BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

I was just thinking about the day traffic stopped due to a delivery truck on fire. Wish I had my Canon SX50 with me then. WOW. All I had was a super low end camera phone. Not very good.

Anyway, I started to think about the etiquette of photographing these situations. I understand about model and property releases and all that stuff, but what is respectable or appropriate?

How do victims and first repsonders feel about this, if any read this? Would love to hear their point of view..

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Legally you are free to take pictures at accident scenes as long as you stay out of the way of first responders or any one else of official capacity (don't enter the accident scene either). You also would not be required to have a model release or property release to sell these images as they would fall under the journalist/news clause of the fair use copyright clause.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You will see lots of people standing there looking at whatever the problem is. Taking a picture isn't much different. The guy next to might be staring at a bleeding victim, but he'll object to your taking a picture. Makes no sense at all.

If you are in public, and you can see it, you can photograph it. Of course there are some exceptions, but there's no law against taking pictures of an accident. Just don't get in the way of first responders. No one can make you stop, take your memory card, or take your camera.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

As a law enforecment chaplain, I do not photograph scenes I am called to. These scenes usually involve a death/suicide. I am given the priviledge to enter the grief of these people, I fail to see what good is accomplished by photographing that. Yes, I get inside the yellow tape and often the inner tape also.

RE Loc: California

For me it is the issue of weather or not you can live with what you see. My sister once stopped to check out a wreck and has never forgotten the deceased woman sitting in the car. Our son once rode his bike to see what the fire trucks were up to, we went after him because he was quite young only to get there in time to see a 2 year old carried out as the Mom wailed in agony of her loss. I am a light weight when it comes to those things (could never be a reporter)so I tend not to look. Now that said thankfully there are many folks who can and do rise to the occasion when this type of thing occurs and their photo's can be helpful in determining what happened at the scene sometimes. Okay I am rambling just wanted to put my two cents in, interesting topic.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Good replies so far.

I am not referring to legalities, but what would be considered respectful or decent. For example, I've seen photos of buildings on fire, or a firefighter sitting exhausted and covered with soot.

I would never take a photo of a deceased person, or probably even a person grieving. I think that may be crossing the line. I don't think it's a matter of how I feel about it.

Question: How would you feel about someone taking a photo of a friend or relative deceased, or a photo of you grieving, or if you are that firefighter. And the answer may be it's OK, just curious.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Honestly I would not want a picture of a deceased loved one taken by a stranger for no other reason for them to sell it to the highest bidder or even for their own viewing pleasure. I would be upset. Same would go for a picture of me grieving at an accident site, it just seems to cross a line.

legally of course you can, but I would hope if this, god forbid, ever happened to my family that the people there being looky-loos are kind enough not to try and profit off my grief.

RE Loc: California

Hmmm I am pretty sure that I would be angry that someone was taking a photo of my deceased loved one, an exhausted fire fighter that is a different issue to me I think that would be okay. Just my take on your question.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

All good feedback, and very interesting.
Thanks to all.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

You'll have less objections if you use a SLR, the bigger the better, and act like you have the authority to be doing it. If you look like you belong there you may just blend right in.

If you appear to be a tourist with a pocket camera be prepared for conflicts.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's a tough one. If it were a fire or two cars in a collision, I'd take the picture. As for the people, I'd have to ask myself what was the purpose. You don't want to intrude at a time of grief. Standing way back with a telephoto might be different. First responders might appreciate pictures of themselves in action.

As the Hippocratic Oath says, "First do no harm."

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

One thing to keep in mind, I'm not talking about selling a photo. I'm more referring to the artistic and dramatic impact of the photo.

PatrickTheCop Loc: Spartanburg, SC

I recently went on a suspicious vehicle call. The vehicle was in a very old cemetary that isn't marked on the side of a dirt road and in the woods. Only about 2 dozen graves there. The caller, who happened to be two young men in their early 20's had passed the vehicle when leaving home and then again on returning several hours later. Turns out, as I approached and looked into the vehicle, to be a suicide by gunshot. I took lots of photos, including the deceased, the wound to the temple, the gun in hand on his lap. Was I required to? No, not really. Why did I? Because I knew we would have to break into the vehicle for the paramedics and the scene would be disturbed as the did their thing. I knew those photos may likely be needed when investigators arrived to confirm suicide rather than homicide.

My point to this is you may arrive before emergency responders and images you capture could help with any subsequent investigation. I am not suggesting you SHOULD do this for that or any other reason. I am saying that is a realistic reason why you may do so. Personally, I can't fathom any other reason why anyone would want to take that kind of photo for any other purpose.

As for taking photos of the scene of an accident or tragedy of some sort, excluding corpses or grieving persons, I don't see anything wrong with that morally.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

As someone trained in first aid, I would render assistance until the first responders arrived and took over. Then I would get the camera and stay at a distance taking pictures. After it was over, I would send the first responders pictures of the incident. They like to post them on their walls or in the lobby.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Interesting, but I get it :thumbup: