SMH Article : "A cheap shot at street photography"

[BT*ist]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cameras--videos/a-cheap-shot/2006/09/06/1157222139470.html

Interesting comments...

The Imaging rule is this: it's OK to take a spontaneous photograph of any person who looks as though they would be able to take a picture of us in another time and place. We draw the line at snapping people who look as though they will never be able to scrape together enough money to buy a camera.

[adam]

Interesting!

and a good way to get many flickrstream views - although perhaps unintended.

We don't have to give $5 right?

[Yi-P]

Very interesting on how people react to photographers nowadays....

[Matt. K]

Five bucks! The cheap bum! If he had any class he would have asked for $50!

[rmp]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cameras--videos/a-cheap-shot/2006/09/06/1157222139470.html

Interesting comments...

The Imaging rule is this: it's OK to take a spontaneous photograph of any person who looks as though they would be able to take a picture of us in another time and place. We draw the line at snapping people who look as though they will never be able to scrape together enough money to buy a camera.

I don't agree with this because the logic is flawed. Simply, while in Australia one does not have copyright over one's image, photographers need to exercise common decency when taking images of people. I can't see why the affulence of any given person would change that, and it's far too subjective a call anyway.

[zafra52]

Thank you that is a very interesting article BT*ist dealing with issues I had to content with during my last trip to China last year. Many of the tourists in my group were what I consider quite aggressive and did not respect privacy of their subjects. I did, but my photos were fewer and not as good.
I guess my problems were and still are should I ask permission, if I do would the subject play to the camera, should I take candid photos and deal with the issue later? Is not demanding a payment for a candid photo another form of begging? Are we not allowed to photograph public places? And if people happen to be in them can they not always move, or at least cover their face? I am never sure. But, I am always sure of one thing and that is that I don’t photograph children without first asking their parent permission and later I make a point of showing the pictures. I guess you can say I am too scared of the consequences.