People's experience of taking photos in India

carlyb

Hi IMers

Hope everyone's having a good week!

I started this thread as I'm interested in your experiences of taking photographs in India. I'm heading back to India in December not my first time but my first time solo and i always feel very inspired creatively to take photographs to record the wonderful places I've been lucky enough to visit. However, the one area i feel a bit 'odd' about is taking pictures of people.

I feel like i'm a good judge of when it's just inappropriate to take pics but there are lots of other scenarios that i would love to capture but I'm not sure of how to approach people, if it's okay to just snap away, if i should offer some money after taking a picture (esp of street kids)? On my last trip occasionally people approached my to take a picture and email it to them which i did but i guess i'd just like to hear other people's views and experiences on this.

Thanks

Jorge Reverter

Hi carlyb,

There are other threads about the same subject, try with our searcher.

I make thousands of pictures every year in India and probably portraits are my favorites. Probably as I'm from Spain I haven't the same sense of privacy than british but in general the people in India is the perfect target for the pics and almost always helping you and even insisting to be photographed.

Jorge

Jorge Reverter

have sent to my gallery here in IM a couple of minutes ago two portraits : one man and one woman. The portraits were taken last August in Kama a really small village (only a crossroads) on the road from Udaipur to Kumbalgarh. Have stopped there just to have a chai and in less than half an hour have made almost 30 or 40 pics because the people was terribly kind.

Jorge

ananda2193

I agree, many people ask you to take their pic.

Sama

I second what Jorge said. if you look at my photo gallery you'll see that it's filled with people pictures.

I am always respectful and there have been very few times when people did not want their picture taken -- they'll make a face or turn away or something and that's cool, I move on. usually people absolutely want me to take their picture. and I've never paid anyone.

one of my sweetest photo taking times was on my first trip when I went to the flower/veg warehouses in Chennai and I was followed around by a group of about 20 people, all of whom were more than happy to pose and who could not wait to see whatever picture I took. some even kissed the OM tattoo I have on my wrist. or maybe they just wanted to kiss my arm, who knows?

god, I miss India.

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Hal

Every time you point your camera, half a dozen kids will jump in front of it.

wonderwomanusa

Please do NOT offer people money to take their photo, and beware of anyone who asks for it.

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Haylo

My experience was the same as the other replies, people were very keen to have their photo taken and had a lot of fun giggling over them on the camera screen afterwards - warning this is a real battery eater!

I've only been asked for money once, from a group of youths who were egging a friend on who was dancing out in an absolutely brutal monsoon downpour. I laughed and told them they were crazy and they laughed back, they were clearly just being a bit cheeky and did not expect anything from me.

machadinha

Yep; also, if you scroll to the bottom of this page, you'll find a listing of "similar threads." Opening any of those will again feature a list of similar threads at bottom, and so on and so forth. It's an easy way to navigate the site.

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carlyb

Thanks for sharing everyone. I can't wait to get there and get snapping! I've had a look at some of the galleries - WOW! there really are some hugely talented people out there.

Thanks again

The_Wanderer

In India you don't have to worry about people but just beware of Dogs while clicking the pictures.
Once I were taking picture of a flower in a wild growth on a roadside and was quite engrossed in focusing and checking out different angles. As i were about to get up from my knees. (Yes I was sitting on my knees clicking it.)I felt someone touching my nose and there was a ferocious looking dog there. We were eye to eye and nose to nose. for me, the time just froze. though it lasted only a few seconds till the owner called the Dog and it went away. But I were o scared that the incident is still fresh on my mind even more than a year after it happened.
For viewing some of my photographs check
http://www.flickr.com/photos/me_the_wanderer/

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Brisso

In the touristed areas it is common to be asked for money after the photo is taken - you are under no obligation but be prepared for this.

zoltan

I think this would probably be the worst experience I can imagine happening

And for the OP, like others, I agree - don't pay people for photos. If the person has given you an outstanding opportunity for a picture, ask for their address & send them a photo - just make sure that you do follow up with the offer.

Cheers
Zoltan

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