Don't Photograph This

[@CWReace]

Not "putting art before human decency" pretty much sums it up for me, I think.

[@darrin2382]

Where does reportage fit?

[@CWReace]

@@darrin2382 I would think that has its own criteria, versus someone like me who does photography for something artistic, if I dare even call it that.

[@darrin2382]

@@CWReace agreed. Photography has an important role to play - even having to push the boundaries of ethics.

[@heroicmonkey714]

This^

[@notahmet8854]

"Just because it's legal, it doesn't make it moral." beautifully said.

[@larsingrain]

That picture of the puddle with the people in the reflection is just so beautiful! And I love the aspect ratio you are using for it, very cinematic but still intentional!

[@phorne96]

I think of it like, “Don’t make someone’s misfortune the subject of your photo if you’re taking the photo for entertainment.”

[@tripswithgriff]

Agree wholeheartedly with all your sentiments Roman, and also just wanted to add that the images you used to punctuate the vlog were superb! I think some of them were the best images I've seen on your videos for some time and overall it made for a great video.

[@henreh99]

Totally agree with you on these points. Especially the Bruce Gilden approach… I don’t know how people think that’s acceptable.

[@uwejansen1135]

Firing a flash from 20 to 30cm into someone's face is an offence of assault. Flashes are often powerful enough to cause temporary blindness, disorientation and even permanent injury. Have fun talking to the police, if you do that to me...

[@Vartan297]

I pretty much agree with you and am the same in my photography. I also do think that documentary photography is very very important, and although this isn’t for me- and isn’t imo just for sharing on insta to get followers… photographing unpleasant situations, homeless people, people suffering etc should and needs to be done- in the right way and displayed for everyone to see… for everyone to be aware of. Some people hide away from suffering and hardships and will say that they don’t want to know about these things… but we all need to. As it is only all of us that can make change, sometimes that takes an eye opening image. War photographers, documentary photography of starving children, hurt animals etc- it all needs to be seen. Again, absolutely not just for social media followers obviously- but for documentary purposes. Great video as usual Roman, thank you.

[@SallyRobertson-h9o]

Roman, I agree with everything you've said. I don't find photos of people looking uncomfortable either art nor nice to look at. I think it comes down to using emotional intelligence in how you go about photography. Thanks for your channel. It's great!

[@docmakerstoolkit]

Love some of the alternate aspect ratios, especially ultra-wide photos, you featured in this video.

[@makmak69L7]

Great video Roman. I agree with every single word you said.

[@farookywookie]

Thanks Roman. Enjoyed the video and appreciate your advice. Enjoy your trip.

[@NotAnotherChannel_Channel]

Same. I’ve read many other photographers who argue that it’s okay to photograph vulnerable people for any reason. I never agreed. The purpose has to be deliberate and somehow help that person and/or community. Taking photos of vulnerable people to draw attention to yourself is incredibly wrong and I’m happy to stand by that assertion.

[@helenoliver7006]

This is a great watch and a well presented lesson in human decency. The images you showed are awesome. Are you planning a couple of videos on how you take your images and what your thought processes are? If you are they would be a must watch!

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for sharing. I appreciate hearing these kinds of thoughts. Take care.

[@dbugatto]

Pretty much on the same page myself , I would even add not photographing other peoples children unless you have permission . Nicely done.

[@chriswilliamson590]

Great points indeed and put across in the most professional manner. An absolute legend 👍🏼

[@markspurgeon8084]

Nice one Roman, you make some good points, and make them well. I recognise and agree with your views and would add a few others, for instance, being aware of issues where children are in the shot. Whatever your intention may be it could be easily misunderstood whether the children are the feature of the shot, in the background, or could be perceived to be by others. Your action could cause justifiable concern and could prompt conflict best avoided. Anyway, thanks for posting this video, it’s a subject that deserves attention. 👍

[@changez77654]

I love this framework - what "not" to shoot. I am one of those photographers who hasnt found his favourite genre of photography so if someone asks me what I like to photograph I will say "little bit of everything". This way is to narrow that focus a bit. Thank you

[@alanglover590]

If you invade someone else's personal space you should not be surprised if they eject you. I agree with what you think.

[@nolannatashaTV]

Your work is such an inspiration. These principles only add to that.

[@MichielHeijmans]

Oh, man, I totally agree with this video. And I love that you summarized the first one as “something someone has or has not that might make them think I am photographing him or her because of that.” Well-phrased, Roman. Well-phrased.

[@markinri1877]

I think you are spot on in tempering creativity with good taste 👍😎

[@washingtonradio]

I agree, photography is not about embarrassing others just to get a shot. There needs to be common decency and respect towards others we meet. I think there is also an implied consideration of what is important, is the person what makes the shot or is the presence of someone that makes the shot. A subtle distinction that some miss. I applaud that you set personal boundaries for yourself and try to adhere to them.

