Photography in Paris - Warnings, Suggestions??
Jun 28, 2014 09:53:23 #
My spouse and I will be in Paris in September/October. I have read an article on-line re: privacy laws in France regarding street photography.
Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of any problems photographing in the streets of Paris?
I do NOT plan to photograph people on the street. My main interest in Paris will be taking shots of landmarks from interesting perspectives. According to the article I read, the people on the street get very upset if they even think they may be in your photograph. Their rights are supposedly protected by French law.
I'd rather not get arrested (article states this has actually happened) or get into an altercation; but I do want to bring back photos of the attractions/landmarks.
Does anyone have any suggestions or cautions regarding this?
Many thanks,
Mike
Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of any problems photographing in the streets of Paris?
I do NOT plan to photograph people on the street. My main interest in Paris will be taking shots of landmarks from interesting perspectives. According to the article I read, the people on the street get very upset if they even think they may be in your photograph. Their rights are supposedly protected by French law.
I'd rather not get arrested (article states this has actually happened) or get into an altercation; but I do want to bring back photos of the attractions/landmarks.
Does anyone have any suggestions or cautions regarding this?
Many thanks,
Mike
Jun 28, 2014 10:11:53 #
Jun 28, 2014 10:20:22 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
Watch your gear carefully in urban areas.
Thanks. That goes without saying.
My question regarded problems running afoul of French privacy laws.
I could probably give lessons in securing gear in just about any environment.
Jun 28, 2014 10:27:22 #
Don't have any legal experience but I was in Paris last year and my son is there now. Unaware of any laws or rights, I had my camera in my hand the entire time and heard nothing. Certainly, if someone had explained to me that it was illegal I would have respected it. I was usually with friends and acquaintances from Paris and I took thousands of pictures completely oblivious of any peoples rights, I even took video. No one said a word. There are some churches and museums that have signs about no pictures or no flash, but that was all I saw. I would just be polite and don't take close up shots of individuals. Paris is very busy with tourists taking pictures everywhere, and everything is a historical landmark. I would be amazed if someone actually stopped and confronted you because they walk in front of your picture of Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower. Paris is one of the best places on earth to take your camera, you should take lots of pictures and enjoy.
Jun 28, 2014 10:48:46 #
Tande wrote:
Don't have any legal experience but I was in Paris... (show quote)
Thanks for your thoughtful reply.
I can't find the article I stumbled over, but it was written by a pro photographer, so I gave it some credence. When I read it, I imagined the jails overflowing with unsuspecting tourists from the world over.
I really have no intention of deliberately photographing people; but it does not seem possible to shoot a landmark without someone being included. It's just too darn crowded. It's not my fellow tourists I worry about, but the French people.
I would just rather be safe than sorry and be able to plan ahead. It is extremely unlikely that we will return to Paris so photos for memories are important.
Jun 28, 2014 15:53:55 #
Mad, I too have shot all over Paris and was never aware that I should do any different than any where else I've shot.
Always give the same respect you yourself would want, and I don't think you will have problems anywhere. What a great place to shoot! ;-)
SS
Always give the same respect you yourself would want, and I don't think you will have problems anywhere. What a great place to shoot! ;-)
SS
Jun 28, 2014 18:33:07 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Mad, I too have shot all over Paris and was never aware that I should do any different than any where else I've shot.
Always give the same respect you yourself would want, and I don't think you will have problems anywhere. What a great place to shoot! ;-)
SS
Always give the same respect you yourself would want, and I don't think you will have problems anywhere. What a great place to shoot! ;-)
SS
Thanks SS, that's what I'm thinking. I speak the language, so I have no problem asking permission if it seems appropriate. We can't wait to go back. We were there almost 30 years ago and I became extremely ill. Went from Kennedy straight to the ER near where we lived at the time.
Jun 28, 2014 18:45:51 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
MadMikeOne wrote:
My spouse and I...
Starting like this completely took the wind out of any clever response I could come up with.
Jun 28, 2014 19:37:12 #
amehta wrote:
Starting like this completely took the wind out of any clever response I could come up with.
Hey, Anand, go for it. I need a laugh.
Mike
Jun 28, 2014 19:39:22 #
amehta
Loc: Boston
MadMikeOne wrote:
Hey, Anand, go for it. I need a laugh.
Mike
Mike
The suggestion would have been, "find the cute girls." The warning would be, "dodge their boyfriends!"
Jun 28, 2014 19:46:55 #
amehta wrote:
The suggestion would have been, "find the cute girls." The warning would be, "dodge their boyfriends!"
Hmmmmm!
Jun 28, 2014 20:19:10 #
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/paris-city-of-rights/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
Hope that helps, I think you will find it's not rights, it who owns the image. The feel that the person has a right there own image and photographers have no rights to it.
Hope that helps, I think you will find it's not rights, it who owns the image. The feel that the person has a right there own image and photographers have no rights to it.
Jun 28, 2014 20:32:08 #
Bill Houghton wrote:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/paris-city-of-rights/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
Hope that helps, I think you will find it's not rights, it who owns the image. The feel that the person has a right there own image and photographers have no rights to it.
Hope that helps, I think you will find it's not rights, it who owns the image. The feel that the person has a right there own image and photographers have no rights to it.
Thanks, Bill. That is actually the article I stumbled over and then could not seem to find again. There is mention in it of a law passed in France regarding this. Privacy does come into it in the sense that if someone out in public in France does not want to allow you to photograph them, then you may very well be in for an altercation with the individual or the local police. That is what I want to avoid while protecting my "right" to bring home photographic memories.
I am going to print the article out and go over it more carefully before we leave.
Jun 29, 2014 05:46:36 #
We are nearing the end of our week+ in Paris. I've taken over 1,200 pix. Lots with people, many concentrating on the subjects. When it's a situation where I obviously want to capture a person's (or, more likely, two or more) I ask. One finger wag so far, and that with a smile, taking me away from a sweet grandmother and a toddler. The police didn't seem to mind me photographing them either. So, relax!
Jun 29, 2014 05:51:06 #
Oh, and a suggestion. My most useful lens on this trip -- by far -- has been an AF-S Nikkor 10-24mm.
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