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it's also quite telling that anyone can overlook the obvious fact that there is a non-verbal interaction happening with almost all of the people I shoot.
The assumption that you need to be a big boy and get in peoples space or speak some stupid spiel at them before you can ask permission is extremely primitive, and speaks to a lack of experience.
In reality you can request permission simply by raising your camera at people, and/or making eye contact, the reaction you get in that first half second should tell you all you need to know.