out of interest Xwarrior what camera do you use for these pics?
Greetings to you memnoch87. It is a Canon Powershot S3is. 12x zoom/6mpx
It sure is not small - looks like your normal SLR camera but it's digital. A lot of the time a lot of people know that I am taking their picture - I have had to acquire some people skills in handling different situations!! At the same time it is not as big as the more expensive dSLR's so it kind of more manageable.
The zoom sure comes in handy for a lot of the street shots but I do not hide away. Most people are focussed on something else when in the street, but if they look at me a big grin and thumbs up gets a positive response in China.
I carry the camera in an ordinary shoulder bag on top of the rest of my junk. I do not keep it in a proper camera bag because fast access seems more important to me than keeping it in pristine condition. After 4 years use it still works ok.
I went for the S3 because it has all the functions I want for taking the photos I like. It is actually not that good in low light conditions so that can be frustrating at times. The best camera I have had for totally accurate photos in any light conditions was an Asahi Pentax - but when I needed to upgrade they were hellishly expensive in China.
If I take photos of people on my beaten path I always try to get back and give them a photo. For me, this has been the most rewarding part of taking photos in China. A lot of people on low incomes do not have the means or time to have photos taken. It is a small thing but out of that I have made many friends in the street.