An OTBKB reader was wondering how Hugh gets his pictures of people without their noticing–or, if they do notice, do they ever get upset? Here is Hepcat’s response:

Hepcat’s Guide to Taking Photos of Strangers If You Tend to be Somewhat
Shy and Non-confrontational:

Be “invisible”

Look like an idiot. Or a tourist. Seem harmless rather than sneaky and
threatening. Places with lots of tourists
(or idiots) are good places to photograph. Likewise where there are
lots of other photographers

Look like you are taking a photo of something in the distance. Be part
of a group of people. Take along a child or a girlfriend / boyfriend /
spouse so you seem to be taking a photo of them, not random passers-
by.

Compose a photograph with interesting composition and lighting , then
wait for someone to walk into the spot where there should be a person.
This is how the Grand Central photographs were made.

Look like you are waiting for someone, looking at your watch, being
impatient. When you eat at restaurants and sidewalk cafes always chose
the seat with the best view of something that is likely to make an
interesting photograph. This will annoy your friends but eventually
they get used to it.

Be the conspicuous person futzing around with their camera, pointing
the lens at yourself , the sky, the ground as though you just bought
it or recieved it as a gift. Soon you will be ignored.

Of course you could just ask, but that would be a completely different
kind of photograph.