i had my camera on a tripod once and i was taking blurry photos of people crossing the road or cyclists buzzing past. A drunk slob, and his equally drunk friend, came up to me and said he doesn't do photographs. i said yeah ok. That stumped him and then after a minute, walked off.

Just ignore the ignorant.

A couple of years ago I was in Margate with my wife. We stood on the promenade above the beach while I attempted to take shots of a couple of very active seagulls trying to dive-bomb hapless sunbathers and steal food. I was suddenly aware of someone shouting from the beach and eventually realised her shouts were aimed at me. She was a teacher with a group of kids on the beach (I had not noticed) and was angry that I was taking photos of her charges. It made me feel like I wanted the ground to open up beneath me! It wouldn't have been so bad if she had taken the time to come up to me to have a quiet word, but, no, she had to shout so all the world could hear! I dread to think what other people's reactions would have been if I had not had my wife by my side.

I am an U.S. American serviceman retired in Bangkok...at my age I mostly do "street" photography...It seems that no one cares about photography in public here...except certain places ...such as some government places..sometimes certain temples etc....Cheers and best of luck.

You have to remember, nowadays there is a lot of mental illness to deal with on the streets. So some people will yell at most everyone for no reasonable reason.

I use a small compact camera for this reason for street photography. I also turn off the shutter sounds the flash & the aluminator. I don't get any hassle you have to try to be inconspicuous, not in a bad way of course, but some people are over sensitive, & over react.

These days there are a large number of people who are just desperate to be offended, it’s not specific to photography. Resist letting them win by not changing your behavior. There are still lots of other sensible people around thankfully ….

Thank you 😊

Twice i've been aggressively approached about taking photos, but in both cases they had beer in them. i notice that younger people pose a bit more if they think i am photographing them. i prefer to take candid shots. So if your camera has a flip out screen use that to frame them, while holding your phone beside the camera. They'll think you are using your phone and not taking photos.

Wear a T-Shirt with "TMZ", "The Sun" or some other tabloid name printed in large letters. No one will bother you. They might run away. :)

Most people just do not know the law- it’s like some mythical entity that they believe in but can never tell you which law they are referring to! I shoot mostly landscape photography so have never had a problem. As an experiment, get a high viz jacket with ‘official photographer’ printed on it and see what happens!

I honestly do think it's a symptom of mass media spreading lies and half truths to the extent that we are suspicious about everything. And, as we know nothing has to be proved in the media. Tittle tattle can ruin people.

I’ve never had a verbal or physical confrontation but maybe I’m just lucky. Unless that is, you’d count somebody politely objecting to having their picture taken. I’ve had that a few times. Mostly they rely on a misinterpretation of the law in these cases and I will both point out their error and offer to delete any images I have taken of them. I’m out there to enjoy my hobby after all, not ruin anyone’s day. I am very people focussed when I shoot so perhaps more street portrait than street photography. Sometimes I as and sometimes I don’t. Every situation is different. I’m not going to stop doing. What I love even if I do get a negative req ton from somebody. Most situations can be defused quite easily and if they can’t then it usually involves an individual who would create and issue not matter what the circumstances because he or she are just looking for trouble. It happens but the same can be sad of any hobby in any walk of life. Keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t let the odd negative reaction put you off. You’ve had a run of bad luck and I understand how that can be off putting but it’s your choice. You are doing nothing wrong so don’t let a few disgruntled individuals ruin things for you.

I feel you need to stand up for your (legal) rights, or it may become accepted that if you challenge someone doing street photography (or any type of photography), you can get it stopped. Use it, defend it or lose it.

The blogger the ‘Black belt barrister’ covered street photography.

Let the market speak. Don’t buy a lens that misses the point of being M43. I recently intentionally bought the 300 f4 because of all the reasons you mentioned. I’m concerned for the future of the brand. Lens quality is my broadest interest along with the flash sync when bracketing. I recently switched from Fuji to Olympus for those reasons. I hope my timing isn’t off. My only other lens is the 90mm PRO.

Photographs taken about one hundred years ago, street photography if you will, is now a valued historical record.

If you want a taste of harassment try going out with a set of Google glasses, public enemy number one!

It’s nothing to do with photography, instead it’s to do with how society has become, a lot of people have become more aggressive and that includes men, women and sadly children. To put it simple, it’s an excuse to shout, threaten and abuse each other, why? Simply because law and order has gone down the pan. Parents don’t care, police are short staffed, teachers have their hands tied, children grow up without any real direction hence they become adults with a ‘you can’t touch me’ attitude.

I agree with you. I was in Paris last spring taking a photo of a cafe from a good distance. A man started to yell at me in English, and I couldn't even tell where he was coming from. I was only interested in the building. I don't even like to go on tours anymore. Most people hate traditional cameras now, including the vast majority of the people on my tours. Most of us experienced photographers are polite and discreet. The cell phone users, with their small, stealthy devices, have no boundaries at all. This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

Great points. From Canada, I haven't had these experiences with my camera, but speaking more broadly, I have certainly observed this tone of nastiness rise in the the general public in other areas. And, yes, I attribute it to COVID isolation/desocialization. Keep a smile and we'll rebuild civilization and community again, hopefully. And keep shooting.

