Re: [Leica] Re: Getting Close and Discreet

[Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>]

I never remember a time when people on the street WEREN"t 
alarmed and annoyed by street photographers....but now they 
have a blood-sucker (attorney, for non-Texans) or a 'bleeding 
heart' (Kalifornika or Boulder, possibly?) on every corner waiting 
to defend their "rights".....
A million years ago, in Journalism school, we learned that one could 
photograph anyone not on private property....if the photos were 
not used "commercially" (editorial, reportage, and some 'art' were 
OK)...I'm sure that this has changed with the loss of most of our 
personal freedoms, I just don't care to keep up (or shoot, for 
that matter).
Bear in mind that some locations, that which the "offended" persons 
couldn't avoid, such as doctors offices, pharmacies, basic 
needs sources, were somewhat 'protected' as the people HAD to 
go to these places....but the street, and most 'public' areas, 
were fair game....

I'm less scared by the 'dangerous' people on the street than I am 
by our government and it's imps, these days....I can put up a 
pretty good fight, and still run like hell if need be, but that 
ain't what I'm worried about these days....

I'm sure that our 'legal-eagles' (25% of the list?) will "straighten 
me out" and shed more light on the subject, as always....

Walt

On
Mon,
5
Apr
1999, D Khong wrote:

> snip
> 
> > And in former
> >times Robert Capa already said: If the picture isnīt good, you wasnīt
> >close enough. 
> 
> 
> I wonder if that statement refers to photojournalism i.e. pictures of
> people and events.  Robert Capa worked in an era when it was probably not
> so objectionable to stick a lens up peoples' faces and snap their pictures.
>  We are now living at an age when privacy, individual rights, copyrights,
> and other what-have-you rights threatens a red nose for those who profess
> freedom of expression, and other similar blah blahs.
> 
> How many of us feel that it is now getting more difficult to even take
> street photographs without arousing suspicion, fear, anger, or even threat
> of bodily harm from the subjects?   What are your ways of overcoming these
> barriers?
> 
> Dan K. 
>