Messy
Not much to write about today. There’s a new results system for Scottish Higher and Standard grade exams that was meant to allow students to get their results online, but judging from reports it seems that it was totally unable to deal with the demand, and, when it was, a massive number of students couldn’t remember their login ids (I’m guessing those students probably didn’t do so well…)
Then there’s woman who spent 55 years with a pencil in her head, who finally had it removed (or at least most of it) this week.
And that’s about all. So I shall rant now about people’s attitudes. It seems – following various internet discussions – that a common view these days is that, if someone is taking photos in public places, and there happens to be children about, that the accepted thing to do is assume that said person is a filthy peado scumbag, and either report them, or run away screaming and then "warn" others about them (by way of internet forums). This sort of behaviour saddens me. It does so for three main reasons -
- That people are quick to judge others by society’s lowest common denominator
- That people can’t enjoy a legitimate hobby without others thinking the worst of them
- Because I don’t believe for one minute that other countries are so uptight – for want of a better word – about such things
No wonder I feel uncomfortable about taking my SLR out into town for a bit of street photography. It seems I am right to feel that way, as the predominant attitude of the public would seem to be that they would assume me to have nefarious intentions, when all I really want are some good photos.
Grr.
Sadly for men in our society I know it can be hard to go into public and do street photography. Myself, I’ve never been given trouble over my street photography, people tend to ask to get involved when I’m out.
I find it irksome, just how uninformed the public are on their rights to their image in public/private surroundings.
I recently had someone in a photo shoot on private property (had permission from the land owner(s)) “remove” their consent to their image being used for my work out of shear bloody mindedness to try to upset me. They had no right to as the photo shoot was on private property and they had given consent at the time of the image being taken.
On public property it is completely legal for you to take photos of places and people. The common rule among photographers that do this daily/professionally (that I’ve so far talked to) is that you at least try to get consent for individual shots (usually after the shot is taken mind). I also carry business cards with my website on and contact details.
As for abuse, if they get nasty, tell them they are entitled to get the police out and they should be able to tell them that you’re in the right as long as you were on the public highway/private property that you have permission to be on/take images on when you took the image.
(Hint: Meadowhell DO NOT like DSLRs being taken around/used)