I have tried out that lens and found the Panny 35-100/2.8 to be the better, by quite a lot, in every department. Then there is the Panny 14-140 f/3.5-5.6 travel lens which really does punch way above its weight. That one is glued to my wife's GX7 and she won't give it back.

It is very unfortunate that people in general have become much less nice and more nasty towards each other in every day life (and not just in dealing with us photographers). I find that it's much more conspicuous here in the US than when I am traveling abroad, but when I'm doing a walkabout with my camera I tend to make sure I say hello and strike up a conversation or two as I go by to alleviate the stress that some have towards "people with cameras". I do feel sorry for those that cannot seem to show any kindness (or respect) towards others, what a dreadful life they must lead!

I tend to do night street these days more often as there are far less humans and almost zero kids about. If I were up to no good would I walk around with a huge obvious camera hanging from my neck, or just use my tiny iPhone mini with its excellent camera. No one bats an eyelid at my phone, whilst some froth at the mouth if I'm holding my GH6

Hi Brian! Just a tip to keep a fellow bloke out of trouble...be careful when you use "Karen". It's considered offensive to some as it was originally intended to be a slur to women of a certain age and ethnicity.

The day you stop fighting for our rights is the day you give them up! I think going the extra step to not get people all riled up may be appropriate but most these people will shut the heck up when you let them know you have just as much right as they do! If not, it’s time they learned!

Hmm, I have had some issues over the years and I agree that it seems to have become worse post Covid.

I do think people see photographers and especially older men with a camera are seen as pervs. I watch a few 'auditor' videos, DJ Audits and ACE audits are my faves, they film industrial sites and bet some knock back by security. These ones are good because they are not out to cause arguments but to educate people. So many people call saying they don't want to be filmed and yet we are ome of the most CCTV countries, on our streets in shops in work and yet people get upset when someone uses a camera, do they kick off with shops and work etc. 🤔😂😂😂

Thank you for your thoughts Brian, and I agree this is something to be careful of. As you say its not worth getting into a punch up over, however annoying it is!

I dont think anyone considers the UK a free country these days.

One of the few times where looking like a tourist is a benefit.

Hi Brian from Western New York USA. I loved your video! I have all three EM1 models, don't get the M1.1 out nearly enough, but the 2&3 get some use. I Was on the fence for the new OM1 for quite a while and while it's got some nice updates, they're just not enough for $2500!!! The feature set on my existing gear is more than enough to make me scratch my head sometimes. Keep up the great work.

“If you want the image to happen it will happen there behind the camera.” A great statement !

Had a funny thing happen last week. Was at the Pride parade. Took ~1k images of marchers in the parade and viewers on the sidewalk. At one point I was at the closest to the paraders on the street. One of the paraders came up to me and asked if he could photograph me. Thee marcher turned the table on me. What a surprise. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)

Tank you Brian for keeping us informed.

In the film days are used to take pictures in towns villages as a record in case they change but never went out to take pictures of people as I always thought is invading their privacy. Having said that my favourite picture of all time which published in the picture post 1948 of two lads about 10 going shopping with the message bag. They had bugger all but Boy did they look happy. Thanks Brian great topic.

Ive battled this for years about the freedom of taking photos in public especially when mobile phones are used in public all the time and very few bat an eyelid -- but hang a telephoto on the end for a DSLR or mirrorless and its like a magnet to people .. I have kinda moved away from digital cameras and moved back to film .. simple choice and I have the prints - intead off 20,000 photos buried on some hard-drive or cloud based storage -- and may I tip my hat off to Pentax for releasing a brand new analogue film camera -- maybe this is a sign for the way the market is turning -- greetings from Ireland

That is why I stick to wildlife photography.. leaving home as early as possible at a time nobody is there. Leaving the area as soon as the first early dog walkers turn up.

Only ever happened to me once. I was taking a photo of Liverpool Town Hall with a film camera (Nikon F3). It is a very busy area filled with people eating, drinking and walking about. A man walked up to me and asked if I was taking a photo of him. I said that I wasn't but at least six CCTV cameras dotted about the area were. He walked away!

Good follow up video Brian (hope I spelled this correctly). Social media has created this monster. During the heyday of film photography, you didn’t have social media and smart phones where pics could be taken, reviewed, and posted on the internet in just mere seconds. Yes, I did hear that the UK is very picky about what can be done in public (almost as bad as Canada). Been slightly addicted to UK police dramas (I have Britbox on Amazon) and if some of the public limitation laws on these police dramas are true, then it is very restricting. Plus the fact you good folks have public monitoring cameras everywhere. Not to this level in the USA. In Japan (where I live now), more public video cameras monitoring people, but the Japanese are very good at posting “No Camera” signs where you are not allowed to take pictures. Unfortunately, I believe it will only get worse. Another law in Japan is every smart phone sold in Japan (whether Android or iPhone) must make a shutter noise when taking pics (no silent picture mode allowed). The reason for this is the amount of perverts taking pics on public trains.

