I read this column in last Sunday's paper with interest.
When I first started my blog in April 2011, I was uncomfortable taking photographs in public. I went about it very surreptitiously. Almost embarrassed to be doing it. Kind of like the first time you make up your mind to wear bright red lipstick. I felt like an imposter.
Those days are mostly long gone. My camera is now my friend. We like to go out together in public. When I see something that makes me go "oh", I tell my camera and together we decide on a good angle. I am very respectful of the object of my lens and never make a fuss about snapping a shot. Sometimes I will ask before taking a photo; if I get an inclination that I should. I have very seldom been told no.
Be it good or be it bad, the bottom line is we live in a social media world. I have always thought that you should not have the expectation of privacy if you are hanging out in a public venue. I guess I can understand if someone thinks maybe you are going to use their picture inappropriately, and for sure I understand parents who might not want their kids picture taken for that reason as well. What do you think? Discuss amongst yourselves and get back to me on that one.
Very interesting article.
I once was trying to get a photo of a bird perched in a tree in a yard across the road from my parked car (public street) when the woman of the house came out weilding a broom threatening to call the sheriff! It wasn't like I was taking a photo while peeking in her house, this tree was beside the house and over 30 ft. high. Sheesh! Wish I'd had this article to show her.
Posted by: Joan Clarke | 09/05/2013 at 08:21 PM
I don't like to have my picture taken. I hardly ever take pics of people that include faces unless I ask, and when I do, it's almost always because the people were between me and the thing I was actually trying to take a picture of (the Duomo in Florence, perhaps).
I know that (in the USA) we are allowed to, but I don't think that makes it right.
In other places, they have different laws, and some are stricter about not taking pics of people.
Inanimate objects -- that's different. Though I do have qualms about taking pics of the current work of living artists (a street art fair, say). I usually ask in that case........ Even though I don't think I HAVE to, under the law.......
Posted by: Vicki in Michigan | 09/06/2013 at 06:22 AM
I am with Vicki here. One thing I do that I shouldn't is take photo's of funky things in supermarkets etc, just for the colours of the beg or packaging. They are usually close ups so do not infringe on the supermarkets layout etc, but apparently it is not strictly allowed. Something to do with spies copying their displays :)
Posted by: Bobby | 09/06/2013 at 05:32 PM
In not sure how geotags work, or any technology for that matter. But my husband does Internet security for a living, and knows the dangers of posting photos online. We have a strict no photos of our children online ever, for any reason. We tell our family, friends and school district to please not ever post photos of them online- ever ever ever.
Since your camera is an actual camera, and not a smartphone, the photos probably aren't geotagged, meaning some one who does know a bit about technology couldn't find the location where the photo was taken.
We were just on vacation in Vegas and I found myself ducking out of people's shots left and right. I'm just a private person I guess.
I love your photos, every single one of them. ;-)
Posted by: Chelsy | 09/07/2013 at 10:12 PM