while I am more than sympathetic to artists, I still see it as an invasion of privacy
I understand there will be disagreement on this, but I don’t want to end up in someone’s gallery show. And I feel like I have a moral, if not a legal, right to my own image.
I went to a friend’s opening last weekend. She’s a photographer and sometimes photographs people. She doesn’t ask permission. I don’t think she’s ever taken my photo, except for a private book she made to commemorate a group trip. I don’t think she finds me very interesting. Which is a very good thing!
nottelling: I’ve cross posted with you twice now!
adding: I am dressing for my own self, not for anyone else. I don’t want anyone to photograph my home either. I say “no” to that as well. My home is a work of art, ( ) but just for my family and close friends, not for the whole world.
Early this morning I was having a discussion with someone about art which is personal and without reference to the rest of the world. I don’t understand much about art.
I imagine somewhere there is a photo of me on facebook and folks I don’t know are making fun of me. Strangers occasionally feel compelled to tell me I’m dressing “wrong” A few years ago, a couple in back of me in line going through security at an international airport told me I had my jacket on inside out, and when I smiled and said it was supposed to be that way, they just snickered behind their hands the rest of the way through the line. So maybe I’m on their facebook. But please don’t tell me!!!
I think a lot of people who do street photography don’t ask permission because they are attempting to capture a fleeting, ethereal moment, not to produce something staged. And even if it is a straight fashion shot (where a staged photo might capture the essence), most subjects would become stiff and uncomfortable in posing for a photo after permission is asked. That’s the thinking anyway.
So my guess is that your friend doesn’t take your picture because she knows you don’t want her to. She likely takes other people’s pictures without asking permission because she wants a natural shot, not out of lack of concern with the subject’s feelings.
I don’t know what I think anymore! I agree with what you say @alh but I appreciate a wonderful unposed journalistic street shot, too.
Now I’ve cross-posted with alh! Havent read your post yet re Facebook
I can sort of get taking someone’s photo surreptitiously to capture a moment, but then the photographer should approach the person, tell them about it and either get their permission or delete the photo. I would never give permission. Fortunately, I am not someone who is likely to be the subject of a photograph of something interesting.
Yeah, but if they got a spectacular shot, they are then in the position of having to DESTROY something that they’ve made. I’d guess that most photographers would not have the moral fortitude to do that.
Well, if the photographer wouldn’t, I guess the police would be talking to me about destruction of their camera. I wouldn’t convict anyone who destroyed a camera after a request to delete a picture was denied.
And then we will have to decide 1) if it’s art, 2) if it is “good” art 3) the value of the art vs right to privacy 4) a bunch of other stuff
which will all be so very subjective and I have no idea who has the right to decide. I like art. I don’t think it is the Very Most Important thing.
One of my favorite artists, of all time, was artistically exploited by a variety of folks. I met her as a child and this was clear to me then, and it made it very difficult for me to buy one of her pieces, though I really love her work. I finally got one just this year. I “think” it is her own vision and not someone else’s, but that is probably just a story I’m telling myself. Also, she died, so no one is exploiting her any longer. I still have misgivings. but I think it is wonderful art. Still I have a whole lot of mixed feelings about it hanging on my wall.
I love the street style blogs as well. I follow all of them. I think there are more than enough individuals who are happy to be in the street style blogs, that it isn’t necessary to include those who aren’t interested.
There’s a house flipper/decorator in CA, Jeff Lewis, who has done a reality show for 5+ years. Some of the stuff he does is bad enough when the other people have signed releases to be on his show. What turned me off completely was when I found that he routinely takes selfies at airports and other locations next to people who are napping, then posts them to his Facebook page to mock them.
@Silpat That’s exactly the kind of stuff I despise and I’m perplexed by how others find it humorous. I just don’t get it.
And if you call them out on it, you just know the answer will be “You don’t have a sense of humor” or “It’s just all in good fun!” or some other lame excuse.
The internet makes this possible in a way it never did before. If someone doesn’t object, it becomes commonplace. The ugliness of the internet is wearing me out. I’m too old for it.
Anyway, back to the OP, I don’t have an issue taking a shot where there are several people in the background, in general. There are exceptions, IMO; I would never take a picture of a group of homeless people or a group of prostitutes without permission. For individual or a smaller group of people that I am using to capture a sense of style or some moment in time, I will always ask, either before or after. When I ask after, I show the phone. If they say “no,” I show them that I’ve deleted it. No harm, no foul.
Posting anything with the goal of shaming a person is just an anathema to me.
This week I went on a girls trip and one of the women drives me insane. She takes endless pictures of everything and everyone. I’ve told her in the past that I don’t enjoy having my picture taken and I’m not on Facebook and would rather she didn’t post them. But she does not listen and is forever interrupting the flow of our group and asking strangers to take our pictures. One trip we went on I became short with her and her best friend chided me for it (and continues to do so). One group photo, fine, but endless pictures of us, enough!
I just got an email from her with a link for the 128 pictures she took, we spent 2 half days there!
But to take pictures of strangers and post them is just so wrong. Although in my mind I would love to take pictures of some of the things I see here, like the guy who tattooed his head like a spider web, but I never would.
@deb922 I dislike those types as well. You don’t need to document every little tiny thing. It’s not a movie and we’re not celebrities. I think it makes it awkward and ruins the flow. Of course, they often only put photos up of themselves that they like but have no qualms about posting less than flattering photos of others.
I completely agree with you, @doschicos. A person who would deliberately mock someone on social media with a photo is a horrible person.
When I was a kid, I a family friend was a professional photographer. He took photos all the time, and he always asked people for releases. He carried them around with him.
I’m happy to say that I don’t have any FB friends who post such photos.
I admit to having mixed feelings about the case notelling posted. The photo is a gorgeous portrait of the subject. But it is also very intimate and very specific. I didn’t read the case to find out what the subject’s objection was. I find it very difficult to decide that one.
Not for nothing, but I have seen Jeff Lewis’ show a couple of times and he shouldn’t be going on about attractive or anything. I find the way he speaks to his housekeeper (Zoila?) to be offensive but I guess she gets paid enough to put up with it.
