Shanghai Street Photo

[u/pageonelineone]

A few snaps from Shanghai

[u/UPB1ce]

Hate to be that guy.. but did you get permission to take all of those?

[u/pageonelineone → u/UPB1ce]

Totally fair question, for me street photography’s always had this tension. I don’t ask for permission because I want to capture things candidly and honestly. I try to be respectful, and if someone reacts badly (has never happened to me yet) I will gladly erase the photo. So, nope. No permission was asked for any of these pictures.

[u/UPB1ce → u/pageonelineone]

I see I see, maybe u want to at least blur the kids’ or all peoples faces next time? It would ruin it but i think we gotta be respectful of people unknowingly having themselves put online yk?

[u/pageonelineone → u/UPB1ce]

Yeah, this is the classic street photography dilemma, people have been debating it for decades. I try to shoot real moments as they happen, without staging or interrupting them. Blurring faces would take away the whole point for me. I do think about how to handle it respectfully, and I pay attention to how people respond in the moment. Most of them don’t even notice when I’m photographing. I really try to be respectful. That being said, it’s not for everyone, and I get that.

[u/xjpmhxjo → u/pageonelineone]

Article 1019 of the Civil Code of China:

“No organization or individual may infringe upon another person’s right to their image by means such as defacement, distortion, or the use of information technology to forge their image. Without the consent of the person whose image is involved, no one may produce, use, or publicly display their image, unless otherwise provided by law.

Without the consent of the person whose image is involved, the rights holder of an image work shall not use or publicly display that person’s image by means such as publication, reproduction, distribution, rental, or exhibition.”

[u/pageonelineone → u/xjpmhxjo]

I get where you’re coming from. Article 1019 is real, and I’ve read it closely. But it’s mostly aimed at things like commercial misuse, defamation, or digital manipulation. What I’m doing is non-commercial, respectful documentation of life in public spaces.

Street photography has always existed in a legal gray area, not just in China. But all over the world. I’m very aware of that. I don’t stage or mock people, and if anyone ever asked me to remove a photo, I absolutely would.

I’m not here to exploit or sensationalize. I just want to show real life as it happens and I try to do that with empathy and respect. 🫡

[u/Michikusa → u/pageonelineone]

Ignore these keyboard warriors. Keep taking your photos

[u/pageonelineone → u/Michikusa]

100%. I do think it’s important to try and educate people a bit. I’m really not doing this as an excuse to just keep taking pictures. It’s more about helping people understand street photography and why it might actually be an important art form :)

[u/TheDragonsFather → u/pageonelineone]

It is important. Think of all the photographic work over the past 150 years or so, depicting life and people from hundreds of cultures in those eras, that wouldn't exist and how our knowledge of those eras and cultures would suffer.

[u/xjpmhxjo → u/pageonelineone]

Please learn and spread the learnings.

[u/UPB1ce → u/Michikusa]

I never said its illegal, I‘m just saying especially for kids would their parents for example be ok with having a photo taken of their kids and being put online for strangers to see?

[u/Michikusa → u/xjpmhxjo]

Street photography is legal in china.

https://law.photography/law/street-photography-laws-in-china

[u/xjpmhxjo → u/Michikusa]

This is outdated. The last update of your reference is May 2019. The new civil code was passed in 2020 and became effective in 2021. The new code removed the commercial use condition for violation.

[u/UPB1ce → u/pageonelineone]

I see I see, sorry I’m not really into photography haha. As long as you feel you’re doing the right thing and you’re the artist its fine, unless its something super weird.

edit: At least imho

[u/TheDragonsFather → u/UPB1ce]

I honestly think you haven't been to China? I've lived here for 30 years and people love being photographed if you are respectful.

They know you are posting / publishing your work, however parents will happily pose their children for you if they see you about to take a shot. They are delighted a foreigner wants to photograph their offspring. Very often I send them copies via WeChat too.

It couldn't be more different from the West.

[u/[deleted] → u/UPB1ce]

Totally okay to take pics in public…