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The Fear of Photographing in Public

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Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#21

Post by eriknstr »

detaro wrote: post #7

What's totally missing: Inform yourself where/when you are allowed to take pictures and what you are allowed to do with them afterwards. Helps both to affirm yourself that what you are doing is ok and to not look totally clueless if challenged. (but don't be an ass about "but it is my RIGHT", either) And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

>And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

Here in Norway it is allowed to take photos in public of groups of people without asking but it is not allowed to single out a person in specific and take their photo without permission. I think cropping a photo to produce a portrait would also fall under the latter btw.

So yes, it's absolutely important to be aware of local laws.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#22

Post by philliphaydon »

stevekemp wrote: post #20
cookiecaper wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not what most people think of as telephoto. 24-70/24-105 are standard full-frame kit lengths. I returned a 70-200 after trying to lug it around for 4 hours. It's just too tiring and too silly for general use, and it's certainly not inconspicuous if you're going to be in public. I have a 24-105 f/4L that I use for day time and a 35 f/1.4L that I like to use at night. I do own a few other lenses but the two mentioned m…

Each to their own! I love my 70-200 f/2.8, and it is pretty much my every-day lens. Sure it is heavier than I'd prefer, but damn it makes beautiful images.

I love my 70-200, and 90mm macro. I literally never use my 24-70 anymore. Should probably sell it.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#23

Post by gambiting »

Paul_S wrote: post #12

Here in the UK you're allowed by law to take photos in public but you will get hassled by the police if they feel like it an no amount of being right will help you then. You cannot win. It's OK if you take photos with your phone but owning an SLR is basically terrorism.

I took a picture of a busy Street in a large city,only to be approached 10 seconds later by some lady telling me she's a teacher and her group of pupils is in my picture,and she doesn't feel comfortable with it and she wants me to delete it. I remember the intense embarrassment I felt that moment, like she was calling me a pedophile in public or something,even though in hindsight I should have told her to just fuck off, this was a public space and the shot was of the entire street. I'm really worried about taking pictures in public places now because of that one incident.

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#24

Post by smelendez »

gambiting wrote: post #23
Paul_S wrote: post #12

Here in the UK you're allowed by law to take photos in public but you will get hassled by the police if they feel like it an no amount of being right will help you then. You cannot win. It's OK if you take photos with your phone but owning an SLR is basically terrorism.

I took a picture of a busy Street in a large city,only to be approached 10 seconds later by some lady telling me she's a teacher and her group of pupils is in my picture,and she doesn't feel comfortable with it and she wants me to delete it. I remember the intense embarrassment I felt that moment, like she was calling me a pedophile in public or something,even though in hindsight I should have told her to just fuck o…

I have really mixed feelings here.

I have some sympathy for a teacher in that situation. If someone takes a picture of her students and publishes it, it can hurt them or her depending on context. That risk disappears if the picture disappears.

And I do think it's generally OK to ask people not to exercise their rights as a favor: I might ask a neighbor to move their car to free up a legally occupied parking spot for a disabled relative; someone with children might ask adults not to use legal but racist or misogynist language in front of their kids.

I agree it's a slippery slope, especially if she's a public school teacher and bound by your countries' free speech, etc., laws (and more likely to have the advantage if she calls police).

Re: The Fear of Photographing in Public

#25

Post by hobarrera »

eriknstr wrote: post #21
detaro wrote: post #7

What's totally missing: Inform yourself where/when you are allowed to take pictures and what you are allowed to do with them afterwards. Helps both to affirm yourself that what you are doing is ok and to not look totally clueless if challenged. (but don't be an ass about "but it is my RIGHT", either) And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects.

>And repeat that process when traveling, with added emphasis on cultural aspects. Here in Norway it is allowed to take photos in public of groups of people without asking but it is not allowed to single out a person in specific and take their photo without permission. I think cropping a photo to produce a portrait would also fall under the latter btw. So yes, it's absolutely important to be aware of local laws.

Here in Argentina it's almost the same, but IIRC, you're not allowed to publish those photographs, I'm not sure if you're allowed to take them or not.
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