While street photographers and privacy advocates have long been engaged in a dispute over the ethics of street photography, recent months have seen an escalating level of tension. The most recent incident came within the last week, where photographers were left ‘outraged’ that participants at a BDSM street fair had elected to wear stickers which stated “ask first”. In the context of this particular application, this was a message to photographers requesting that they ask permission from the individuals before taking a photo of them.
Hopefully, all would agree that photography within private confines (without permission) can certainly amount to legal complications. However, in the public realm circumstances are widely different, even more so at open events. In public settings, it’s not unreasonable that photographers would like to capture photos, and they shouldn’t really need to seek validation for approval. After all, in today’s day and age, just about all of our movements are captured on security cameras. With that said, what might be permissible and legal, should still be conducted in a manner befitting of a professional.
Of course, while the majority of street photographers hold themselves to excellent values and professionalism, what has become increasingly disappointing is the level of self-entitlement with which some street photographers conduct their work. Whether it be reports of flash photography in people’s faces, photographers following a person around a neighbourhood, or even hiding behind bushes or objects – something sure to make anyone feel uncomfortable. One has to question the effectiveness and rationale behind certain approaches. At times, it’s as though the person they are photographing doesn’t matter, yet they are clearly the ‘matter’ identified by the photographer.
With regards to the particular example mentioned earlier, this specific story proposes a unique set of circumstances because of the directives being made by members of the public. Although it might not be practical, nor legally required, to engage in and receive consent from every individual, if said people have requested it then is there really any harm for a street photographer to take a moment and respect their wishes?
Some street photographers contend that by asking people, the photographs are no longer candid – they become portraits or staged photos instead. While there might be some merit to these claims, they can also be circumvented through a little extra effort from photographers who are prepared to stay with the individual for a slightly longer period of time. Sure, you could find yourself with some photos that are akin to a “Humans of New York” feel, but you’ll also be able to take shots once peoples’ attention reverts back to what they were doing. In any case, I’m not sure many photographers would complain if they enjoyed a fraction of the publicity and success that Humans of New York has earned.
Even though permission might not be required, in most cases people are actually quite receptive to photos when being asked – particularly where courtesy, respect and a smile are afforded. What they often don’t appreciate, is the forceful tactics that may be employed (akin to being harassed by street hawkers), or when one goes out of their way to compromise the person’s integrity or self-worth. By all means, shooting in a respectable manner should not be reason for concern among society. But if someone does ask you to delete the photo(s), and you choose not to, do you not think your actions are contributing towards society’s overall lack of appreciation for photographers? Besides, what good will it do for your own reputation?
