Is it weird to go around the city just photographing stuff/people?

Its called street photography and its a well recongnized genre of photography, kind of an offshoot of photojournalism.

Here is a good link on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography

You may want to look at some of the work of folks like Chuck Ferris, Roy Caratozzolo ( Tozzophoto) and Nils Jorgensgensen if you have not already they are some established contemporary street photographers

People always ask about the legality of it and how it impacts the subjects right of privacy In the US it is not illegal to photograph anyone in places "where they would not have a reasonable expectation of privacy" So its Ok to do it downtown. In fact street photography has been recognized as a genre for a good while. You cannot take photos on private property if the property owner does not allow it but you can take photos of what goes on, on private property if the picture was taken from a public place,. The courts have been so far protective of these rights as part of freedom of the press,

You can use the photos in your portfolio or for editorial reasons without a release but if you use them for commercial uses such as advertising you must have a photo release from any recognizable persons in it. Its called "right of image". yopu need to beware of the context they are used as well. you cannot publish an image that displays someone in a false light. For example the picture of a person walking by an AIDs clinic if the image could be construed to imply the person has AIDs. Kantor uses the example of you putting up a web page titled "My Favorite Drug User: with a picture of your high school teacher taking an asperin.

I am including a couple of links on photographers rights that may help. I keep copies of the first in my camera bag for well inentioned but misinfomed people. the last one has individual state specific regulations.

http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

http://www.kantor.com/useful/Legal-Rights-of-Photo...

http://www.rcfp.org/photoguide/

I saw a short film where being gay was the norm and people had problems with straight people. They had babies during something called a breeding season or whatever. I guess once in a while they would have a time in the year where they just have sex with someone of the opposite gender to make a baby, but other than that people didn't "do it" with the opposite gender. And if they did they were considered a freak. It didn't seem that different from homophobia in a world where being straight is the norm though. Similar insults and all that.

It's not weird for photography students. You should be able to take pictures of public buildings with no trouble, and long shots of people walking, but if you put a camera in someone's face they might get perturbed.

A tip: in county or state-run animal shelters, you are allowed to photograph the animals as it is public property, and animals don't mind if you take a lot of pictures of them.

To me there's no such thing as etiquette. Just go and do it. I think for most people it's shyness. Heck, just whip your camera out and start shooting. To take a particular person on the street, you may want to shoot the surrounding areas and then zoom in your your subject. Maybe looking less conspicuous.

Absolutely not weird. A good photographer's gotta have the camera clicking at all times. :)

if it's in public, it's fine to photograph is my motto.

of course if you want to take a head on shot of someone I'd ask them first, and if someone asks you not to take their picture, be respectful. But to take a shot of stuff with people walking down the street is no big deal to me!

I take pictures all the time around my city, I probably look like a tourist but oh well lol. I take pictures of people too, but only when they're not looking:)

well of course! people will be wondering what you are doing. But seriously, its not weird at all =) as long as your not taking pictures of peoples butts and stuff. Its simply art =D I would TOTALLY do it. trust me. <3 photographing

go explore the world you already have good pictures of your cats add to your collection you have started! Enjoy and have fun! Have a great and fun New Year!

No not if you want to be a photographer and sometimes it looks cool.