Curiosity question. Posting pictures with/without subjects permission.

[mpaniagua]

Ah, discretion in photography.

This is not meant to be a lesson in photographic manners, just an attempt to clarify how I navigate discretion and ethics.
As you can see from what I put on my blog and here on the gallery, I am quite shameless. I'll take a picture of anyone : friends, colleagues, strangers, beggars and drunks, right here in Brussels, capital of Belgium and Europe. The rapid rise of beggary makes me shudder; it would be dishonest, if I acted as if it wasn't there, and prudely didn't point my camera at it.

I do 'engage' with my subjects, were it but with the question mark in my eyebrows while I show them the camera. And when I've made the picture, I show it to them on the back of the camera. I give (small) prints to people I see regularly. At least the link to my blog. It pays to be as open and forward as possible, to be quite the opposite of discrete. I know, I've had a few run-ins with the authorities about a year ago. Since I make sure I cannot even be suspected of being surreptitious, shooting on the street generates a lot less friction.

When I am out, I am of course interested in the extremes, the things that twang my heart strings, the things that tickle my 'strange'-meter. And I refuse to unsee the underclass, the others, the beggars and drunkards and stinkards, they awaken in me the same fascination as all the 'normal' people.

Obviously, I think it is still quite feasible to shoot on the streets (and in the office), and I do not recoil from subjects some may find controversial, or even distasteful. I am not looking to find perverse and obscene situations, they present themselves to me. The only way I know how to do something about them is to show them. And I hope I do honour to the poor people I shoot, by giving them the same attention and respect I give to a portrait of my mother.

I do like to sound off sometimes.

And Bob nailed it.

I dont think myself as a streetshooter but my late father was. He was a photographer for 50 or so years. Some of his very best street shoots where took in the manner you describe Lukitas. He engaged with the subject and created very strongs images. Sometimes they made poses but more often than not he asked them to be their self. Being open with the people will get them to feel safer and open themself to the camera and help screen out people that dont feel comfortable beign the subjects of your photos.

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

In the United States, you do not need anyone's permission to photograph them in public places and you do not need their permission to put photos of them online or display and sell the photos in art galleries or publish them.

Pretty much true, as long as you do not defame them with a title, or the title of a show.

 

[wacky941]

I've pretty much decided it may be best to steer clear of doing random shots of random people and stick to the much safer landscapes, sunrises/sunsets, pets/animals, inanimate objects such as cars, motorcycles, and airplanes.