AMAZING post! Great insight Sam, thanks. Always interesting to know the story behind the photo.

Thanks for sharing about shooting people! Although it's more or less what I've heard before, and try to do - shoot first to get the moment, ask afterwards, try to be considerate - it's interesting to hear the particular stories.

Typo: trouble 'slipping' instead of 'sleeping'. (Unless worrying about the Bat gives you steady feet.)

Great post! I agree with you on your comments. I might just be a slight bit more bold now when people are around. :)

Thanks!

Every one of those shots is so excellent. Great stuff. And thanks so much for sharing your experience.

After seeing your photo from the train yesterday, I was about ask the question that you've answered today. I'm quite shy of people - so find it hard sometimes taking photographs in public places with people in front of me. Reading this post might help me try to be a little bolder.

I really love the post, and all of the pictures today (and everyday, for that matter).

Great post. Really enjoyed this.

What great insight. I've always wondered how to go about this. Thank you for writing this, it's definitely given me some advice.

I dont believe I have ever commented here before, but this was an awesome post. I bought cigarettes for a homeless guy after he realized I had taken his shot...lol.. my life was almost threatened. That was in 1984... Ive learned a lot since then.. and still love street photography..but now..I will do a great deal more. Yeah, it bothers me to not have a stock photo sale.. but you are doing for the art.. and I have to remember that for myself..

Thanks

Hi Sam, Thank you or sharing your tips. I has been a pleasure to see again some of your great pictures.

Great post. It's nice to read about how you take your pictures. If you find enough time, it would be great to have other posts like this! Thanks.

Ooh, this was really interesting. For some reason, I really like photos with people as the subject.

Thanks for this, very interesting and insightful read. I'm always curious as to how different people go about shooting strangers in the street. Like the contexts where and when they we taken too.
Thanks

Excellent insight; really enjoyed reading these little stories behind the shots.

many thanks for these comments! really useful stuff.

Great post! And pretty interesting indeed. I always wonder how and when to shoot people in the street. Your experience sharing comforts me in the "shoot first, ask later" shooting process. Being asked prints or high definition of your pics by those you shot must be very comforting as well :)
Nice pictures on this post, well done !

A very interesting reading.
I feel really uncomfortable taking pictures of people on the street, i think i would have quite some problem going there and ask ;)

The guy in the batman costume really is into the part, his stare is unnerving!

Marcello

Very interesting, and a reminder of what a great photographer you are Sam. Thanks for some very useful info!

Excellent post and stories! Thx, Martin

Well, your people shots are excellent, even if you don't take the shots often. I wonder if at the time of taking the photo of the girl on the subway, you noticed the movie poster above is for the film "He's Just Not That Into You" as it seems so well suited to her pensive state. She is a beautiful girl and looking very natural in your photo.

Wonderful and teaching post. I had to put up a link to this page on our amateurphoto-clubs forum here in Finland. Hope that's ok with you.

Thanks for sharing, it's very interesting to know the story behind the picture!

A reader from Paris, France

Wow. Great post! Great examples! Thank you for this information.
"Shoot first, think later" - I'll try chanting those words next time I'm ready to walk away from what looks to be an interesting shot involving people.

Fabulous set of images!

great post! thanks for sharing the stories behind your images.

Hey ..great job man..they r wonderful..fantastic..amazin
thx for doin' the best..thx for these great shots.. really enjoyed them

I thought about all these things when I saw your great juxtaposition of rider and film poster image from January 28. Thank you for providing a broader perspective and using past images to illustrate your points. Great work!

Loved the photos and the insight about shooting people, very insightful.I have forwarded it to several friends. How do u feel about being photographed yourself ? I'm quite uneasy about it and think I project that to people I take photo's of and have missed lots of opportunities that way. Thanks for photo's , every day I enjoy a break by opening the mail.

I agree with the comments above. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging post. The context is usually of great interest.

Whilst I love portraits, a similar post on another theme would be very welcome. Thanks Sam!!