It’s very rare, I’ve had two incidents in four years. The law is clear in the UK. A women accused me of taking her picture, which I hadn’t and threatened the police. I told her to get them and stood my ground. She never came back 😂

Just some advice, maybe tone down the thumbnails and titles, the algorithm might love it short-term but you'll be losing the serious long-term viewers

I was once taking some pictures at a bus terminal when a restaurant owner popped his head out behind me and demanded me to delete all my pictures because he didn’t want his restaurant to be photographed. This stuff happens every day, getting weird looks from people for the audacity of holding a camera in my hand. Only time I’m perfectly comfortable is if I’m attending a wedding, everyone is expected to be photographed there.

Last week I did a 8 mile street photography walk around downtown Orlando, Florida and the outskirts and people don’t say anything to you. The only comment I had was near the end of my walk two people sitting on chairs in front of an antique store asking if me I was going to arrest them? But in general with my street walks nobody bothers you, but I always go armed just in case you get that one idiot.

It sounds like moral panic.

I believe it is a case of being aware of where and what you are shooting. I live in Manchester and in the Northern Quarter there is some incredible street art and architecture. It’s also a place with shelters and support for homeless, addicts and vulnerable people many of whom do not appreciate being photographed for a myriad of reasons. I have the right to take photographs there as it is the public realm but a little sensitivity and self awareness goes a long way. On the flip side many companies and venues are on high alert for what they can perceive to be reconnaisance for security measures and weaknesses given events over the last decade. Whilst they can be clumsy interactions these business care not on jot for the photographer exercising creativity. Sadly the net effect of allsorts of unpleasantness has led to a level of paranoia in some cases. I’ve been photographing Manchester for over 10 years and have never had an issue by reading the environment, going early, being obvious about what I am taking images of and being confident but with humility and respect. I have had just one person ask me very politely not to take a photo of them which I wasn’t trying to do in any case so it was a simple acknowledgement and a friendly hello.

Hi Brian , I think this is becoming a real problem , I am now not comfortable in doing street photography at all , in any town due to any potential confrontation, I would still consider doing street photography within a group (but not my own town), as I think this lessens the chance of confrontation and reduces the chances of being called a 'weirdo'. Also I think its best to use a larger camera as you are less likely to be judged as a voyeur. Country parks still seems to be OK (not at weekends) , busy places but people seem to accept there might be photographers around - also I have considered taking a tripod even if i dont need it , just to look more of a professional. With all this in mind i am seriously considering selling my lovely every day camera as I just dont want to get involved in any hassle (the stress is not worth it), United Kingdom.

I'm a bit mixed with taking people's photos without permission, but that's purely a personal thing and I accept that others have different thresholds for what is acceptable/ethical to them. What's baffling to me though is the whole thing where it's more acceptable to take photos of people discreetly than openly and obviously with a camera. People record strangers all day on smart phones, surveillance cameras, ray-ban meta glasses, inappropriately positioned doorbell cameras, etc... but then when you give the visual courtesy to be like "I'm clearly holding a camera, I'm probably not after a photo of you in particular but if you're doing a crime, having a bad day, or would just rather make sure you're not in a photo then just letting you know I'm the person you can calmly ask to delete or not take any photos" it's somehow seen as more invasive than somebody on the train taking video with their phone... bizarre world.

I think it's the proliferation of images on the internet and privacy of people having been trampled heavily (particularly by the big tech companies, but also the governments), so that people are now more easily triggered by having their photo taking (even in public). And I've also seen some street photographers on KZfaq, who are very brazen in pursuing their art, which doesn't help the situation (a few bad apples definitely spoil the bunch). I'm personally not often taking photos on the street, but I'm keenly aware that some people don't want their photo taken and if I was primarily into that photography, I would probably approach them (either before or after taking their photo and ask them for permission, even if I would risk to be asked to delete the photo from the camera).

Hi Brian, GDPR does apply to us as photographers. A photograph or video is data. Should that data contain a data subject (a living person), the data subject has rights and expectations that apply to that data. The data subject can demand a copy of the data held on them. Restrictions on data held it should be: Kept to a minimum. Only used for the purpose it is held for. Only held for the minimum duration necessary. Needs to be securely disposed of. Shouldn't be shared without consent. If we're professional photographers, we are data controllers and need to register with the Information Commissioner Office. We need to comply with regulations/restrictions. Of course, we can take pictures to make a future historic archive, which can cut across some of the data restrictions. As only the living are data subjects, as time passes, so do the data subjects , the photographs/videos will then become free of GDPR.