Taking pictures of people in public spaces in different countries

gone · Oct 16, 2015

I found this fascinating list of different countries, and what is OK to take photos of whilst out in public, and what is not OK. Scrolling down gives you what I would term more information than anyone would ever need, but it might be pertinent if someone is traveling. Not sure how up to date this is, but it's better than nothing. The second link refers to taking photos of "identifiable people", a very lawyerly term that seems to mean.....people.

Texas and Kansas probably have their own ideas on this, but I try not to travel to far right wing de facto countries, so I won't be taking any snaps there.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_consent_requirements

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_consent_requirements

Theo Sulphate · Oct 16, 2015

momus said:
Texas and Kansas probably have their own ideas on this, but I try not to travel to far right wing de facto countries, so I won't be taking any snaps there.

It's just like any other place: just don't be obnoxious and get up in anyone's face with your camera or have a hostile attitude and you'll be fine. It's also obvious that if you do single out someone and use their photo for commercial purposes, you should have a model release or contract.

Peltigera · Oct 16, 2015

Those lists give you the legal position but not the social one. For instance, taking photographs of people in the street is usually legal in the UK, but it is not wise to specifically photograph children without asking first.

Sent from my A1-840 using Tapatalk

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 16, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
It's just like any other place: just don't be obnoxious and get up in anyone's face with your camera....

You mean like this?

http://youtu.be/kkIWW6vwrvM

Theo Sulphate · Oct 16, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
You mean like this?

http://youtu.be/kkIWW6vwrvM

Yeah. I don't like his style and consider him much more a nuisance than a photographer. He may be famous and have awards and recognition, but, these days, so does Kim Kardashian's butt.

BradleyK · Oct 16, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
Yeah. I don't like his style and consider him much more a nuisance than a photographer. He may be famous and have awards and recognition, but, these days, so does Kim Kardashian's butt.

+1.

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 16, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
Yeah. I don't like his style and consider him much more a nuisance than a photographer. He may be famous and have awards and recognition, but, these days, so does Kim Kardashian's butt.

Yup. Obnoxious.

Years back on photo.net there was a group of ***holes who did forum threads that they called "street photo slams" where the whole thread was just post after post of street photos most taken just like this, cameras, mostly with flash, shoved right in people's faces. Their comments matched their obnoxiousness too. (It was almost like those jerk college kids who take advantage of high school girls and are proud of their immature triumphs). If anyone questioned their ethics and style of in-your-face at any cost attitude they would shoot them down. One person suggested they used flash as a cowardly way of blinding the people so they could get away quicker. Ha. So accurate.

It was about then that I started visiting photo.net less and less and I was a member there from way back when it started...

ToddB · Oct 16, 2015

In my trip to Greece this past summer, I took a lot of candid photos of the locals. That fact that that Athens was a very busy city distracted people and didn't even notice me shooting picture helped. And also the Leica and Rollei are virtually silent helped to. What I do now that I noticed that work is pretend to kneel down to tie your shoe next to a person you want to shoot, they pay no attention to you, then squeeze off a shot. Works every time.

John Koehrer · Oct 17, 2015

Everything considered, he's not that quick.
I wonder if anyone responded with a quick poke in the snout.

Ded · Oct 27, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
You mean like this?

http://youtu.be/kkIWW6vwrvM

This is unbelievable. To my mind this photographer has no respect of other peoples privacy. And I don't like when photographers take pictures of people beeing in need...like the guy falling down in the video. Everyone shold be kind to one another, right?!

Xmas · Oct 27, 2015

Ded said:
This is unbelievable. To my mind this photographer has no respect of other peoples privacy. And I don't like when photographers take pictures of people beeing in need...like the guy falling down in the video. Everyone shold be kind to one another, right?!

So war photography is wrong.
But war is ok?
Torture is ok?

And Bruce may one of the few Magnum photogs who still uses film.

Taking pictures of people in public spaces in different countries

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency