Walled City Market - Uncandidly Candid
Leica CL + Summicron-C 40mm f2
Where we live, it is perfectly legal to photograph people in public spaces without their awareness or permission. However, I do not like to do so. It is not a moral issue exactly. It is more like… I do not find it compelling to photograph a person who does not know they are being photographed. It feels as if something is missing.
For whatever reason, that awareness of the camera, that implicit interaction between us, is necessary for me to want to take the shot. In acknowledging the photographic process the ‘subject’ takes on some of the responsibility for the resulting image, and this in turn alters the dynamic between us toward one that feels more ‘alive’ and interesting to me.
I am just theorising here really. But whatever the reason, I do not take photos that can be factually described as candid, even if they sometimes appear to be that.
In some instances, the photos are obviously posed. I ask the person or people whether it’s all right to photograph them, and their response is to pose for me. So that is what I photograph.
In other instances, the person simply nods to acknowledge their awareness of my photographing them - and then proceeds to carry on as they did before I made my presence known. So that is how I photograph them.
This latter variant, of the ‘consensual candid’ tends to surprise fellow photographers when I mention it. Apparently it is unusual reaction? Honestly that isn’t in my experience. In fact, I would say it is 50/50: meaning, half the people I ask for permission respond by posing, and half respond by acknowledging, and then ignoring me.
Of the two categories of reactions I do not especially prefer one over the other; I find both to be engaging and am equally interested in photographing both.
With a posed photo, I suppose there is a slight element of pressure for the picture to come out well, in case the person sees it or asks to see it in a scenario where we exchange contact information.
However, with an unposed photo I give up the ability to direct the subject or control the scene. So there are benefits and drawbacks to both.
One question I sometimes get asked, is how exactly do I ask for permission ‘successfully.’ And that really depends on the situation.
In certain contexts, I outright say ‘Excuse me, but are you okay with me taking photos of you?’ or ‘are you okay with me taking photos here, with you being in some of the shots?’
At other times, it is non-verbal: I sort of wait for the person to see me with camera in hand, and then tentatively lift it to my face while nodding up toward them inquisitively. They will then either nod back in acknowledgement, or shake their head ‘No,’ or turn away.
Admittedly, I am almost never denied permission to photograph. Which could have to do with the fact I am female, small, and reasonably well-dressed - and therefore am probably interpreted as harmless. My husband {who is equally harmless!} is a lot more likely to receive negative or hostile reactions - which is a shame, because street photos are really his thing and not mine.
I do have some background in event photography and editorial photography, which are similar in some ways. So my uncandidly candid photos probably belong to those categories, rather than to ‘street photography’ in the classic sense. Which is fine by me.