[@michaelajoseph6856]

I completely agree with everything you said. My photography makes me happy and it shouldn’t never be at the expense of making other people uncomfortable. Thank you for this video and for all the beautiful images.

[@lordgodalming]

This is important stuff and you handle it well. I appreciate you expressing these ideas to your audience. Taking things a step further, I like to challenge myself not to include recognizable faces. It is possible to tell interesting human stories in photography while also letting strangers maintain the privacy of their identity.

[@ImagesbyAsh]

Very much agree with your opinions, Roman. The images at 5:25-5:32 are my favs . Loving the wide aspect ratio on some of the images BTW, They look awesome.

[@cdxx6770]

I love how you tackle the humanity aspect of photography.

[@luxdalet]

Great video! I agree with you points. Usually am criticized for speaking out those perspectives, glad a respected photographer as you has same understanding :D

[@wayne61650]

Great video. I agree either way every one of your points.

[@rick-deckard]

Thank youuuu.

[@rogercaughell4282]

I fully agree with most of your points ( maybe not the kissing :-) Best shot of the video: The man with the transparent umbrella !!!

[@johngreenwood9247]

I agree entirely with your comments. Only on 2 occasions during the last 60 years of taking photos have I encountered issues with what I thought at the time were innocent intrusions into accidental subjects space. One, back in '68 when as a student I was in Paris, at the time of the riots when taking photographs of my French girlfriend I was surrounded by angry policemen in riot gear, & then became the centre of the mobs interest - my old Leica IIIa never worked the same after falling into the gutter! The 2nd was a few years later when taking photos of my daughters then aged 5 & 7 at a family beach party. One of the mothers not realising I was a family member confronted me, for including her child in one of the photos. That issue was easily resolved to my advantage, as later I took a sequence of photos of her daughter, which her mother used to promote her daughter as a children's catalogue clothing model. The girl now in her 30's has had a successful modelling career.

[@thephotoroad]

Solid points! Well argued and spot on

[@thesecretlifeofmichal]

You have certainly become more and more one of my favourites with these kinds of videos. :) I have one other: as a father of two, I never shoot photos of kids, where their faces are seen. Sometimes I don't shoot kids and avoid it. I don't like strangers pointing their smartphones at my kids at playground (because they are playing with theirs), it's not OK.

[@Kavika-xh1qj]

Good chap! New sub for this!

[@probesmedia71]

Great first point, Roman. (Lovely pics,too )

[@georges64]

I fully agree! Decency and common sense.

[@wilfs1196]

Very well expressed, Roman. I'm basically on the same page, still having a bit of a difficult time doing street photography.

[@dylancontato266]

I agree with this. 😊

[@alandargie9358]

great points, good video!

[@C-JOHANSSON]

It's a lady with an umbrella stalking you!

[@snapsbyfox]

Different lady this time

[@jonnoarmo]

Totally agree with all. Good video.

[@PhilKnall]

"I don't think we should be putting art above just being decent human beings" sums it up. Good stuff.

[@kasparsm7964]

Agree on Your point completely...may be excluding public kissing, what, in my mind, is more willful public manifestation to the surroundings with a purpose - to bee seen.

[@scottw3104]

Great video Roman. Your points are always refreshing and can maybe even be a little polarising. Opens people up for something I think is a little lacking nowadays and that’s some critical thinking. Well done sir. And diggin that tan camera strap 😉, very nice

[@americosequeira8670]

I totally agree with you...

[@mmk2410]

That was a nice dose of good human sense. Sad that it needs to be said, but thank you for doing so :)

[@NotepadandLenses]

Think I probably agree with all that. Like yourself, I don't judge what others take photos off, just myself by what I'm comfortable with.

[@rasc-images]

I exactly share your opinion

[@mikskinner6431]

The chance of me ever bumping into you one day whilst i'm out photographing is slim. Very slim. But if I do I'd like to buy you a coffee. You speak a lot of sense.

[@Boatzerama]

Love the photo with the man through his umbrella. Yes it’s just common sense just to be decent to others.

[@brandonprescott5753]

100% agree with you.

[@diba4645]

Fully agree

[@GarryM66]

Agree 100% and totally avoid exactly the same. Especially flash which I find completely unnecessary and a totally rude thing to do in my opinion. Also you never know if someone could have a fit due to the flash and not worth the risk. Lovely photos by the way and love the wide aspect ratio look 😍

[@ChrisBrogan]

Great post, Roman. I've got nothing to add. You pushed all the right buttons on this one. And I think "decent human being" is the right standard. It's not for me, either. I'm probably somewhere halfway between you and Faizal on shyness, too. So it's easy NOT to be confrontational. ;). Great pics in your post, too.

[@ElevatedThreat]

I respect and admire your integrity. This is only right. As we, in the Southern US say it.... Common decency.

