September 2026 Photo Contest Discussion Thread: "The Street as a Livelihood" (page 6 of 12)

if it's done by professionals (and not amateurs—it's their livelihood)

No problem with the contest if it's done by amateurs. The theme includes all ways of making a living on the street: official, informal, illegal...

Hi Noëlle

Ah, the famous right to one's image! It's like vaccines—everyone has their own opinion, and no two are the same! But then, if we apply it strictly, does street photography even exist anymore? Did you know that freedom of expression and artistic creation take precedence over the right to one's image in the vast majority of cases? Of course, if the person photographed is in a degrading situation, everyone should think twice before publishing anything.

If the concert is on the street and accessible to the public, a spectator may appear in a photo or video of the concert without their permission being systematically required, particularly when their appearance is incidental and the image is used to show the event itself. Case law thus allows the publication of a person appearing incidentally in a photograph focused on a public event. However, the situation is different if:

- you are isolated and clearly highlighted in the video/photo - the person uses your image for commercial or advertising purposes - the image is used in a context different from the concert or in a way that could harm you - the video intentionally and extensively films you as the actual subject

Hello

No problem with the contest if it's done by amateurs. The theme includes all ways of earning a living on the street: official, informal, illegal...

Illegal? ... Illegal! You're thinking of this:

India

Or this?:

Naples

Exactly!

One business is legal, the other isn’t. Winter is so harsh in the heights of Hogsback (South Africa) that you really need a blanket. 😇

Hi Catherine, Thanks for those details about image rights. Even though I trained as a lawyer, I hadn’t looked into the Bannier case law that relaxed the rules around street photography in France. Actually, I don’t like taking photos without people’s consent—probably because I hate being photographed myself! I won’t change how I do things, but I’m better informed now.😉

Great idea, this approach, Christelle. Acrobatics, juggling, clown performances... Street circus arts: definitely worth entering in the contest.

A street cook in Phuket. The smell was incredible...😏😛



And his colleague from Penang. My son loved it 😛

My fish is fresh, it's fresh... (Cambodia)

Tuk-tuk for luggage

Really beautiful photo!

While digging through all my folders, I still managed to find... 4 😏!

On Santo Antão (Cape Verde):



In Kamakura (Japan):



Not far from Don Mueang Airport (Bangkok):



And finally, in Kotaraja on Lombok (Indonesia):

Hi Pagal, I have a question and a suggestion. There are places where there isn’t really a "street" as such, but rather "public pathways" that are more or less sacred because they’re filled with pilgrims—and street vendors, just like you’d see on any street. I’m thinking of Varanasi, for example, with the ghats, but also the opposite bank facing the ghats, which is becoming more and more popular... But there are other places like this too...

Hi Jean-Marie, Actually, my concept of "street" for this theme is broadened to include many public thoroughfares, but it still needs to remain urban. So, it depends on the photo... To me, the ghats of Varanasi qualify as "the street." On the opposite bank, it seems less urbanized. I don’t know—I’d need to see the photo to judge.

For me, the ghats of Varanasi are like the "street." On the other side of the river, it feels less urbanized.

To me, it’s pretty much the same. Is it a question of buildings or how busy the place is? How long has it been since you last went to Varanasi? I’ve noticed that a lot of pilgrims and visitors now go "across the river," which might explain the street vendors there—maybe to avoid the heavy competition on the ghats. I’ll go along with your decision, but I’d be disappointed if you don’t accept my photo.

Last time I went to Varanasi was in 2011, I think!

For me it’s pretty much the same. Is it a matter of construction or how busy the place is?

A bit of both, but mostly construction. You’ll have to show me the photo, please—here or in private.

I thought about you, your hesitations, and your precautions before pressing the shutter.

Sent to Gaza, a reporter watches an old bookseller sitting on the sidewalk in front of his shop for a long time. Surrounded by stacks of books, he reads. The journalist tells him he’d like to photograph him and hears the reply in impeccable French:

« You know, a photograph isn’t nothing. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. It might be more considerate if we took the time to meet first. » Read in *The Man Who Read Books* by Rachid Benzine

Kids work young on the streets of Ilha de Moçambique (northern Mozambique)



(Not a photojournalist, just saying! 😉)

Hey Voyou 🙂

I love your story. Here (I’m in Tangier), it’s a free-for-all with phones. A man, a cat, a stool... no discrimination. The tourist won’t leave without a souvenir to Instagram.

Speaking of phones, I’ve given myself a challenge: photograph someone who isn’t looking at their phone! 🤪

There aren’t just downsides to Moroccans being glued to their phones...

The shopkeepers are so busy watching videos that they forget to hassle passersby! 😏

In the countryside, it’s the same. You’ve got a shepherd with his flock of sheep—what’s he doing? Yelling into his phone...

Just a quick reminder: you have until 11:59 PM tonight to post your photos.