I could never do this. Not even once.
Mike Johnston has a four-minute video about Magnum street photographer Bruce Gilden on his site. I must have seen this before because I remember much of it but somehow I didn’t pay enough attention to what he is doing. But thanks to Mike’s little postscript, I watched amazed. Like Mike, there is no way I could ever do this. That kind of confrontation just isn’t in me.
Perhaps that’s why I don’t understand photos of the street. When I am in a city, it’s the buildings and the infrastructure that get my attention–roads, sidewalks, utility poles, wires, lights, ventilation, sewers, fences, rails, curbs, stairs–not the people.
Besides, buildings don’t care if you take their picture.
I’m with you Tommy. I couldn’t do it either. But I’ve known for a long time, I’m not a street shooter.