Photography and Surveillance, web

Pronunciation:/səˈveɪl(ə)ns, -ˈveɪəns/noun[mass noun]close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal:he found himself put under surveillance by British military intelligence
When I think of surveillance, I think of CCTV and being watched - being watched without be even knowing. some could say it is an invasion of privacy. but if you think about it, how many photographers take photos of people who are too oblivious to notice? especially when it comes to street photography. street photography to some people is the photographing and oblivious people which are the subject which is then documented with a camera and lens.

Cornell Capa © International Center of Photography/Magnum PhotosMagnumphotos. 2012. Magnumphotos. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&VBID=2K1HZOF58JHDX&IT=ZoomImage01_VForm&IID=2K7O3RMI9V6&PN=51&CT=Search. [Accessed 24 March 2012]

take this image for example. How many people on this image do you think was even aware that this photograph had been taken by Cornell Capa? and out of the ones that do, how many people gave consent for the photograph to be used?

and again with this image by Bruno Barbey:


Magnumphotos. 2012. Magnumphotos. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&VBID=2K1HZOF586WM5&IT=ZoomImage01_VForm&IID=2TYRYD0K1AM7&PN=200&CT=Search. [Accessed 24 April 2012].

The subjects these images are both of passers by unaware of the camera, the idea of the subject feeling like they are being watched causes a strange feeling to the image. Conjures up many questions such as "who are these people?" "where are they going?" as it is just a snapshot, we don't get enough information, hence the questions it provokes.