In most countries, it's perfectly legal to take pictures of people in public places. However, it's very important to be sensitive to their feelings. There are good guides to the dos and don'ts of "street photography" on the Web, for example a street photography article at Luminous Landscape by Michael Reichmann. I'm no guru at street photography, but I've stayed out of trouble so far by following these guidelines:

Don't sneak around

Make it obvious that you're taking pictures. Take your time, so that people have a chance of letting you know they don't like their photo taken, if that is the case. Don't go out of your way to ask permission, but if you meet their eyes, do so -- for example, point to your camera and make a questioning look, and acknowledge their response. (I.e., if they make a "no" gesture, nod and point your camera elsewhere. This rarely happens: I missed one photo for this reason on my December, 2002 trip to Lebanon, for example.)

Use a short lens (35 to 50 mm) and get pretty close to the action: using a long tele will make you look like a voyeur. Smaller cameras are less intimidating than big ones.

When people see you taking pictures, they wonder why you're doing it. For this purpose, it helps to give cues about it -- act out a role, if you will (see postscript).

Stick around

People get tired of mugging or acting self-conscious around a camera after a few minutes. The ones who don't like it have let you know they don't want their picture taken or have left, and the rest will go about their business. You can go about yours quietly without bothering anyone.

Be a lady -- or take one along

A man all by himself shooting pictures of passers-by might look somewhat suspicious, but a man and a woman taking pictures is completely harmless.

If asked, shoot

Even if you don't want to, and even if you're shooting film or running out of CF: one "wasted" frame can make somebody happy, and bring gobs of positive karma your way, letting you do your stuff in peace.

Use your common sense

Think "Would I mind if that was me in the viewfinder?" Don't take pictures of sensitive subjects. I wouldn't photograph a smooching couple except if they expressly asked me to. I'd avoid shopping malls, schools, and governmental buildings, and I'd be very careful about photographing unknown kids -- I'd be extra certain about having their parents' permission before shooting any frames. As Michael Reichmann puts it:

A picture of a little girl sitting on her daddy's shoulders at the Santa Claus parade is one thing. A child alone in a public place is quite another. As commented on recently to me by street photographer John Brownlow, imagine what you would think if your little girl came home one day and said, "Daddy, a man took my picture in the park today." Needless to say, use mature judgment.

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