| Ethics & the Law Because street photography frequently entails photographing unsuspecting or unwilling subjects, it is crucial to think about attitudes and ethics. Although it is perfetly legal to photograph in the streets (unless it shows the person in bad light or the image hints that someone is involved in something he's not), ethical consideration may prevent us from shooting in certain conditions. Some people will like to have some privacy, and may turn hostile when the lens is pointed at them. It is perfectly understandable, and you should back off when faced in such a situation. Arguing that it is legal to take a picture of them will probably not help, and may lead to physical violence. Many times, legal boundaries may exceed ethical boundaries, and we should be respectful of the privacy needs of others. The selfish desires of the paparazzi indirectly caused the death of Princess Diana, and brought a foul name to photographers all over the world. It is an excercise in vain to discuss the absolute boundaries of ethics, of what is allowed and what should be avoided, because different people have different conceptualizations of what is ethical. As a photographer, you have to draw the line yourself, and you are answerable to your own conscience. On the other hand, some rules are more overt. For example, some Islamic nations forbid the women from being photographed. Not respecting such cultural rules may not only cause you to be unwelcome, you might even get into some real trouble with the authorities. And you should also take note of the differences in law when you photograph in the streets of another nation, since what is allowed in your country might not be legal in other places. For example, in conflict-filled states it is sensitive to photograph bridges and railway stations. Being aware of such restrictions may save you from a lot of legal problems later on. Happy street shooting !! Copyright 1999 (C). Nelson Tan |
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