The scene is all too familiar: Someone suddenly comes to a screeching halt on a busy New York City sidewalk to avoid walking in front of a person with a picture-taking device, leading to a pedestrian train wreck. And it could’ve been avoided. Often times, it’s not even the shooter’s fault: it’s the people stopping who should be blamed. But is stopping short on the street even a necessary courtesy that should be extended anymore?
There’s a high probability that the image is being taken with a digital camera or just as likely, a smartphone or other less ambitious doodad. Hardly anyone uses 35mm film, a costlier and not nearly as convenient option, but one that helps explain why society developed a stop sign-like etiquette system when a photographer was snapping photos, since it was such a highly technical and relatively expensive endeavor. That was then.
Nowadays, even purist photographers carry around a DSLR, leading me to wonder if people should adjust their behavior accordingly and make already crowded sidewalks easier to navigate by just continuing their stride whether someone is snapping a photo or not.
The International Center of Photography doesn’t agree with this position, at all. “Regarding the etiquette of walking in front of a photographer taking a picture, I can’t see why the advent of the digital camera would change what should be common courtesy. One should always avoid, if they can, walking in front of anyone taking a picture – regardless of whether the capture device is a film camera, a digital camera, a camcorder or cell phone,” said Phillip Block, Deputy Director for Programs & Director of Education at ICP.
For some shutterbugs, though, it’s perfectly fine for people to keep on keeping on. Street photographer Chris Arnade explains, “I do think it’s ok if they keep going. As a pedestrian I have no issue walking through a film set or fashion shoot. The streets are public spaces to used by everyone.”
Longtime graffiti photographer Martha Cooper isn’t too concerned about strict guidelines, but does encourage a keep-it-moving approach and even incorporates it into her work. “I don’t think there was ever a hard and fast rule about this. Etiquette depended on who was shooting what. Personally I prefer passers-by in my photos so I prefer that people just keep on walking,” she said.
Agreed.
(Photo: Joe Shlabotnik/flickr)
I live in the heart of the most tourist-impacted part of San Francisco. I do not think twice about walking into anyone's shot. If I did, I would never get anywhere. A few tourists have said,"EXCUSE YOU!" The only thing I can tell them is, "try living here and going anywhere when everyone on the street is a tourist." They don't have this problem in Peoria.
As a photographer in the city, I actually prefer the dynamics of people moving through a photograph. I often wait for them to enter the shot.
I shoot a lot of stuff on the street, and I generally prefer that people keep it moving as well. If I can avoid walking through someone else's shot without disrupting the other pedestrian traffic around me, I usually will, but I know from experience that if you really want a certain shot in a crowded area, you just have to be prepared to wait for that perfect moment.
I cover my face as I walk through the shot …sometimes I give the finger.
Actually I usually setup to photograph someone walking through a scene but invariably I find that I have to tell folks it's okay to walk through… geez.
Tourism is the lifeblood of your cities economies.the only thing you hipster posers are good for is bitching about everything.
I think the photographer deserves some of the blame here. If someone is trying to take a picture in an out of the way place then sure avoid being in the photo but if someone is going to stand in Times Square 10 to 15 feet away from the person they are trying to capture then walk on through. I also think there is a big difference between a "photographer" and some one just snapping a shot. I don't think that I have ever walked in front of a photographer but have no problem, in the right (wrong) place, walking in front of a random candid photo. And to those who believe me to be anti-tourist, I love asking strangers if they would like for me to take a touristy shot of them with their camera.
RNICHOLS: Your sad descent into urban cliche is most unbecoming. Please stay home, wherever that is. Thx. SF.
Fuck the idiot tourists who think their dumb asses are still using film! Keep it fucking moving!