Don't Photograph This 

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

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!

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

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!

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.

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

I love how you tackle the humanity aspect of photography.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

It's a lady with an umbrella stalking you!

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Solid points! Well argued and spot on

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

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.

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

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

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.

I agree with all of your choices and whether people do or not you’re thoughtful. I was unable to photograph Manhattan on 9-11 because the scenes and the vibe were too disturbing to me. Obviously people did and those shots are important to show others what happened but just not for me to want to do.

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.

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

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

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.

I fully agree! Decency and common sense.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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! 😁

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

Agree completely, but I should also add another important subject: One should not shoot identifiable photographs of children nowadays.

Spoke nothing but facts!

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

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.

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

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

I am not a street photographer but focus on landscapes and building but I agree with everything you said. I wish more street photographers had common decency to respect the people they were photographing. As someone who lives in a very touristy place and get people from all over the world, I hate having my picture taken and as my neighbour says, the tourists know no manners. Hopefully more street photographers will learn from your video.

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.

Totally agree with all. Good video.

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!

5:41 “not that type of flashing, I generally don’t do that too often THESE DAYS” Ayo pause 🫵🤨📸

The first one is very important. 🙏

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 😍

image train in the city is great!

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.

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

Thank youuuu.

that blonde lady's stalking you again, Rome

Decade ago, popping in front of somewhen and firing off a flash would get you a dirty look and maybe a 4 letter comment, in today’s world, US mainly, I think you are truly risking an ass stomping !!! Agree on all those points and great topic !!!

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

I exactly share your opinion

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.

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

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.

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

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.

I totally agree with you...

I agree with this. 😊

100% agree with you.

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 .

2:24 Hasselblad !? New Toy ?

I'm with you on all of these and personally add photographing other people's children to my list.

Roman's #1 Top Tip for Photographers: Don't be an A-hole.

I've always wondered how press photographers embedded in war zones or even natural disaster events like hurricanes make it through an assignment. That must be just crazy. '..be a decent human being first.." Yup! Have a great day!

Agreed 100

What camera are you using at 2:23?

Went I was in the Boy Scout’s my Scout Master was the Editor of the local news paper and he knew that I was learning photography so he sent me work with his photographers and Richmond Virginia was center of politics when the General Assembly went in session we covered it my mentor Bob Brown had hours of boring speech’s and Bob came up with the Pick of the Day which was a Senator picking his nose I think it was worth breaking your code

Thank you Roman for being a decent human being :) Sounds silly but these days some moral decency is welcome.

oh man, you seem to be using a $10K camera and i cant tell the difference at all :) (sorry for the tangent )

You are missing the opportunity and the chance of catching the reality of life.

have you done a video like this before?

💯

1) Vast majority of people don't want to be photographed, and the most interesting photos are usually of those who don't want to be photographed. 2) One of the most famous street photos, are of kissing people. 3) There are several photos of "vulnerable" people taken by the greatest photographers, and these photos ended in photo books. 4) Bruce Gilden shoved his camera and flash into peoples faces, and became a Magnum photographer. 5) The vast majority of protests are not dangerous, and photographing them is not about fighting injustices. I personally was photographing several protests with which I completely disagree, and when I was posting them, I made no comments about the people or the event.

Well-stated rules, thank you. Is that your girlfriend who is always in the background?

😊👍

Polite photographers are my favorite.

Dude, there is a strange woman following you 😱

Very based!

A flash is very rude and gives street photographers a bad name.