[@tjsopoci]

I don't know that's just a southern US thing. I've lived in Chicago my entire life and we all say it.

[@mythicbone]

Agree with this! I never photograph vulnerable people, it's not for me at all. Same thing with the in-your-face-flash, they make all photographers an hated species in the neighbourhood.

[@kefkef5]

2:34 fond memories on that street

[@1903Optics]

Main thing for me is kids. I wouldn’t want someone taking a picture of my children so I never take pictures of anyone else’s.

[@chesslover8829]

I feel the same.

[@snapsbyfox]

I feel you. If I take photos either kids I try to either hide identities in 99% of the time or if it’s a large group playing and it’s fitting for the environment. For example a group of kids running through a town. With that said I can count how many photos I have with kids on one hand

[@1903Optics]

@@snapsbyfox Yea this is pretty much it. Well put

[@bristolstreetphotography]

Agree entirely with some points, (flash in the face for example), but disagree with others ... 'the street is life'. As you say, it's your personal opinion and you have a right to it, as do others theirs - get a better umbrella! 😁

[@missmerrily4830]

I don't really think it's appropriate to just take anyone's photograph without expressly asking if you may. 'Giving back' in some way afterwards is not a substitute for 'excuse me, would you mind if......' and explaining clearly what you are doing and why. You're absolutely right! Morality overrides any so called 'right' to take a photograph. And it's one thing being caught up and photographed in a news story, and quite another being deliberately targeted, especially if it's going to be put on social media afterwards. Excellent advice!

[@ebofraterman2202]

image train in the city is great!

[@RitwikChandra]

You have certainly levelled up your photography and colour-grading game. The shot at 7:30 with the umbrella is magical with the teal grading and the grains. Do you have any new preset packs for this colour grading? Love your videos as always and I believe I am exactly your type regarding what to shoot and what not to shoot. Btw my personality type is INFP, I would love to know yours. Lots of love!

[@snapsbyfox]

Thank you! I find my editing slightly changes every few years and I feel this has happened recently. And yes, out later this year

[@LonChera-1]

The first one is very important. 🙏

[@chrisk50]

Really cool photos from this video, I especially like the one shot through the umbrella. What focal length lens were you using this evening?

[@YouSnoozeYouNooze]

Those are solid rules. Using your gut is a great idea. Personally I feel okay to photographing people down on their luck and protestors because it brings attention to different issues. I also ruin dinners by bringing up politics so to each their own

[@Robert-im3wi]

I think there is a case for documenting certain things for posterity or to highlight an issue like wars and homelessness, but at the end of the day I guess you can only do what you are comfortable with. I love photographs taken by Bruce Gilden, Tatsuo Suzuki, Don Stevie ect, but wouldn't be comfortable with it at all. Got to admire their Kahunas though.

[@D.T.Gallery]

I would like to see more of your X-Pan 65:24 ratio photos :)

[@EvigPoesi]

Agreed 100

[@jimjohnson1147]

I'm gonna ditto how awesome the puddle reflection photo. Literally made my mouth drop.

[@karlratcliff1205]

Great video. A street photographer with morals, full marks

[@LaFuenteOnFilm]

Spoke nothing but facts!

[@danielx555]

I'm just starting video so you might actually say this (and you do), but I personally avoid photographing homeless people or children. And I really shy away from photographing people whose body language says not to photograph them. Like, if I'm facing a direction and a pedestrian stops or slows down to avoid going into the frame, I respect that.

[@老实人-g9n]

Roman, have you thought about talking about how to balance photography when traveling with your family or partner? I saw them in you v-logs in some videos so I guess you should have your own way to handle them (even tho it is still hard to balance i guess). This could be the most pain I have while traveling lol

[@snapsbyfox]

Badly. Balance very badly but don’t forget this is how I make a living. I try to get better but for me it’s hard

[@earlfenwick]

In Germany there is a law that says you cannot publish a photograph of someone that might cause harm to their reputation. I can live with that!

[@lazharcaptures]

Same in France

[@kylejhood]

I was invited to talk to a street photography 101 class at a local school and the main topic was photography ethics. Was so cool to hear how open and interested kids are about being respectful toward vulnerable groups who can’t really ask to not be photographed. Such a good conversation and encouraged me to see how decent most people are at their core.

[@jamesdunn7526]

The flash photography thing is so difficult. It’s a super fine line that you have to tread between not distressing people and not staging the photos. If you’re going to do it you need to be super extroverted and charismatic to put the people at ease either before or after the photo is taken which is an art form in its self. Too many introverted “arty” photographers flashing people and running off it’s not right.

[@orbit-corvid]

One thing is definitely kids. In Japan I was a bit shocked that schools were often lined with signs that people should not photograph the children, which kind of implies that it is something that happened enough to warrant a sign. I get that teachers followed by groups of uniformed school kids are big part of japan but for crying out loud, it’s not okay to go around and take pictures of random children.

