Have Canadian forum members had legal problems after they showed street photographs o

I also don't follow the logic for comments like this, "street photographs in public space for commercial use require model release." If a magazine would like to buy a street photograph that I took five years ago. I have to identify the people in the image and get model releases from each of them?

no…commercial use means that you cannot use the image to sell coke or pepsi but you can sell the image on it's own.
 
commercial use as in if someone's face is going to be visible anywhere in advertisement for whatever product or service, you NEED a release. or get sued

-just telling it like it is, photographers have acted in pervy ways before (upshots etc) so kids and cameras was a very real deal when it happened. I was there and my colleagues and I felt the blowback in the following days. try photographing a kid you don't know at a playground or anywhere tbh, and see how many pounce on you (figuratively speaking).

people are hyper vigilant, esp more so now with the internet and the dissemination of images.
 
nah, things were pretty good until the Parrott case. Previous to this there was the shoeshine killer case. Emanuel Jacques. When Yonge St. was rough and grimy but that had nothing to do with photography. Sadly there were other missing kid stories as well.
 
newsgrunt said:
commercial use as in if someone's face is going to be visible anywhere in advertisement for whatever product or service, you NEED a release. or get sued

-just telling it like it is, photographers have acted in pervy ways before (upshots etc) so kids and cameras was a very real deal when it happened. I was there and my colleagues and I felt the blowback in the following days. try photographing a kid you don't know at a playground or anywhere tbh, and see how many pounce on you (figuratively speaking).

people are hyper vigilant, esp more so now with the internet and the dissemination of images.
Click to expand...

This is, sadly, very true.

The illogical part is that many parents who cast a suspicious eye at newspaper photogs doing their job have no hesitations putting hundreds of photos of their kids on their Facebook pages...guess which photo is easier to hack by those up to no good?
 
In the US there is NO reasonable expectation of privacy in public. A recent case in New York a photographer took a street photo. That photo was later part of an exhibit. The photographer later published a book in limited quantities which contained that image and others. The photographer did not get a signed release form.

He was sued by a person who appeared in one of the street photos he took. He eventually won his case. Was it worth the effort? If you make a living or intend to make a living from your work then yes.

I have watch several YouTube videos and read several accounts of photographers who are hassled by cops for taking street photos. They'll tell you that you are in violation of Homeland Security laws that protect public buildings and spaces. Blah, blah, blah.

Cops involved in these incidents have been very heavy handed. They'll demand that you to stop taking photos and/or leave, demand that you show and/or give up the film or memory card. The cops do not have the right to confiscate your camera, film or memory card. Its funny they don't have a problem with the Google car taking automated photos of...everything!

After further research I found that if you use a tripod on a sidewalk, street or park you will need an expensive permit.

Here in Houston there is a beautiful water wall. This was a private space owned by the Transco Tower now the Williams Tower. It used to be free for the citizens to use. It is now a City of Houston park and the fees to use a tripod or take wedding photos can be expensive.

xX5S


I recently bought a Super Ricohflex. I really want to use my tripod so that I can take sharper images. If got to downtown early enough I might be able to take photos without any issues. I'll have to wait since I don't have a permit and I don't want to be hassled by cops. (I wonder if a box of doughnuts might distract them.)

Perhaps I'll get less scrutiny if I just used my Android. (j/k)
 
newsgrunt said:
try photographing a kid you don't know at a playground or anywhere tbh, and see how many pounce on you (figuratively speaking).

people are hyper vigilant, esp more so now with the internet and the dissemination of images.
Click to expand...
Where?

I photograph kids in normal, life moment situations. Just like any person. Similar to GW way, dare I say. I did it in all "big" Canadian cities and do it regularly in GTA.

I have seen my kids to be photographed as well at local events. And I have seen photogs on assignment asking and getting permission. Then I'm on assignment to cover local event, I have seen maybe three kids from five hundreds with no photography request.

My advice for those who have problems is to check with stylist :cool:
 
Folks, thanks very much. Your help is much appreciated, and the answers, to date, are very encouraging.

BTW, here's a summary of the Canadian legal situation, which I found at one of the sites Ko.Fe. recommended:
http://ambientlight.ca/laws/

I should also add that, for the last year or so, I've run a postcard project, snail-mailing mostly street pix to friends. I've been thinking the next phase might involve setting up some sort of web presence, and an e-book. Hence my questions.

Cheers,
Big Ursus
 
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