Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Lucien >>I understand that I'm in someone else's building (in the first case a public educational institution gallery, the second a department store) and that they can make up any rules that they like<< Through this discourse -- on copyright and some earlier posts on photographing people in public -- I'm more confused than ever regarding when and where a person should or shouldn't photograph in public, legally, morally and ethically. The thing I remember most from my (long-ago and brief) internship as a news photographer was that I really struggled with ethical issues. There were a couple of situation where I was really uncomfortable taking a certain photograph. I felt that I had to for the sake of reporting, but it bothered me. Today am I an artist, a reporter, a portraitist, a documenatarian, a tourist, all or none of the above. (Is documentarian even a word?). Where should a person draw the line? Should we follow the letter of the law? Seems to me the law is 18 percent gray card in many areas. People's feelings vary widely on the subject. Who's right and who's wrong? Who makes the rules? I have my own set of rules, right or wrong they may be. I admit there are times even today when people give me that "don't you dare take my picture" look, I may grab a frame. But that's rare. Most often I'll ask permission or skip the opportunity entirely. That's probably why I don't like street photography (not be be confused with Mall photography). Even kids on the street these days expect to receive some type of compensation for being photographed. Landscape photography is so much easier. As long as it's on public property. Why should any business, or artists ever be angry at having their work photographed? There's no such thing as bad publicity. Dave BTW, this post is copywrited by the author. Any unathorized reproduction in full or in part without the express written consent of the author is prohibited....