Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have some questions about the laws regarding "street shooting" here in the US. I did not know you needed releases or signatures if it was for a news feature. What if you take a photo of a crowd scene and there are 20 people clearly identifiable in your photo.....do you need 20 releases? What if 15 consented and 5 did not......would you not be able to publish the photo or could you just blur out the faces of the 5 who did not consent? Do I, as a photographer but not a journalist, have the same rights to take photos of people on the street as you press people do? Can I tell a policeman at an accident scene that I am a photographer and that I have the right to be there to document the scene? Will he ask me for a press pass? Can you only get a press pass if you work for a large magazine or newspaper? What about us small-time publishers doing work on the web.........if I wanted to start a digital news magazine on the web, how would I prove to authorities that I was a bonified news photographer? Would I need to, or do ALL people with cameras have the same rights? What about property rights? If I take a photo of a person in a public park, do I need a release from the park if I want to sell the photo one day? How about a shot where the subject is standing in front of someone's house, but on the sidewalk......do I need a property release from the house owner? Only if the house is identifiable or if the house number shows? If I am shooting one of my models in a public mall or shopping center and other people are in the background, do I need their releases? Only if they are easily recognized? I have so many questions, I better stop now.....Are there any good, DETAILED books that explain the technicalities of photographic law? Francesco Sanfilippo, Five Senses Productions webmaster@5senses.com http://www.5senses.com/