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How to photograph a beggar on the streets
Posted by quack18 • 9/18/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: advice, beggar, blog, blog advice, blogger, blogspot, camera, Help, idea, photo
I am faced with this problem alot. I always see a beggar on the street, and i would like to take a photogprah of them, not for any personal financial benefit, but it would make a nice photo to add to my blog so people can remember the poor on the streets. But am always hesitant to take their pic or even ask them if i can take their pic. I also worry about peoples reaction when they see me doing that. Many would think that i am exploiting him, and i am in a developing country, so its not always a soft reaction from them
Do any one you have any idea how to solve this problem.
Thanks alot!!!
User Comments
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get a better camera so you can take pictures from far away-
i have a telephoto lense, and its got a good range, but then ud look suspecious with it. the country am in has been having alot of political problems latetly so taking pics on its own is worrying sometimes
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All beggars are different. Some you could give a buck and he'd be happy. Others, if you offered a dollar, would become your best friend, pose for you and then try to follow you home.
I'd probably just take it and then quickly walk away. He'll forget you in five minutes -
Make sure you have your sneakers on, take the picture and run.
I ran into the same problem you're having when I wanted to take pictures in the Red Light district in Amsterdam. I took a few quick ones before some big dude told me one more and my camera was going into the canal. But I doubt your homeless subjects have bodyguards. -
i guess giving them some money would be the best idea, taking pics wihtout them noticing is abit risky
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I agree. Giving a buck or two will make them gladly pose for pictures.
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Why don't you treat them like what they are, people, and just ask them.-
Of course, asking them is a way to go but offering something what they need like money or a meal will make them joyous
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I'm not sure this applies to you, but I know most photographers do not pay beggars or people in the streets because they'd be broke if they did. There is no legal reason to compensate them. A majority of photographers do ask their subjects whether or not they would be alright with them to either shoot the picture, or after the fact publish it, though if taken in a public space there is no legal reason to do so.
If you were to make millions off the photo their might possible be a moral initiative. -
From the perspective of history of photography:
1: you undertook the most challenging task for any photographer.
2: 35mm or 50 mm lens I recommend. Telephoto lens is a detached way of dealing with the subject matter.
3: You cannot approach it as passer by.
4: You need to spend hours walking around with your camera, close by your subject. Get familiar with his/her environment. As if you are a method actor. Observation is the key. They will get familiar with you and may approach you or ask for spare cash.
5: Start to take snap shots of his/her surrounding. Never point your camera towards their direction until they loss interest of your presence.
Once they done that then you will able to achieve your task.
It won’t be easy.
6: Look up Henri Cartier Bresson work
7: Or you can take the easy way out and pay to photograph them.
Good Luck-
I really like your idea, and i think its a very good way to approach this situation, but the problem that i am facing is that the area where these beggars are is in the middle of the capital, and that area is a political hot spot for alot of groups that are against each other in the government and also on the streets sometimes, on top of that, that are police that are around the area to maintain calm,in case something happens, so roaming around with a cam in one spot for a while would make them really suspicious.
but ill take ur advice up, and try it somewhere else if i can find beggars in less risky spots.
And yeah, using a telephoto lense would detach you from the subject cse ur far away,but if u talk to him or get close to him, wouldnt that ruin the natural moment where u want to capture him going through the day? -
wow, i just read about Henri Cartier Bresson and he is amazing. thanks alot for pointing him out to me. the use of a small camera and covering it in black is a good idea. and the small digi cams are quiet good these days,small and extremely quiet also so i guess they can do the trick. thanks!!!
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Once you pay to photograph them the moment is lost. I don't like it when I see people taking pictures of homeless people.
If I did it I would offer them a dollar after the fact. -
Well, if you want to feed or cloth the homeless and help a person less fortunate than yourself - by all means - do.
But, I don't think it's right to say stuff like "Yeah, I'll give you money (or cigarettes) if you let me take your picture". And, if they have a phobia to having someone snap their picture while they are at their lowest .. and say no - will you NOT give them help or money now?
I would take the picture at a distant and call it public domain or, if you are up close ask the person if you can take his picture, and maybe ask if he wants to give his/her name on camera and a short interview like, why he's out there on the streets, is he getting enough food and shelter, etc etc .
I know my camera has a little video ability and most digital cameras can do that now, can't they? -
The first time I gave a begger money was in Coney Island in the 70s. He told me that he hadn't eaten in 3 days. We were in front of a hot dog stand where the most expensive thing on the outdoor menu was $2.99, so I gave him $3.00.
He acted like a long lost friend, putting his arm around me and telling me all the good places to eat on Coney Island. Then he left and went into a liquor store across the street.-
Yes, I was at a conference at a nice hotel in Times Square. I got an extra box lunch on the way out one afternoon, with a really nice sandwich, big ass cookie, chips, apple and a soda. In the parking garage, a guy asked me for a dollar to buy something to eat since he hadn't eaten in a few days. I offered him this great box lunch. He actually said no thanks and asked my friend for a cigarette instead. Can't help the unwilling.
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Just explain what you're doing and don't offer money,show up with a bag of Mickey d's...its better for them to get some food on their belly rather than the liquid diet they're on-
It's true what DailyBeerReview said Holly, and what I said. They don't want food. They can get food free at shelters or other places. What they want money for is liquor or cigarettes. Those they can't get for free.
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I know that's what they want,but the right thing is to feed them
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The right thing to do would be to work on eliminating the causes of poverty and provide assistance and opportunities for those who have fallen through the proverbial cracks . . . . but that's probably not gonna happen in our lifetime.
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No it's not gonna happen in anyone's lifetime. It isn't the poor that are on the streets,its the sick. Most of the people on the streets suffer from addiction or mental illness or both. I know this from first hand experience.
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Thanks alot to all of you for your comments and advice. its been really helpful, but wow, shouting people, especially beggars is such a tough and worrying thing to do. am always hesitant to try it, always worried about the reaction of the team especially if they want to take my cam away, again thanks alot everyone
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No offense, but it sounds like you need to grow a pair and go take your pictures. You decided on this topic of your photographs. I am sure it's not easy, especially in the political climate you are describing, but just do it. Improvise. Take a chance. We'll see you on the cover of Time Magazine if your motives are to expose poverty. Otherwise, go to the countryside and take pictures of flowers or write about beer.
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yeah yeah soon ill be taking photos of these beggars, its worth the risk :), and ull be seeing them on my blog. cheers !!!!:P
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When I take photos of people in public, I always pretend to be checking out other photos I've already taken, as in turn the screen towards and hold the camera casually on my knee or on a table. Of course I won't have the lens cap on, but I could take a few pictures of random subjects and then pretend to see if the light was enough in the pictures (as if I knew what I was doing) while I take more photos of the actual subject. -
If you were homeless or a beggar, would you want someone taking your photograph?
If your answer is yes, then ask yourself how you might wish to be approached before the photo was taken.
People of all walks of life need us to treat them with respect and a photograph is likened to a forever moment. -
Dont worry mifren
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Firstly, you can take a picture of anyone in a public place (Not public bathrooms and such). Secondly, If I wanted a picture that bad I would go buy some food, ask to take the picture and give them the food. You don't know when the next meal will be. -
I already said that
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doesnt invation of privacy play a role ??? i dont care about these anyways, but as a law, isnt there something like this??
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i think as the people said above.. you can either simply ask them or pay them some money..
i have a hunch a lot of them may happily pose for you. dont have any practical idea about these things though.
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