo, especially considering most people don't have a clue as to what "street photography" is?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I just posted a 4K video slide and video clip show on YouTube of my grandson's 1st birthday party. Of course, I listed it as unlisted so you need to get the link from me to see it. YouTube has this handy feature. You can also list it so you also need a password. A great feature for those interested in posting stuff on the web but wanting to limit access.

 

[CMoore]

For the same reason anybody takes a photo in similar situ.

It is not like they get pissed, or shepherd their kids away. They see me. They know i am not just taking photos of random kids
You r asking the wrong question anyway...........why does nobody ever feel a need to confront me when i shoot their kids.?

Answer........because it is OBVIOUS i am just a photographer, with 2 cameras hanging from my neck, shooting in public spaces with all kinds of normal activity taking place in a crowded city. It is normal.
Whether or not they know the definition of, or have ever heard of "Street Photography" is completely meaningless.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

For the same reason anybody takes a photo in similar situ.

It is not like they get pissed, or shepherd their kids away. They see me. They know i am not just taking photos of random kids
You r asking the wrong question anyway...........why does nobody ever feel a need to confront me when i shoot their kids.?

Answer........because it is OBVIOUS i am just a photographer, with 2 cameras hanging from my neck, shooting in public spaces with all kinds of normal activity taking place in a crowded city. It is normal.
Whether or not they know the definition of, or have ever heard of "Street Photography" is completely meaningless.

Maybe you have a nice non-threatening face.

 

[Don_ih]

because it is OBVIOUS i am just a photographer

You may be obviously just a photographer, but people will still wonder why you want a photo of them or their kids. Go ahead and ask the next people you photography. They'll probably be surprised you were taking a picture of them and not of the surroundings.

 

[guangong]

For the same reason anybody takes a photo in similar situ.

It is not like they get pissed, or shepherd their kids away. They see me. They know i am not just taking photos of random kids
You r asking the wrong question anyway...........why does nobody ever feel a need to confront me when i shoot their kids.?

Answer........because it is OBVIOUS i am just a photographer, with 2 cameras hanging from my neck, shooting in public spaces with all kinds of normal activity taking place in a crowded city. It is normal.
Whether or not they know the definition of, or have ever heard of "Street Photography" is completely meaningless.

Alan answered the question, but it should be phrased differently: Because you don’t look creepy! I noted that no one has ever complained about my taking pictures of children, but of course my shots are not exclusively of children. Also, as I noted earlier on this thread, I often engage parents in conversation about education choices, pets, local politics...the way conversations naturally flow. We don’t lurk around sneaking pictures. Or carry outfits with huge cameras and
giant lenses, along with a fully stocked camera bag. It helps to just fit in.
The only common question asked by parents raised on digital capture is not “can you still get film?”, but, assuming my camera is digital, say “I have never heard of that brand? (Zeiss, Rollei, Makina...whatever I’m carrying at the time)

 

[redbandit]

Having read or scanned most of the contributors to this thread, I would like to make several points.
I have never been bothered by anybody when taking pictures of children in a park or in a coffee shop. I usually use a rangefinder camera and a 50mm lens or a Rollei TLR. My am assuming that negative responses from parents may have been the presence of not very discreet SLRs with large long lenses or even humongous DSLR outfits.
Some may just appear to be creepy or perverted to the parents. Or try too hard not to be noticed. For street photography I generally carry one camera, and, maybe, another lens in a jacket pocket. No overstuffed camera bag. I also engage in conversation with parents about raising children, options for schools, pre-school, dogs, cats...wherever the coversation drifts.
But it helps to be interested in the subjects one photographs. I enjoy watching the little ones try to figure out how to climb or work the various climbing and revolving constructions in the playground and how they can create a whole world in their imagination.
Also, sometimes there are wedding parties, family gatherings, young lovers,...plus trees, people pretending to play music (I’m always tempted to tell a guy beating the drums, that Art Blakey told me that the hardest thing is to play drums softly but still be musical).
So there may be reasons for the different experiences reported by some members. Me, I’ve never had a problem.

There is absolutley NO law against sitting at the beach or the park whilst ones camera wears a 650-1300mm lens. Nothing at all.

Nor is there a law against taking photos in public, nor is there a law that prevents people from wearing micro bikinis in public.

 

[snusmumriken]

So ... why are you taking the photo?

I think this was a very shrewd question, and it’s still unanswered.

 

[guangong]

There is absolutley NO law against sitting at the beach or the park whilst ones camera wears a 650-1300mm lens. Nothing at all.

Nor is there a law against taking photos in public, nor is there a law that prevents people from wearing micro bikinis in public.

No laws! But for successful street photography it’s best to fit in than to be ostentatious.

 

[slackercrurster]

Hi. Being new here I am not sure if this subject has been discussed. If not, I wonder if it is a good time to talk about it. Although there doesn’t appear to be any laws here preventing taking photos including minor children, it has become a lot more risky. I think parents are more aware of possible uses of photos of kids and are very wary about it. I have read that some fathers have taken the matter to an extreme, bad for the photographer. I am even nervous about those posting pictures of their own kids and grandkids, such as one just posted in the gallery. I would like to know what others think.

Here is one story I picked up from another forum.


“The last few times I was about and taking photos of interesting children things, I have been accosted by angry parents. The last one was an assembly of kids on bikes, scooters, and skates. Some great content. Then mama 'Karen' started yelling at me from across the street. See, the thing of it was that I was on my front porch, and the kids were coming down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road.

Now this is all "public" space. Well settled law states that there are no rights or expectation of privacy in public spaces. I had to explain that to the cops who showed up at my door 5 minutes later. This was a surprise, because one can't get them here in

The Lost Princess - Candid

Larry, all of what you say is true.

Shooting kids candid is something only highly skilled photogs should do. Unless you are a female or unless you are a male liking confrontation.

...my foot is stepping on the spoon.

One tidbit of advice...do it hit and run.