Some two weeks ago I was walking with my camera in jerusalem, and I saw a young woman riding a bicycle in a line across me. It was late evening, I had a flash on my camera set at low speed, I panned my camera, shot, and after a second the young woman, while still riding her bicycle said/shouted backwards "Excuss me ?". She continued riding, leaving me as either a peep show fan, or I don't know what.
Now, I can make myself deafth and forget the incident. But I can also try to understand the meaning of that "Excuss me ?, and what I understand is: did I grant you any permission to photograph me ?. I happened to photograph a young woman very much aware of her rights. This seldom happens.
But I must admit, this case is keeping me thinking.
Because one issue, the easy one for me, is the authorities anywhere in the world forbidding me to photograph and/or publish, but another totally different one is a person questioning my right to invade his/her privacy.
Is street photography an invation of privacy ? I would say that it wasn't, but by the evolution of people's mind, it may be becomming.
Let's have it clear that due to the evolution of technology, we humans and photographers included, are being watched day and night wherever we are, even from satelites and not only at supermarkets. Our privacy is being invaded 24 hours a day. Therefore for me no authority has any rightfull right to tell me "no photos here".
But a single person in a street is a different case.
So am I going uderground for street photography ? In a country that forbiddens it I would. Here, since it is not, it will be ethically correct to do the contrary and giving the individual, as much as possible, the opportunity to disagree.
This is mostly not possible due to the nature of street photography, but next time I am confronted, and I calculate it may happen twice a year, I will have to be ready to substantiate myself, and satisfy the subject at the final instance. Ceirtanly I am not going to lean on the formal fact that in Israel it is not forbidden, but I will have to kindly argue my grounds.
I will continue to carry my camera (s) outside, and sneak the photo on most occasions. BTW, this technical approach makes a kind of Darwinist naturat selection, in which people prompt to dislike, or be afraid of, being photographed, show their tension as sign over their heads. Others, at the same spot, don't look at you.
Challenge the authorities, respect the people.
Cheers,
Ruben
