Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 09:37 PM 4/29/98 +1000, you wrote: >The question; should we always ask permission before taking someones >photograph? In doing so, you end up with mainly posed portraits, some fun >[especially children], but many stiff and dull. I suppose this "stiffness" >could be overcome with communication and time, but when travelling there is >rarely too much time for that intimacy. In some countries of course they >strongly object to having there image recorded [would you still try/want to >photograph the people?] and in others, you take an image only to pay the >sitter a fee, usually in coinage [which is why I used the TLR Rollei in >Egypt]. The travel company urges us all to ask, and I'm not against this, >only that the images will not be those that I am after. I asked Leica at >the meeting about their feelings - HCB, who seems to embody the Leica >technique and philosophy would not have been asking all his subjects, and >indeed his concepts would have been often ruined by doing so. Leica were >diplomatic. Yes we always ask, but sometimes if you are using people as >shapes or part of a scene as HCB it is not really the person you are >imaging and sometimes it seems being unobtrusive is as polite as directly >asking. OK- how do all of you go about capturing the people you see on >trips, what are the ethics involved and can we get some sort of LUGnut >concenus? Alistair - Welcome back!! It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. As far as the "ask or not" question - I think you have to use common sense and instinct. If you are in a country where taking photographs is taboo or might be thought to be an insult, of course you would ask first. If it is just a question of a fee, that would be up to you. Tips are not mandatory. Is there something you could exchange beside money? Give them a business card and tell them to send you their address and promise to send them a print. Then do it. I do this all over the world and have never had a problem (except that I am now about five months behind in sending photographs!) I agree that asking first destroys the photograph 9 times out of 10, so if there is any way you can sneak it first and ask later, do it!! It's also true that with a Leica, 9 times out of 10, you won't get caught sneaking the photographs! Glad you are back - Tina ______________________________________________________________________ Tina Manley, ASMP <http://www.photogs.com/manley/index.html> <http://www.aperture-photo.com/site/reportage/manley/manleyframeset.html> <http://www.onlineartistleague.com/manleyt/portfoli.htm>