How do I approach this problem? Hello everyone: I have a question that may involve ethics. Every week my wife and I go the the cattle auction to purchase calves. At the auction are the...

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

Hello everyone:
I have a question that may involve ethics.
Every week my wife and I go the the cattle auction to purchase calves.
At the auction are the most interesting people I have ever seen. My question is-- I would like to take pictures or some of these wonderful individuals who come to the auction. Am I breaking laws or any code of ethics by photographing the folks in the auction?
Any suggestions on how I go about getting photos of these people?

Thank You

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

How about simply asking them?

Maybe a camera would help too! Just kidding on the last comment. :D

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

To protect yourself from someone with a headache who might see their picture in the future, would it be hard to carry some business size cards pre-printed with ' permission to take my picture for ' without profit status '

They could sign one and you could save them.

I give ___________ permission to take my picture for any non-profit purpose. etc etc etc

Sarge

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

If the folks who own the auction site give you permission you can take all the pictures you want. If you plan on using any of them in a commercial way you'd be best served to have the subject sign a release. JMHO

snowbear

I'm no lawyer, but if you're using them in an editorial or photojournalistic manner, it's fine. You might want to check with the auction house/property owner to make sure they don't have an issue with it (it's probably private property, like a shopping center.)

You can get into trouble when you start using them for commercial purposes - for example, when endorsing or seeming to endorse a product. Notice, the issue is USE - not taking them.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Unless you aare going to use the pictures for making money, a permission slip is NOT needed... This politically correct nonsense of getting permission for everything you do is out of hand... If you are in a public place then shoot away... If someone request you not take a picture then thats your answer for that... In one of my life periods I was a newspaper photographer and we didn't ask permission at all...
Like I said, this P_C crap is way out of hand...

phcaan Loc: Willow Springs, MO

Thank you everyone;
As we are going to the auction in the morning, I will first talk the the auction people, and then see how it goes. There are a number of Amish people there and they have a problem with photos, so I will be careful to avoid photos of them.
They are used to me and my camera as I take pictures and movies of the calves in the pens prior to the auction to show my wife, she is disabled and unable to get back to the pens to inspect the animals.
We buy "bottle calves" and raise them up for a couple of years and then sell them in the spring as ready to pasture calves. My neighbors all make fun of me because all my calves have name that they come to and have the run of my 40 acre place. They joke about calling the sheriff to make sure my steers have tags, as I treat them like a bunch of friendly dogs.

naturalite Loc: Up state NY

donrent wrote:

Unless you aare going to use the pictures for making money, a permission slip is NOT needed... This politically correct nonsense of getting permission for everything you do is out of hand... If you are in a public place then shoot away... If someone request you not take a picture then thats your answer for that... In one of my life periods I was a newspaper photographer and we didn't ask permission at all...
Like I said, this P_C crap is way out of hand...

I totally agree....I do what I like. I've been in auctions with my camera before. I pan all over the place. If someone don't like it and says something to me to indicate they are not pleased. I just frown and act like I was taking a pic of something they happened to be by. And not them.
I've actually been a bit of a butt head when someone was walking by and thought I was taking their pic, ( and I was) When the person asked me what I was doing, I said "hey dude, do you mind! your in my way" And aimed the camera past them.
I know, I know....some think it's not ethical...screw ethics on this one. I take pic's for myself. Not to sell or make profit, so what's the issue? None to my thinking. Public place, who cares.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

donrent wrote:

Unless you aare going to use the pictures for making money, a permission slip is NOT needed... This politically correct nonsense of getting permission for everything you do is out of hand... If you are in a public place then shoot away... If someone request you not take a picture then thats your answer for that... In one of my life periods I was a newspaper photographer and we didn't ask permission at all...
Like I said, this P_C crap is way out of hand...

I agree, most people might think your from the press and wouldn't mind grtting their picture in the local paper, if anybody get's nosey and ask's what your doing, just politely tell him or her to mind your own business! Donrent's right, this getting permission crap is out of hand...after all, your in a public place, right?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

donrent wrote:

Unless you aare going to use the pictures for making money, a permission slip is NOT needed... This politically correct nonsense of getting permission for everything you do is out of hand... If you are in a public place then shoot away... If someone request you not take a picture then thats your answer for that... In one of my life periods I was a newspaper photographer and we didn't ask permission at all...
Like I said, this P_C crap is way out of hand...

If like you assume this is a "public" place then no permission is needed, agreed. If however this is private property which I'd assume it is your advice may be illadvised. Political correctness has nothing to do with it as laws are in place to protect property owner rights as well as photographers.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Bingo

Pepper wrote:

If the folks who own the auction site give you permission you can take all the pictures you want. If you plan on using any of them in a commercial way you'd be best served to have the subject sign a release. JMHO

ole sarg Loc: south florida

I had a friend in Montana who as a young man was a poet. One summer he got a job cooking at a lumber camp. He left with a copy of Tennyson and Keats under his arm along with a back pack. He came back after about 2 weeks with a black eye. The books and the back pack. Seems some did not like poetry.

Moral of the story - to avoid a black eye always ask.

ole sarg wrote:

Bingo

Pepper wrote:

If the folks who own the auction site give you permission you can take all the pictures you want. If you plan on using any of them in a commercial way you'd be best served to have the subject sign a release. JMHO

pjreed Loc: Tonopah, Arizona

naturalite wrote:

quote=donrent Unless you aare going to use the pi... (show quote)

And people wonder why photographers are not liked.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Photography is not a crime.

Taking pictures of people is not a crime.

ONLY IF YOU USE THE PICTURE TO ADVERTISE A PRODUCT do you have to gain permission...NOT if you want to publish or post on the internet.

If you have permission to shoot pictures on the property OR if it's public, then shoot away, the law allows it and there is nothing immoral/unethical about it.

pjreed Loc: Tonopah, Arizona

rpavich wrote:

Photography is not a crime.

Taking pictures of people is not a crime.

ONLY IF YOU USE THE PICTURE TO ADVERTISE A PRODUCT do you have to gain permission...NOT if you want to publish or post on the internet.

If you have permission to shoot pictures on the property OR if it's public, then shoot away, the law allows it and there is nothing immoral/unethical about it.

It helps to do this without a snotty attitude (I have permission from the owner and I can do what I want).
If someone does not want their picture taken, what is the harm in honoring that for them.
I do hope that most of the people here have better ethics that this.