Hasidic, Orthodox Jews, Street Photography, Problem?

Here in L.A. there are a number of interesting ethnic areas where

on the weekends, there are good street candid photo

opportunities of Orthodox Jews during Sabbath and Holidays.

 

On most every occasion, however, someone asks why I am

photographing. So I wonder if there is a taboo about street

photography in the Orthodox /Hasidic Jews culture in general.

 

I am a complete outsider to that community.

 

Can I tell them I got my camera gear from some nice Orthodox

jews in Brooklyn? :>)

There's a taboo against "working" on the Sabbath and holidays, but not against street photography in general, IMX.

 

However, no one (with the possible exception of some of the people on Melrose) likes to be considered a zoo exhibit. Add in the current general paranoia in the US and it's not surprising you've been asked a question or two.

There is no Jewish prohibition against pictures, either as photographer or subject. Many Orthodox are also less tolerant of non-Orthodox, especially other Jews.

 

Probably more to the point, nobody likes to feel like an animal in a zoo. "Look! A Jew! With a hat! And funny HAIR!! Quick--pass the camera!!" And as the reasons you're there seems to be "well, you're, um, interesting... you know--ETHNIC" they may well fell that way.

 

It's one thing if you're far away and using telephoto lenses (even then it can be odd), but it brings it home if you're on someone's local "home turf", and there's nowhere else they can go. They can't drive on the Sabbath, so they can't avoid you by staying off the sidewalk. They would not, incidentally, use a camera on the Sabbath either.

 

Furthermore, some people---including me, for example--don't especially like to have their picture taken without their permission. I don't want to be in a gallery without knowing it. Most papers, etc are nice about not publishing unflattering pictures of nonfamous people without some sort of consent, but artistes often ignore that.

 

If I go to a downtown busy city street, I'm "in public". But if I"m sitting on my stoop or going to get mail across the street, in MY VIEW I'm not "in public" in the same way. Which is to say, i feel invaded if a random stranger is snapping pictures of me.

 

Anyway, how to deal with it? Simple. Learn these words:

"Hi, I'm a practicing photographer, my name is ___"

"Is it OK if I take street candid shots here/of you/in this area?"

 

Someone may say "no", which of course may not be a legal bar. But probably politeness will win the battle. If you want to be welcomed, you're better off starting the conversation.

My interest goes a little beyond the "Look! A Jew! With a hat! And

funny HAIR!! It also has to do with the sense that it's a tightknit,

humanity oriented non-modern community, etc, etc.

 

Actually I think the hair and clothing looks pretty cool too. I have

to balance trying to be friendly with the idea that good shots often

take walking a fine line between photographing someone who

has given permision before hand and just photographing

someone first, and asking questions later.

...but i would seriously think twice if it were a specific taboo.

"...walking a fine line between photographing someone who has given permision before hand and just photographing someone first, and asking questions later."

 

Do both. My office building has a high percentage of the hyper-orthodox (classifying by clothing, beards, etc.) going in and out all the time. They're friendly enough. Strike up an (honest) conversation if you're noticed.

Erik Hammarlund said:

 

*****

If I go to a downtown busy city street, I'm "in public". But if I"m sitting on my stoop or going to get mail across the street, in MY VIEW I'm not "in public" in the same way. Which is to say, i feel invaded if a random stranger is snapping pictures of me.

 

Anyway, how to deal with it? Simple. Learn these words: "Hi, I'm a practicing photographer, my name is ___" "Is it OK if I take street candid shots here/of you/in this area?"

*****

 

Thank you for this explanation. I have been yelled and screamed at, at countless occasions because I was taking pictures. Never have I had an answer when I asked what the problem was, only more yelling.

 

There is a problem though, in my view. Cities want tourists. Tourists take pictures. Most of the time, they don't take pictures of people. They take pictures of buildings, streets, ... things that serve as a souvenir from a trip. They don't want people in their pictures, but they can't wait until the streets are deserted. So, they take pictures of streets that are "polluted" with people, i.e. those people are not the subject, they just happen to be there. It is a bit tough to ask every single person in the field of view to ask for permission to take a picture. The day is short.

 

The bottom line is, that being in pictures is part of life. I have a problem when someone yells at me because they presume that they are in my picture, and then happily go to a shopping mall, a bank, a grocery store, ... where not only their picture is taken, but where their every move is filmed.

There are a lot of people uninterested in being amusement for others. And they could give a rat's patoot that the banks, etc., record them on film. That's business, that's security, etc. It isn't some guy's hobby or art pictures business goal and is almost never going to be on the internet.

