I have come up with an idea I would like to test some day. While street photography normally requires the photographer to be unobtrusive and surreptitious, I was wondering how it would be to go to the opposite extreme. I'm talking about something like wearing one of those reflective vests like guys on road construction gangs wear and being as obvious as possible with the camera and the act of shooting.
My theory is that most people would assume you must be some sort of legit "official" photographer for something or other and make an effort to ignore you and go about their business as though they hadn't seen you.
At the very least, anyone who didn't and objected you could fend off with, "Hey, it isn't like I'm
hiding and taking your picture." Anyone who would feel inclined to object would have ample opportunity to avoid you, verbally object, or otherwise make clear they don't wish to be included in your photos. All the rest, you can assume implied consent (though that would be useless for publishing purposes, of course).
The idea stems from an idea I had when I was on daily "make-work" cleaning duty for a while when in school in the Navy. There was little to do, but we couldn't hide out and do nothing or we'd catch hell. I figured the best way to do nothing was to be conspicuous about it, so when I wanted a break I'd stand at parade rest by the door of some big office. Everybody who passed by assumed somebody else put me there and paid me no mind whatsoever.
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