The thing I hate about asking for permission is that you so often miss the moment. A lot of my photos are of people doing something else: they're not looking at the camera, they're looking at (and engrossed in) whatever they're doing. I like that because that's how I feel I find a story in my pictures. But you start talking to people and you distract them from what they're doing, and then you end up with a posed photograph. (Not that posed photos are bad; I'm just not looking for that.) Worse yet, here in Japan, you might even end up with the dreaded "victory sign."

I'm worried about bothering people, but I assuage this somewhat by getting set up well before I take the shot. When I see something interesting developing, I work out where and from what angle I'm going to take the picture. I set up my aperture and shutter speed, and set the approximate focus. If I'm using a small aperture, I can just scale focus. (I use an external light meter and a manual camera, so I can do all of this without raising the camera to my eye.) Then, when the moment comes, I can just raise my camera, frame and push the button.

From time to time I've walked right up to people, taken a photograph of them from less than a meter away, and walked off without them appearing to notice.

Hello,
I was peeling around the web and looking for some amusing pics of japanese fashion and street style, and found your blog.
I must say, it's been far deeper, and more interesting than plain fashion, however intriguing, anyday.
Living in America, I wonder contantly what it's like for everyone else, everywhere else.Many times, I am facinated by Japan, and watch the small amount of Japanese tv that comes on here in California.Though that's a pitiful window, that and the internet are most of what I've had.
I have a huge heart for Japan, and have been looking for some down-to-earth people to talk to with a glimse of the 'inside'.So far, I haven't found anyone who could share this information, as you seem to be able to.
Being an artist, I generally identify with other creative people moreso, but I consider myself to be a realist in ways, as well.
By all means, please drop me a line.I'd really love to ask you some additional questions about your life and work in Japan, if you don't mind.
Thanks,
Nat

Curt,
Thanks for that comment. I plan to keep taking candid shots, and I admire your willingness to do that from one meter away. I think that shows your commitment to being a good photographer, and it's part of taking the art seriously. For me, I can't do that UNLESS I'm very committed to what I'm doing (otherwise it would feel like I'm playing around with them). I want to push myself in that direction (both in terms of committment and willingness to shoot). Asking for permission to shoot is not a substitute for candid shots but another approach to hopefully get a glimpse of a real person.

I hope I'm not contradicting myself, which is something I do regularly. :) I do want to preserve the dignity of those that I shoot pictures of; that's the consistent thread through all I'm saying.

Natamon,
I'll get in touch with you. I'd be interested to hear about your huge heart for Japan.

Finding emotions in people isn't as hard as it seems. Its only being in the right place at the right time. Here in Okinawa, I usually talk to the person, or at least try to before I take the picture. I tend to get the best photographs at the beach. I tell them though that I am not going to publish their photograph. Rather that I am just using it to better my skills in photography until the day that I decide I am worthy enough to publish random people's photographs. But I agree with the candid-ish shots. Thats a way of getting someone without you interacting with them.

ps:
the Victory sign is neat, if they aren't doing it to you ;]

I did get a "V" sign that day; maybe I'll post it soon. :)

Well, the willingness to do it from one meter away perhaps more reflects that I do a lot of my street shooting with a 24 mm prime lens. :-) If I don't get close, you can't even find the subject amongst all the scenery.

But using a wide-angle lens is a good way to force you to get a bit closer, and also saves you when you can't move further away. Not to mention that on a sunny day or with fast film, you can set it at the hyperfocal distance and not bother to focus most of the time.

That's funny, because I was going to add that I'll have to get that close once I finally get a real wide angle lens. I'm looking at the new Tamron 11-18mm. I have a DSLR so the equivalent is something like 17-24ish).

I think your photos are already fascinating; I'm excited to see what comes out of developing your vision.

You live in such a wonderful place. I'm jealous of all the things you have to shoot.

Yeah, I'd like to start paying more attention to photography as well, inspired in part by Jim O'Connell's site. But just the other day I brought home some pictures I'd taken of people around town and my wife was horrified that I'd take pictures without asking. But asking is problematic for a lot of obvious reasons. Not sure how to approach the problem.