I have encountered on more than one occasion very negative reactions, from people on the streets of Athens. No matter if I am trying to catch a face, or fruit cart or a kiosk, the reaction is always the same. Great displeasure. I try to be as discreet as possible and even though taking close ups is a great temptation, try to keep a distance in hope that I will go unnoticed.

Unfortunately, it is easier said than done as it seems everyone is always looking at what the person next to them is doing, and being invisible is almost impossible. It has come to the point where I feel like I am doing something illegal and get nervous of being caught, therefore, ruining the whole fun of the moment.

I was wondering if any of you face the same problem. Lately, I visited Madrid, and was welcomed with a mixture of smiles and impassiveness, when someone thought I was taking their photo.

In Greece i have not had any bad experience and once a man which saw me taking photos at Zappio told me to take a photo of him and his wife :D

Here you can see another discussion we had before about street photography
http://www.megapixelworld.com/board/showthread.php?t=133

Wow, you're lucky. You would not believe the reactions I have gotten. I once came upon a popcorn vendor in a park just as the sun was going down. He had installed a yellow light in the glass case which enhansed the popcorn colloring. In front was a lovely selection of colorful lolipops. I stood back a ways wanting to take a photo of 3 children eagerly waiting for their orders. The guy saw me out of the corner of his eye and started screaming at me not to photgraph him. I politely told him that I was only interested in getting a close up of the popcorn and lollipops for nothing more than my own personal enjoyment. He then screamed that it was against the law. Needless to say everyone in the park was looking at me as if I had stolen something.

I was also reproached by the police in the Omonia underground, when trying to photograph the cute kiosk.

I noticed in several other photo sites that this is common and am sad to say that we have all become very wary and distrustful of everyone. :(

So sad that you had so bad reactions!Reading your post i believe it's because you go very close to people,i usually use the telezoom and when i see someone that looking at me,i make as if he/she obstructs my view ;)