Taking photos on trains and buses

If you take pictures on an underground train, you can improve your results by taking the following steps.

Notice anything unusual? The author has an iPhone on his lap, about to photograph a passenger.

Hide your camera

I partially hide my phone by wrapping my hand round the phone body, leaving only the top one or two centimetres - the area with the lens - showing. This makes it less obvious.

Only photograph those opposite you.

Only take photos of people in front of you. If you photograph people further away you will have to turn the camera. If you do that, the person sitting next to you will see that your phone’s screen is showing people in the carriage. Plus, the angle of the camera is an odd one, which will be spotted by other people in the carriage.

Occupy an end of row seat

If possible, choose a seat at the end of a row. It means you’ll have only one neighbour sitting next to you, rather than one on either side. It means less chance of being spotted.

Anxious? Start shooting just before your station arrives

If you're worried about taking photos, wait until your station is just a minute away

Shoot your photos just before you need to get up and leave.

That way you'll have planned an escape route. If you're spotted, people won't have time to get angry.

What if you're spotted?

If you've been spotted, stop taking pictures and act innocent. Pretend you weren't doing anything.

Fiddle with your phone (if that's what you've been using). If you no longer appear to be a threat, people will accept you and go back to their novel. They may even think they were mistaken.

Uh-oh, I’ve been spotted. Time to make a hasty retreat.

Beware of camera shake

Some trains jerk or rattle, and cause camera shake. If so, take your photos when the train is in a station or travelling at a slow speed.

Look away from the subject

If you look at your subject, they will notice you. People have an inbuilt safety mechanism that tells them something isn't normal.

So deliberately avoid looking at your subject. Casually look elsewhere while clicking the shutter.