I mentioned in a previous blog about the times I have been asked not to shoot.
It has happened regularly.
A security guard will approach you with their hands crossed in front… basically meaning no.
This has happened in stores, at temples, on the street in front of buildings and at Tsukuji fish market.
I have found that if I use my g9 ( small camera) I get hasseled less then when I pull out my big camera.
When working with models, we discuss what we are going to do…what I want…before we start shooting.
If we are lucky we will get the shots I want before there are any issues.
I can understand the feelings of the guards…but I can’t explain that I am not going to use trademarks or whatever that they are protecting in my shots. What they don’t want in my shots are the same things I don’t want.
I just smile…act like a dumb foreigner and move on….
Asking people for their image in the street is even more difficult to understand.
From what I understand it is illegal to take a picture of someone in Japan without their permission.
If you ask, they will not say no ( saying no is rude and Japanese try hard not to be rude) but unless they say yes it means no.
Chris was talking with some Goths in Shinjuku ( they were friends of his) when a lady came up and asked to take their picture… you could tell from their body language that they were not happy, but they didn’t say no. When Chris explained to the lady that no answer means no, she seemed upset… but the goths seemed relieved when she left…without her pictures.
I haven’t had problems with street photography…yet.
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