Aside from all of the excellent points made by others, Ultra-Orthodox Jews do not appreciate being photographed on the Sabbath and on holidays. Although they can't really avoid it, they do see it as a violation of the "spirit" of the Sabbath day.

 

You might have more luck on another day of week.

I one took a camera during a charity motorcycle run and I had to sign up inside the Oakland Hells Angels motorcycle clubhouse. I asked if it was cool if I took some pics and one of the members points to sign hanging over the doorway leading into the main assembly room/bar. The sign said * WHATEVER IS SEEN IN THIS ROOM,WHATEVER IS HEARD IN THIS ROOM AND WHATEVER SAID IN THIS ROOM,,,,STAYS IN THIS ROOM*.

 

it don't hurt to ask first.....then again, I was dealing with Hells Angels,not guys wearing funny hats.

Michael Adler makes a very good point about the Sabbath, the period between sundown on Friday evening and when it gets dark on Saturday night. This is also true for other Jewish Holy Days.

 

With regard to this point solely, a more respectful, yet very interesting, time of the week in Orthodox communities is Friday afternoon when folks are scurrying around preparing for the Sabbath. I took one award-winning shot at that time of the week in a very observant section of Jerusalem.

 

Other areas in Los Angeles where such Sabbath preparations are being made are the Fairfax area (alas, though, rapidly increasing rents are driving out some of the traditional Jewish businesses like the classic store Hatikvah Music <www.hatikvahmusic.com> -- get there while you can!) and the Pico-Robertson area. Don't forget to capture one of the most fascinating visuals in L.A., the multi-lingual signs in commercial areas.

When I was in the Mea Shearim (Ultra Orthodox) district of <a href = "http://www.terragalleria.com/middle-east/israel/jerusalem/jerusalem.html">Jerusalem</a>,

I noticed that people didn't like being photographed for sure.

Hey folks - it is not just the Hasidic sect that frowns on being photographed. Ever try to photograph the Amish - you know, the guys with the funny clothes and funny hats and funny beards (couldn't resist) in Pennsylvania?

 

Or perhaps the Navaho in Monument Valley? Or any other "peculiar" looking group?

 

Let's face it people - it has less to do with any religious or cultural prohibitions than it does with, as someone above mentioned, being viewed a a display in a zoo.

I am not Jewish, and I am not an expert. However, I'll give my observations on the subject.

 

I worked (as a non-Jewish teacher) at a Chasidic Hebrew day school for 4 years and was welcomed with open arms into the community. Chasidic and Orthodox are not synonymous in my experience.

 

As for, "It also has to do with the sense that it's a tight knit, humanity oriented non-modern community, etc, etc."

 

This is on target except for the "non-modern" part. The Chasidim I was familiar with were VERY modern thinking (see www.askmoses.com) and generally observant of the mitzvahs (laws) such as dress and Shabbat observance.

 

"You might have more luck on another day of week."

 

They were not as concerned about my keeping the Sabbath because I was not a Jew. In fact, there were some non-Jews hired for certain tasks on the Sabbath that they, as Jews, could not undertake. However, when I have been hired to photograph Bar Mitzvahs, I was never hired for the Sabbath ceremonies. I think this crosses the line. I was hired after sundown on Saturday after Shabbat was over.

 

"However, no one (with the possible exception of some of the people on Melrose) likes to be considered a zoo exhibit. Add in the current general paranoia in the US and it's not surprising you've been asked a question or two."

 

I think the above comment is right on target. Common courtesies are as important in the Jewish community as in any other.

 

If you want to photograph them, do as any documentary photographer would: get inside, meet them, talk to them, and express your heartfelt interest. The Chasidic Jews are some of the most open and welcoming people you will ever meet (I am speaking specifically of the Chabad group specifically; as they are the only group I have had any real interaction with.)

 

P.S. "Can I tell them I got my camera gear from some nice Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn?"

 

I concur. I never buy from anyone else. The best service I have ever experienced has been through B&H.

When shooting (with a camera ;-) people ANYWHERE, unless I am way across the street or the other side of a river, I would go and ask the person if I can take a photo of them.

 

If they don't speak English, I smile and point at my camera and point at them. Very often I get a nod and they let me photograph them. Usually posed.

 

Then, when they are relaxed and going about their activity again, I take another photo almost as an afterthought, although that WAS the original photo I wanted to take.

 

Most recently I did this with a Bedouin woman in the Sahara desert who spoke no English but was happy to let me photograph her going about her daily errands. You don't want to take photos of people who are scowling because they know you're taking photos and treating them like exhibits.