Back when I did some photography (hobbyist), I ran into a similar face as "Brian" on the streets of San Diego and did the same. I never got his name but I did ask him if it was ok. I was never comfortable taking photos without permission first and, as you say, you lose the moment when you do that and they will pose making it artificial.

Great work. Makes me want to get back into it.

great Sam a real help and inspiring as always

I so enjoy your daily emails. Thanks so much for today's educational post! I greatly appreciate what you do. Thank-you.

Thanks for the great post. I enjoyed hearing the stories behind your images.

Thank you for this post, all these advises are precious.

Thanks also for all this great work. This blog is a great source of inspiration for me, I really enjoy taking my dailydose. :)

Thank you for sharing your people shooting insights.

A subject that is near and dear to my heart - I find that shooting people is a very rewarding exercise and I feel that pictures of people get much more attention in the photography world then inanimate subjects. You've noted the difficulties here, and I agree, every situation/person is unique, but it's worth to get out there and at least try. I especially enjoy the challenge (and reward) of the Flickr 100 Strangers project !

Thanks for the advice, Sam, and great to see some of these photos I hadn't seen before.
As always, I look forward to seeing your photo every morning!

fascinating. i check your posts every morning - what a treat to get to peer behind the curtain & get a glimpse of the process. i'm moving to GTA this sumer & i've gotten a much clearer picture - no pun intended - of the city through your site than any googling wold have produced.

thank you so much for this post and your statements. I learn every day from you and it's a big pleasure too see your passion and eye for the life in a city.

Thanks Sam!

Great stuff. I missed some really great shots hesitating and trying to figure out if the person would mind. Sadly I usually pass on shooting people even they are the most compelling subject matter. One in particular I hate myself for not taking. It was such a good shot I even hesitated a bit in awe of it. A priest, young, tall, and with striking features walking down a cobble stone street, toward me, in the Czech republic with his long black coat flowing behind him in the wind. You could not have set it up--lost forever.

Thanks a lot! I think this really can help me!

I had exactly the same question as Stuart when I saw yesterday's photo. Thanks for sharing the behind-the-scenes info. I enjoy my daily visit to your site.

I've often wondered how you went about getting passer-bys' permission (or not as appears to be the case!).

I really enjoyed the style of today's post and would love to see similar posts in the future, going over other aspects of your work.

loved this post - appreciate the insights on this potentially sensitive subject!

The guy flattened your tired? what a crusty old man.

Thank you Sam. photos were great and I really learned something from your experiences.
I visit your web site everyday. and I really enjoy an learn.

Awesome post! I love the insight into taking street photos. I've definitely done less of it here at home, but tend to do more of it when I travel. I've found that with people who spend a lot of time on the street are almost used to having their picture taken, but even if you don't speak their language, it's nice to thank them for the photo op.

Thanks for posting this! Great inspiration.

Thank you for this! I've been meaning to ask you about this actually! Shooting people is sometimes awkward for me, because I am never sure if it's okay. Like you said, you need to take the photo before you lose the moment, but hopefully it's not too late already.

Thanks Sam! Very helpful! C:

You inspire my photos!

Uau, I love this post. Great learning stuff. It is great to read about the photographer's thought.

unbelievable shots!!!!

Basically, I guess it's the old saying "better to ask forgiveness than permission", applied to photography.

Hi Sam, I noticed that a couple of the shots (the musician in snow, and the man in rain) you weren't able to talk to them, but they later saw the photos on your site and asked for prints.

That is incredible considering the vast population of Torontonians. You must have a great audience. I am so glad everyone visits your site. Perhaps one day, I'll find myself on it.

This post was a wonderful treat. I have been talking to so many of my friends asking what their take on this was and constantly using you as a reference. Terrific post!

Wow, thanks for taking the time to say these things. Thats great advice!

Wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing your heard-earned knowledge. I was just wondering about this topic yesterday after looking at your pic of the day.

wow!
your photos and stories are great!
I'll follow your work until now.

Excellent post! Thanks so much for your perspective. Ever thought of organizing a photo safari/walk? I'd love to shadow you and see what lenses/techniques you use.

Awesome post Sam. Nice to get a picture of how you go about taking pictures of people.

