I initially got my camera to get me to explore my city more and notice the little details that can make a walk much more interesting than just ignoring everything all the way to my destination. I go out with my camera usually to explore a urban area, having researched the architecture and urbanism beforehand, and my subjects are not human beings: buildings, vehicles, infrastructure, litter, plants, clouds, etc. I don't shoot for money or fame, just for my own fun. I don't do photo shoots with models, and if I was asked to take photos of people for their own benefit and felt comfortable saying no, I would say no.

However, following the tips I got from various photography books I read, if there are people in front of the camera, if they are not identifiable and if they add an interesting component to my photo, then I will take the photo. If I'm not sure, I take the photo and decide what to do with it later at home. I might also consider waiting for someone to walk by if I feel a photo needs it, but that has yet to happen.

I remember taking photos of people five times out of my own will:

• two with a friend who was okay with starring in some photos if I felt like it
• one with a relative who I asked to turn their back to me to look at a sunset
• one of a stranger standing in front of two rivers with their back to me

And one day, there was some shady looking person who wanted me to shoot them. I was alone in an area I didn't know well with 2000€ of camera gear on me and didn't feel comfortable saying no, so I took a few photos. They gave me their contact info and left, as they wanted the photos to show off on social media or something. I deleted those photos when I sorted through them at home and never got in touch.