First and foremost, I believe that everybody should make their own ethics, and leave everyone else alone. When it comes to street photography, there are no rules that you must follow. There are no guidelines, and there’s no exact way of doing things. It’s up to you to decide how you want to approach ethics on the street.
Is Street Photography unethical?
At the end of the day, we are making pictures of people without asking for their permission most of the time. This can lead to others thinking this is an unethical act. I believe that it’s up to the photographer to determine how they will approach their subjects. Personally, I am not a fan of using flash, and I do like to make pictures without people noticing most of the time. This is simply the workflow that works for me. Others may enjoy being a bit more aggressive with the flash to achieve the what they are looking for in a photograph. Everyone has their approach. Some people will ask for permission, others will not. But is this unethical? Perhaps the root of street photography is unethical in nature. Just be honest about your approach and don’t hide anything. Be playful on the street, chat with people, smile, and engage with life openly. I think it’s really a matter of your body language, the way that you approach people, and your demeanor.
Just go out there and make your own ethics. Play your own game and move to your own tune. Don’t listen anyone that tells you otherwise.