invalid2 wrote:
Pulling this from the rest of your post:
Do you think it matters if someone is using a still camera, motion camera, writing notes or just looking? Also, are you talking (in general) about any specific society(s)?
Do people mind cameras more than eyeballs because the perception of photo==truth?
My experience with taking pictures of people has been favorable - but I am not pushy about it, and don't try to take pictures inappropriately.
As for the means, of course it matters.
Truth? Photos are one of the most easily manipulated tools for crafting "truth" and often at another's expense. Any newspaper has dozens of photos that create a truth the editors want to convey. I know, I shoot PJ work and come from a small town newspaper (still independant) family, worked in one from being little and setting the old linotype machine...yes, I'm old.
Personally, I tend to push the envelope a little, but not too hard. But I've also gotten it wrong any number of times. But do try to learn and not repeat mistakes.
There are no single right answers as to where the line between invasion of privacty is breeched..it is situation dependent and requires experience shooting and requires being aware of what is going on with both the subject and the setting.
On top of that (not talking PJ stuff here) what I can shoot even varies greatly depending with who I have with me, and therefore, how the "guy with the camera" is viewed from the other side of the lens. If I have my kids with me, or my dog, people look at me differently than alone. If it is a street fair, the "rules" are much more loose. If the place is crowded, that is different than when just a few people are out. Women tend to not like a man they don't know photographing them much more so than a man. A market is loose. A town that has many tourists is much more tolerant than one with few visitors. It even varies from one area of the country to the other...and going overseas changes everything.
The underlying theory is important, but nothing subsitutes actually getting out and shooting and building experience.
One thing about the article that is interesting is the tension between photographer and the pubic has changed somewhat over the years, but it is seems to be just variations on the problem...which in my experience still exists.
The talk about behavior only applies if one accepts that the tension exists and perhaps more important, that it is worth paying attention to. Personally, I do.
I live under the assumption that anything I do in public is captured on any number of video feeds. I doubt that's 100% true, but how can you tell? Given that, I find any expectation of privacy in a public setting to be semi-ludicrous.
invalid2 wrote:
Pulling this from the rest of your post:
Do you think it matters if someone is using a still camera, motion camera, writing notes or just looking? Also, are you talking (in general) about any specific society(s)?
Do people mind cameras more than eyeballs because the perception of photo==truth?
My experience with taking pictures of people has been favorable - but I am not pushy about it, and don't try to take pictures inappropriately.
Your comment about societies and their tolerances to being photographed is bang on. I shoot documentary images while traveling and have witnessed a huge range of tolerances to being photographed in public. Places such as India welcome you whereas places like Morocco not so much. You must understand the different cultures and not treat everyone with the same brush.
I personally don't try to sneak street images, but rather try to interact with the person(s) so they get comfortable with me before I take any images.This approach has worked for me for many years without any issues.
A quick search shows that OP posted the same text and links at multiple sites back in 2008. The file is missing, so it is difficult to comment accurately.
I assume there is some element of photographing humans. I don't do that, but generally you can see when stress is being created in most species and then back off. Today we have more pixels and longer lenses so maybe serious photographers create less stress on the animals. Unfortunately Bozos with Iphones trying to photograph Bison at the YellowStones are more likely to be too close and aggressive.
Of course a mountain doesn't care, which is one reason to prefer landscapes.