[@Jimages_uk]

I have taken a number of pictures of homeless people, but have always asked their permission first, it sort of makes it harder to get natural images, but to get around that, I usually tell them I will come back in a short time to take the pictures. I always buy them a hot drink and something to eat as a thank you, as well. I use my images to help make others aware of the problems, rather than trying to make it look like they are the problem.

[@Mr.A_LDN]

Couldn't agree more on homeless people-no-one should take advantage of another's downfall for likes.

[@mke2nyc]

💯

[@MrSimonj1970]

I would add solo women and kids too - an angry father once went nuts for taking a photo that included his kid! Never again.

[@barnseyb6031]

Not sure if this is a proper word but I thought the pic at 7.11 was very riseandfallofziggystardustesque. Great photo and colours. ❤

[@edvrolijk8943]

Yeah, more like a moonage daydream......Very nice photo!

[@dirkpehrke9909]

For me the first principle is to never, under no circumstances, publish a photo that could in any way harm the person I photographed. I always ask myself, if you were the one being photographed, would it be fine with you to see this photo released without your permission? I do a lot of photos I would maybe make public in 10-15 years.

[@alanwainwright79]

Some great points and some great shots Roman.

[@mcfalcia]

Roman, stayed near the London Bridge area recently, and there was a guy who was sitting in front of a Tesco asking for charity. I'm just a person who likes to take pictures and have never, and would never, sell anything. But I was worried I was maybe exploiting. At the same time I loved capturing that moment because it reminded me of the time. I did give that person money but does that "absolve" me of my "sins". What are your thoughts on that because I think what you say in this video is so important.

[@snapsbyfox]

Nah that’s fine in my opinion as at least you gave something back

[@gartnermusic]

What do you think about taking pictures of children? They’re often the best subjects in terms of raw emotions but it feels and comes off as weird, and you can never be sure what happens to the pictures you put online somewhere.

[@snapsbyfox]

I try my best to hide identities. If not, then it has to be a group or not just one or two. With that said I can count on one hand how many photos I have that include children

[@marcisroaming]

Bruce Gilden is the most overrated "street photographer" ever. He's a game hunter, not a photographer. It absolutely EPITOMIZES how I view New York street photography as a whole.

[@mgscheue]

Had a look at his IG a few days ago and I couldn't get past the first few shots. It's painful to look at. Though I did like his stuff from the Republican National Convention.

[@johnarnsdorf]

Hey wait a minute...that wasn't a Fuji camera 😄 The X2D is amazing and my go-to camera. However, I just picked up a Fuji X100VI to have as an everyday camera. First time using Fuji and looking forward to it!

[@RainbowSun0529]

Couldn’t agree more with the first one. I hate when photographers shoot at people in need or people who are in hardworking. And they tend to edit those kind of photos into some really dark tones to show what they called social issues that they think they understand. That’s just cringe for me, I personally never do this.

[@banboosy]

Glad you made this, some street shooters are very weird and it makes me uncomfortable even watching their videos

[@philbarrance]

when i am out and about taking photos my "barometer" is i wont take a photo of someone if they ask me not to politely! if they are aggressive off the bat i will take the photo anyway it costs nothing to be well mannered

[@X_ch4ng3]

😊👍

[@gonzalowassermann2353]

I see what you mean about protests, I'm curious about your take on parades and other events of the sort in towns.

[@snapsbyfox]

I hate being surrounded by large groups of people so I also avoid them haha

[@philbarrance]

totally agree with the flash in the face photos they are in my opinion not nice pictures anyway and make the photographer seem incredibly arrogant

[@rozza381]

Hi Roman. I've been watching your videos on and off for a few months now and you've begun to grow on me. I like your attitude and your morals. As an ex old fashioned London copper I'd be very much inclined to clobber someone who came right up close and took a snap.....not on duty obviously lol. Carry on the fine work young man.

[@garypentecost833]

I was thinking you’re being followed 😂😂

[@matthewwells1606]

What camera are you using at 2:23?

[@snapsbyfox]

Hassy

[@Denisglez]

I take photographs of people who are homeless and vulnerable, and I intend to continue doing so. I come from a communist country that promised its people that they would never go hungry, but unfortunately, many people there are hungry and homeless. My intention is to raise awareness in the rest of the world about the challenges that people in my country are facing. The message that one wants to convey through their work is of utmost importance. Not everyone has the same level of privilege, and photography should not be limited to showcasing only aesthetically pleasing subjects.

[@snapsbyfox]

I respect that

[@lucianoadami7231]

Condivido il tuo pensiero . Visto che ti trovi in Giappone anche li ce un fotografo famoso non ricordo il nome che usa lo stile di Bruce Gilden .