holiday photos

i'm such a tourist.
i have to take photos of everything, from window displays to interestingly shaped cutlery. what i've noticed, during my years *cough* of photo-taking in crowded places, is that inevitably someone's going to look up and realise you're taking a photo. of them. even though you're not really taking it of them, they always think so. especially those big beefy guys with beautiful girlfriends.

what i'm wondering is, how are you supposed to react? what is the proper etiquette when you take a photo of a stranger because they are in the viewfinder in front of that funnily spelt sign?

i know what i do.
i just take the photo really quickly, turn the camera off and slink away. if eye contact is established i smile meekly and don't say anything. there's nothing illegal about taking photos of landmarks, it's just awkward when people are in the scene. and i'm sure i'm on photos of random strangers. it's a fact. plus, when you go out in public, other people see you. a photo is just a little more permanent reminder of your face in public..

just never pick your nose near your city's landmarks.
that's just silly.