Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Globe and Mail opinion piece on this. Gotta admit I side with them but not so intensely. I do realize that the article and attention is mostly focused on men that have tiny genitalia and are too awkward to talk to women so they're mildly stalking pretty women to take pics for the purposes of self massage later. Regardless, I think photographing strangers without their knowledge or consent is being creepy. Full stop. I think it's an invasion of privacy (not speaking legally) and sometimes cowardly. Regardless of your "art." Yes I've done it and yes I felt creepy. I decided some time ago it was no longer something I was interested in doing. And even if I do now take the occasional street candid I never post them, I keep them for personal massage. That's my stance.

But, instead of this turning into a bash and defend street shooting (which it will become regardless) I'm interested in hearing if others here feel street requires candid to be good, or interesting. Is street portraiture truly robbed of it's story when a subject know they're being photographed? Obviously there are the great street portraits done when the shooter has engaged with the subject but those tell a different story don't they? What about the city? If we can't photograph people milling about the city making the city what makes a city are we capturing a story about that place? I do think those are legitimate questions. Any other legitimate questions I missed?

Now bring on the fine hair splitting that obviates your street photography from this type of criticism instead of engaging with the questions.

Edit: after posting this I reread it for the inevitable bad grammar I leave behind and realized I was perhaps coming across on the attack more than I really am. Please remember that and put it down to my poor communication skills.

It's a sad day when the sickos spoil it for the rest of us.

The creeps should be shown free porn websites, this way we'd have a safe streetshootin experience. There's always more to capturing beauty on film than simple animal needs. Too sad that these days people only consider the latter

If the guys screen name was "StreetPhotographerExtraordinare' no one would think twice. I haven't looked at the photos, but unless he's shooting up women's skirts or down their shirts, who cares. He's shooting what hundreds if not thousands of people look at while they walked down the same street as the women in the photos. Yes, it is creepy that he takes photos of attractive women only, but that's what appeals to him as a street photographer. No one on this forum who shoots models would shoot one they thought was unattractive. He's just an idiot using the whole creeper etc name.

I did once but I was drunk.

Upon reading the article it seems the author has a personal issue with men, not just photography on the street amusing

I think this is what it boils down to.
-perverted photographer is caught red handed
-stupid people are taking the opportunity to label all street photographers as sex offenders
-real street photographers are defending their freedom and rights making the stupid people believe that they are defending the sex offender
-everyone needs to shut up and watch more honey boo boo

Glitzyyyyy!!!!!!!

On a side related note - for work when doing assessments I have to take pictures of the outside of the building. While in Calgary for work I walked across the street to get a full shot of the building. Some dude from across the street starts shouting that doesn't want his picture taken and put up on Facebook. Needless to say I thought he was an idiot - told him what I was taking a photo of and don't even think he made my frame. A co- worker was taking the same image and said would erase. I have no idea if he was captured in my photo or not - I just told him that he was not captured as I wasn't going to run all the way back to get my shot for work and being a hobbiest photographer I don't erase photos unless its of someone specific and they ask it to be erased and not of some idiot who happens to be walking into my scene and would appear as a blob on the photo anyways. Sorry I needed to rant lol.

J.

This is what happens when a pervert, or rotten apple calls his work "photography" crossing paths with someone that seems like she has a vendetta against men...
Makes for a good conversation lol

Extreme polar opposites rarely make for a good conversation. In my experience it usually results in both sides screaming at the top of their lungs, while forcing their fingers in their ears.