Yeah, it’s kind of difficult to take a “spontaneous” photo by first asking the person.

Odd how people tend to look artificial, like posed store manikins, when they know their picture is about to be taken.

Yeah, sometimes the result is good but I find spontanious photos to be the most interesting

It might have something to do with the way people (and animals) react to the inherent “challenge” that seems to be given by being directly looked at; both in having someone looking directly at us when they take our picture, and for the eventual viewer of the picture having the people in the picture looking directly at them from “inside” the picture outward.

Small children (and sometimes-older “children”) often times reply to that “challenge” being given by sticking out their tongues at the photographer/camera. Without the camera less childish adults sometimes respond with a growled “What are you looking at, buddy?”

Spontaneous is better.

I think you're about right.

LOL, a look I often get if I'm photographing a building or something else and somebody thinks I'm photographing them. And yeah, you get a better glimpse of everyday life through spontanious photography.

The tradition of street photography, is the decisive moment. Garry Winogrand, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Robert Capa none of them would even think of asking to take a photo first. All of them did treat their subjects with respect. That's the difference. In order to get a good photo you have to get close, both physically and emotionally. Nothing works better than a smile and a thank you.

cool, thank you. I hadn't thought of that actually