[Leica] Street shooting

[Carl Socolow <csocolow@microserve.net>]

LUG,

If one is doing street/documentary/social observation photography with
the intention of perhaps publishing it as a book or on the web, does
this constitute a commercial usage? I know for my advertising and
commercial work we get releases because in that case the person is going
to be effectively endorsing a product or company.

But, if I have to get releases of individual(s) it would be a major pain
in the butt. Just like all the crap I put up with vis a vis record
keeping just to prove to the government that my deductions and expenses
are justified. It's all pre-emptive so you don't get in trouble with
someone or thing. What an incredible waste of time.

Did Robert Frank get permission from the people he photographed? Matthew
Brady? Dorothea Lange? There would be vast gaps in our visual culture
and history if these conditions existed in the past.

Thanks for letting me rave.

Carl S.
- -- 
Sometimes the wrong thing is exactly the thing you should do.