When Do Photographers Overstep Their Bounds
Mar 27, 2015 08:20:12 #
This week I started a project My Nightly Walk, where I would pick one and only one subject in my neighborhood walk, and keep one photo. No post-processing. Get my exercise and a challenge.
Anyway, the first two nights were fun. Folks liked my photos, and the concept. Third night I was confronted twice by residents concerned that I was photographing their property. I was in the general vicinity, but never pointed my camera at their property. I explained what I was doing to both. One drove off with a suspicious look, the other seemed semi-OK with it.
Neighborhood shoots now seem a tricky proposition. Ami over-stepping my bounds, or do I just ignore them as being paranoid?
Anyway, the first two nights were fun. Folks liked my photos, and the concept. Third night I was confronted twice by residents concerned that I was photographing their property. I was in the general vicinity, but never pointed my camera at their property. I explained what I was doing to both. One drove off with a suspicious look, the other seemed semi-OK with it.
Neighborhood shoots now seem a tricky proposition. Ami over-stepping my bounds, or do I just ignore them as being paranoid?
Mar 27, 2015 08:25:45 #
Mar 27, 2015 08:26:19 #
BrettOssman wrote:
This week I started a project My Nightly Walk, whe... (show quote)
You are NOT stepping out of bounds by doing as you have described. Turn their paranoia into a shoot. If they are off of their property start photographing them. Contiue to do so until they move onto their own property and then just walk away. Ignore their foolishness. When they see you are not interested in their ivory palaces they might just shut up. GL
Mar 27, 2015 08:33:31 #
BrettOssman wrote:
Third night I was confronted twice by residents concerned that I was photographing their property. I was in the general vicinity, but never pointed my camera at their property. I explained what I was doing to both. One drove off with a suspicious look, the other seemed semi-OK with it.
Neighborhood shoots now seem a tricky proposition. Ami over-stepping my bounds, or do I just ignore them as being paranoid?
Neighborhood shoots now seem a tricky proposition. Ami over-stepping my bounds, or do I just ignore them as being paranoid?
People have gotten the idea lately that they can control everyone else. If you are in public, you can legally take whatever pictures you want. Of course, a big guy with a baseball bat trumps the law.
There's a funny Danny DeVito movie, "Tin Men," about aluminum siding salesmen. He would set up a tripod in front of someone's house and make a big deal about photographing the house. Today, that would cause problems, although it is legal.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tin-Men-DVD-Richard-Dreyfuss/dp/B0002B962K
Mar 27, 2015 08:37:26 #
davidrb wrote:
You are NOT stepping out of bounds by doing as you have described. Turn their paranoia into a shoot. If they are off of their property start photographing them. Contiue to do so until they move onto their own property and then just walk away. Ignore their foolishness. When they see you are not interested in their ivory palaces they might just shut up. GL
That could escalate things to a whole new level, I don't want to go to, but I like it. :lol:
Mar 27, 2015 08:39:06 #
jerryc41 wrote:
People have gotten the idea lately that they can c... (show quote)
Didn't think photographing someone's house directly was legal, without permission. Interesting.
Mar 27, 2015 08:41:12 #
BrettOssman wrote:
This week I started a project My Nightly Walk, whe... (show quote)
Not overstepping your bounds, but your neighbors aren't either. My interpretation is they simply asked you what you were doing and you simply replied, life moved on. Good way to meet you neighbors too.
I head out to photograph National Register of Historic Places and Districts and have been asked many times. Of course I respect their properties lines, however it is not uncommon that I am in the middle of Main St taking pictures either.
My .02
Willie
Mar 27, 2015 08:41:23 #
I'll throw in a couple of other scenarios I have actually encountered:
Property or portions incidentally in a photo, but obviously not the main subject. Yes, I could crop, but the house may add some balance.
Shooting between two houses, because a deer was standing back there. I liked the deer among the houses like that. Pretty cool.
Property or portions incidentally in a photo, but obviously not the main subject. Yes, I could crop, but the house may add some balance.
Shooting between two houses, because a deer was standing back there. I liked the deer among the houses like that. Pretty cool.
Mar 27, 2015 08:42:40 #
R
You are doing nothing wrong. Continue to shoot, just be willing to talk to anyone who questions you. People will be suspicious, but that should not interfere with your right to innocently do what you have a right to do. I enjoy shooting in my neighborhood as well.
BrettOssman wrote:
This week I started a project My Nightly Walk, whe... (show quote)
You are doing nothing wrong. Continue to shoot, just be willing to talk to anyone who questions you. People will be suspicious, but that should not interfere with your right to innocently do what you have a right to do. I enjoy shooting in my neighborhood as well.
Mar 27, 2015 08:43:16 #
Here's a great little one page guide about your rights as a photographer ...
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
BrettOssman wrote:
Didn't think photographing someone's house directly was legal, without permission. Interesting.
Mar 27, 2015 08:45:18 #
Brett-
It's a different world now. At least in my neighborhood, neighbors keep to themselves. No kids (except mine) playing out in the street after school. No sitting on the porch on a summer evening chatting. Stories in the news about creepy guys driving around and abducting kids. Everyone is too busy. Or being "social" on social media.
So I guess it raises some eyebrows when someone is walking around with a camera.
Mike
It's a different world now. At least in my neighborhood, neighbors keep to themselves. No kids (except mine) playing out in the street after school. No sitting on the porch on a summer evening chatting. Stories in the news about creepy guys driving around and abducting kids. Everyone is too busy. Or being "social" on social media.
So I guess it raises some eyebrows when someone is walking around with a camera.
Mike
Mar 27, 2015 08:46:38 #
nakkh wrote:
Here's a great little one page guide about your rights as a photographer ...
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf
Cool, thanks :D
Mar 27, 2015 08:46:47 #
BrettOssman wrote:
This week I started a project My Nightly Walk, whe... (show quote)
If you were photographing one of my previous houses I would be paranoid and confront you. These days people have every right to be paranoid with all the crimes being committed in supposedly safe neighborhoods.
I said previous as my current house is a historical one and thousands stop in front of it each year and photograph it so it is hard to tell the bad from the good.
Mar 27, 2015 08:48:30 #
BrettOssman wrote:
Didn't think photographing someone's house directly was legal, without permission. Interesting.
My house and others in the neighborhood gets photographed all the time nothing illegal about it .
Mar 27, 2015 08:49:07 #
Since Google photographs practically every house on every street, both from the air, and from street level, I can't see how what you're doing is any cause for alarm. You're not capturing anything you couldn't "accidentally" view on the Internet!
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