[Leica] Photojournalists and permission

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

The law in the US which I believe is similar to the laws in most countries
in the free and not so free world including Canada, China, Saudi Arabia,
Iraq and Iran but not France have a reasonable expectation of privacy thing
in them. And I'm ok with that coincidently.
When I'm walking down the street I'm fair game for snaps.
Moving my front lawn even.
If someone does a drive by and snaps a picture of me powering down yet
another row with my shirt off my mussels glistening in the sun I don't even
think twice about it. I love playing with cameras myself. And sometimes
you've got an editor who needs a shot by 4 PM.
They can make me the cover of the New York Times Sunday Lawn mowing edition.
But if they make me MR. TORO MAN 2005 I'd want to be supported in the manner
in which I'd like to become accustomed.
There are people who are out there collecting images as is their right and
if you are out there then you should expect to be one of them.
The freedom of expression and freedom of the press thing as always won out
over the freedom of privacy baloney. And I'm glad. Seems fair to me.
For the law to "seem fair" is almost too much to ask.
I believe when I walk down the street my thoughts are private.
If someone points a thought collector dish at me from the top of a building
and puts my thoughts on tape or disk for dispersal for profit I'd expect so
sue and win.

If I didn't want a picture taken, bad hair day, I'd sit on my toilet seat.
Hiding my face in my hands with the bathroom lights dimmed and the curtain
drawn.
Then if someone popped out from inside the shower stall and blasted me with
a light bulb sized flashbulb I'd fully expect to sue him or her. And win.
Out of court.

Especially if it was a "her" and it was a men's room.
I think in a men's room you'd expect reasonable privacy from women.
"What the heck is SHE doing in here anyway With that Speed Graphic?!!"
Not that this doesn't need to turn into whole sex gender thing.

Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/