[HiTech RedNeck]

Could be that some folks have seen “authorities” and newsies run amok too often. Might be a good idea when doing more than taking snapshots with a handheld camera at a scene that isn’t an emergency, to announce your purpose to the others present.

[jwparkerjr]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've been doing it for 30 plus years and that's usually the approach I take. Often though, it's just not practical to climb up on the bench in the booth and announce to the assembled diners that I am about to take photos of my granddaughter as she uses her patented flair to prepare Opa’s coffee. Most people don't care, as long as you aren't obviously photographing them. Trust me, if I'm photographing them they will never know it.