Street photography has always been about documenting people in their surroundings. Whether it’s the incredibly artistic work of Fan Ho or the documentary work of Steve McCurry, whichever way you look at it, at its core, street photography involves people.

However, what if this isn’t allowed? I’m from the UK, and according to the statistics on this blog, most of you are from the US. We both have the privilege of living in a (relatively) free country as far as street photography is concerned. We can go out and take photos of anyone in a public place, and assuming there is no malicious intent, this is perfectly legal (this isn’t legal advice). I want to emphasise the word legal, not moral.

While we have these privileges, in many countries, rightly or wrongly, street photography isn’t as straightforward as one might think. For example, in the UAE, having recognisable people in your shots can land you in trouble if those people report you to the police. In some parts of Europe, the legality around photographing others is murky. Some countries are even considering laws banning the sharing of photos of recognisable people online, even if they were taken in public.

I’m not here to debate what’s right or wrong, if it’s morally ok, or if your rights as a free citizen are being stripped away. What I can do is offer practical tips if you happen to find yourself in a country with such limitations.

Avoid Faces

This is by far the easiest option. Avoid taking photos where people’s faces are visible. There are many ways of shooting where the face is covered by angle, light, or objects. I’d suggest avoiding the lazy option of only photographing people from behind.

Silhouettes

Yes, this can be incredibly cliché and repetitive, however it’s one of the best ways to keep your subject’s identity hidden, add mystery to the photo, and create something a bit more artistic. All you need is good light, contrast, and a well-defined subject.

Scenes Over Subjects

Rather than focusing on individual subjects, try to capture scenes where people are part of the bigger picture rather than the focal point. In many cases, people will be very small in your frame and faces won’t be clearly visible.

Go Abstract – Motion / Diffusion / Reflections

You can add motion blur to your shots to mask identities and create more artistic, abstract images. Use this selectively so you don’t end up with 100 identical photos.

You can also use elements in your environment to add reflections or diffusion. This allows you to hide faces or create something more unique without revealing identifiable features.

Exclude People Entirely

You can go one step further and remove people from your shots entirely, even if their identities would be hidden. While this approach isn’t for everyone, and I personally feel a human element adds to an image, it’s still perfectly valid. A good friend of mine, Dubai-based photographer Preet, has been shooting like this for a long time. I’ve linked his profile below for you to check out.

https://www.instagram.com/visualsbypreet

Important Note

Even if you do everything in your power to hide identities, the fact remains that to outside observers, you might look like you’re taking photos of them. Be prepared to explain and show what you’re doing because street photography is incredibly niche. The vast majority of people outside our little world have no idea what it is and often assume our hobby is something fit for creeps or weirdos. With that in mind, always approach every situation with empathy and situational awareness.

Have a Plan

In the unlikely event that someone will stop you, make sure to have a clear plan on how to deascalte the situation and assure the person that there is no malicious intent. This could be with a QR code taking them to your Instagram page, it could be a small business card, or even a pocket sized zine with your work. The medium doesnt matter as long as you can clearly and quickly explain to someone who you are, and what you do. Show them the photo, and if it’s a good one, offer to send it to them later. This will diffuse most situations.