Thanks so much for this post. As always, your photos are marvelous. Your comments and stories are a treat.

so inspirational, as ever!
thanx.

this is amazing thanks!

Excellent and interesting post! Thanks for this. I recognized many of these photos and enjoyed seeing them again as well as reading the back stories. You're an inspiration and make me want to get out and do some street shooting. I've been enjoying your photos for some time.

Good selection. I have often enjoyed taking street images of people and never think of them as items to sell but for the human interest. Never been attacked. They can be displayed as gallery work as far as I know. But making money with the camera surely does put hard curves in people pictures. Cities without people are less real feeling than country scenery without but even scenery is often improved with the placement of a person or group.
I just can't relate to not having people in many or most images. But you're right about dealing with it in a polite manner if you can as the wisest and the only way if you chase the dollar.
You may be overly sensitive to others sensitivity which beats being a totally crass paparazzi. I hated being a TV news cameraman for some things when I worked at that.

What an amazing collection of portraits and thoughts about taking pictures in public... thanks for your words and images. You could do a whole book about taking photos of people in public, and it would be awesome!*

It blew me away! This one was a collection of informative and appealing short stories. You ought to write more:)

i really like your photography. you take the most amazing pictures

Waow! Many thanks! This is a very rich, entertaining and generous post.

fantastic series of photos ... love the second one ...

Thanks for the post answering my (and others') question. I think I need to be more bold about the shoot first, ask later approach. It seems to work well for you.

Check out the color palette of the 2nd last photo and the Chungking Express Criterion release (http://www.criterion.com/films/226). I love it.

Amazing post!

Thanks for sharing this with us. Its very helpfull and nice to see and hear how other people experience things. Although i only shot a few people shots, mainly on events I recognise it. People always think they are in the image, even when they are not.

Some really cracking photos... a really nice quality your photos. You now have a fan in me.

WOW! There are some amazing photos here! I especially like the one of the guy running in the ran about to be hit by the car. Perfect timing.

Also really like the photo of the woman shot through the wet glass, great back story too!

Thanks so much for the recap!! I think there were a lot off ddoi'ers who were wondering how you did it! Nice to see you don't really have a 'rule'.... you just work with the moment!

Great Work Sam! Keep on clickin'!

this was the best post of all times!, it really answered my questions, Thank you for all the beautiful photos you take, actually I can not express how much I admire your work

Great post! Everyday I enjoy your fantastic photography and today I enjoyed a fantastic read as well.

The running man in the rain is just fantastic! I love it.

He must have been 100% committed to whatever his goal was at the time.

I really enjoyed reading this article and it has inspired me to keep on going with Journog.

Sam, you are incredibly thoughtful. Neil.

great words behind the image! these are abslutely Manum styles, Great!

Hi Sam

Thanks so much for this post - it's very insightful and valuable - definitely one I will come back to again.

I'm trying to imagine the words you must use when asking someone's permission (before or after a shot):

"Hey there, I'm a photographer, do you mind if I take your photo?" - do you explain a bit about who you are, your website, and the ways in which your photo could be used?

And, how often do you get people saying no, or asking you to erase the photo? I assume that once they realize that you are reasonable and respectful, they have no need to get irate. Right? Hope so. :)

Thanks for your contributions, Sam!
E!

What were your settings for Guitar Hero? That pic almost looks like a B&W postcard, great pic!!

nice photos :) how is it that the photos can be sold w/out the model release...I couldn't help but notice the "buy" links above the photos. Is it because they wouldn't be used for a stock site or advertising, but personal use?

Having a camera pointed at you is like having a gun pointed at you. There is a solid element of perversion in it.

They don't call it shooting a photo for nothing.

Thanks for the post, its amazing and informative as well...

I came across your website on accident, but I love your work! I can't exactly put my finger on what it is exactly that I like about it so much, but you have some really great photos up on here. I find a lot of inspiration for art that I do on here, and some really interesting photos (minor things that you don't notice unless you're paying attention). I'm going to have to make the trip up there for that Zombie Walk thing; that sounds right up my alley. :P Keep up the great work. :)