“Walker Evans famously rigged a camera inside of his coat, threaded a cable release down his sleeve and took portraits on the New York City subway. Magnum photographer Luc Delahaye followed-up on Evans in the 90s with a series on the Metro in Paris. Martin Parr’s done a series of sleeping commuters in Tokyo, shot from above.”

Now, unfortunately we are living in a world that has gone slightly insane.

These days I would avoid giving anyone the idea to strap a camera to their chest and try to conceal it under their clothing for the purpose of shooting in a public space. Especially with a cable release running down their sleeve as a trigger.

You can probably already see where I am heading with this.

If some tried this in 2007 on a subway or in a public space, there is a very good chance that someone will notice the bulge on the chest, the cable release coming down the sleeve and resting in that persons hand and the suspicious behavior that is reminiscent of someone looking for something, lingering or simply acting a little odd.

It is not far fetched to imagine someone putting all of these things together and panicking, because they mistake this individual for a suicide bomber.

On a cramped subway or bus this could be a very bad thing, as people panic and attempt to escape.

This person could be attacked and even killed by fellow passengers. It’s happened on several airline flights since 9/11.

If tagged as a bomber this person is almost guaranteed to be terminated by security personnel.

On the day of the bus bombings in London, a gentleman was shot in a tube station, because apparently security thought that his backpack or he looked suspicious.

Officers are instructed to terminate bombers, with multiple shots to the head to produce instant death, in order to prevent them from detonating explosives.

There is little or no negotiating, because apparently unofficially the decision has been made that it is better to have one mistaken death, than perhaps dozens of dead and wounded if the suspicion turns out to be true and the individual is not neutralized in time.

Unfortunately the incident in London was a case of mistaken identity, but that is of little consolation to that individual, because he is dead.

Now, all of the above may sound paranoid and I would agree with you, if this was prior to 9/11.

I travel a lot and have noticed that both passengers and security personnel are more alert and on edge than in the past. Given the circumstances, I wouldn’t recommend anyone testing if my theory is wrong.

Feli di Giorgio
http://www.elanphotos.com

okay we’re probably beaten this horse in only 5 posts (and it was a year ago, but i think it’s still worth discussing in this forum), but i think the SinRastro site is a good example of what “street photography” is not. I’d classify this more as “voyeur photography”.

i think there’s a bit of voyeurism involved in street photography in general, but pretty girls or not, it tends to be quite a bit more situational.

your photos are “generic”, i.e. they’re pictures of females looking up or down or at something. the only one i saw that came close to a moment was the one of someone taking a picture…of what we won’t know, or what was “special” about the moment…

street photography tends to convey a situation, and has a bit more “story” behind it. a street portrait can even have a story behind it..even the kinds of shots you have could possibly have a story behind it, but there’s a detachment that just Feels Creepy.

IMHO I like to take pics of moments,… female “models” are my favourite subjects,… but not the only one. Its street photography as long as you make a moment stay without preparing the momment… (weird phrase).

BTW Markus I really like ur work.

SinRastro