Photos of Children

There is no law against taking a photo of a child in a public place, as far as I am aware.

Ah, that clears up that point which was discussed earlier. I didn't think it was that way in 1999 when I spent time in Wales.

So, the restrictions are NOT government related? Curious situation when one is not allowed to photograph even their own children in a sporting event. Or does that not include cell phones?

Ah, well...heading over to my second grandson's 5th Birthday party at 2:00 at a public place, called Monkey Joe's....more photos of rowdy, bouncing, sliding, laughing kids all over the place.:p

Think I will take the AF Nikon and finish off a roll of slides so Grammy and Pop and relax with a slide show in our old age... wait a minute... maybe we are there already?
 
I imagine there are far less pedophiles in the world than the media hints at. Every second episode of 'Missing without a trace' and the like seem to be about some young girl being abducted.

It's a great photo Stewart, I think those photos are very important to parents. But I fear photos like that will no longer be taken.
 
I think that you`re prob right Simon,the Daily Mail has a lot to answer for.
Not that I read it.
This issue does n`t affect my photography `cause I don`t take pics of kids apart from my daughter who is no longer a child at 26.
In view of that I tend to agree with Chris ....just let it be but I do feel sorry for parents who cannot take pictures of their own children the way we did.
I forgot to mention that I saw some sort of disclaimer notice in the streets York yesterday warning people that there were photographers about and not to be alarmed.
If they did have any concern there was a number that they could call.
For my part... if I am going to take a close pic of anyone I always ask anyway....part of the fun for me .
It`s a social thing.
 
Its funny isn´t it. We frequent the same site, post our pictures in the same gallery, yet are subject to different laws. I can´t post a picture taken in Norway (am unsure if it goes so far as to include Norwegians abroad) where the subject can be identified, without their prior written consent. Its illegal. Not that many care, but there have been a few cases where the plaintiff has been granted compensation.
 
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In view of that I tend to agree with Chris ....just let it be but I do feel sorry for parents who cannot take pictures of their own children the way we did.
...

Whoa! I don't advocate refraining from photographing your own, nor other children!

I explained why there is an inhibition to taking pictures of shirtless 10 year old girls that you do not know, and posting those pictures in a public forum. Where anyone, including the parents of the child is likely to find it.

I also reacted to the statement that NOT posting the picture would somehow deprive the child from enjoying an innocent moment of life, which is ridiculous.
 
...that's just too bad...

Some will look at the photo & see children playing, enjoying their youth & others will see "tween-aged girls with their shirts off" (this isn't directed @ you btw, but rather a generalization).

Aren't we feeding into the paranoia when we refrain from posting these innocent moments of everyday life?

What's next? ...can't post photos of people wearing sandals because it'll be used by folks with severe foot fetishes...? :eek:

Now I'm worried:

4864230105_ce7922638e.jpg
 
For the sake of clarity there is no law in the UK that ristricts who or what one may photograph in public. The police have no power to restrict photography, review ones photos or seize film and equipment unless they have a court order.

This is a photo of my daughter from years back, if anyone finds it offensive they should probably seek professional help ...



Lovely photo, very classic feel to it. I say classic because we don't see much of those these days. Imagine that, an entire generation of children growing up without naked childhood photos of themselves that their parents can pull out whenever they bring a new boyfriend or girlfriend over to the house ;-)

This reminds me of the latest South Park episode, where Butter's parents start freaking out and send him to a child psychologist because they are convinced he has multiple personality disorder, but really he's just playing-- You know, like children do.
 
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This is a photo of my daughter from years back, if anyone finds it offensive they should probably seek professional help ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2919019211_070788969c_z.jpg

That's a wonderful picture of your daughter Stewart, and I agree that anyone finding it offensive is not thinking right. As her parent, you are in the ideal position to decide about her public exposure.

There is a picture of my 10 year old, in the "Daughters" thread, although she was six at the time:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1395184&postcount=104
 
I think also, there is a difference (perceived difference maybe) between posting on Flickr and having something published, or in a gallery. I suspect the last two would have greater latitude.
 
I find this thread intriguing as a parent of a two year old and as a teacher and photographer. I recently posted a photo of my daughter on facebook for the enjoyment of her grandparents. It was removed a couple of hours later by the FB moderators presumably on the grounds of semi-nuduty. I guess they had no way of ascertaining whether she was indeed my daughter. I also guess the moderators decision had more to do with the terms of FBs insurance policy than any moral code.
However, I instinctively feel that photographers who bring their gear down to the beach to photograph children without the consent of their families are stepping over a line, regardless of what the letter of the law might be.
In the end, this is a moral dichotomy where I think gut instinct has more validity than any intellectualising we might do.
 
Yes you are, sir! For two reasons....
1) it's a sandal shot
2) copyright infringement from m&m
...My marine cousins from Campbell are lock & loaded and on their way to Danville!
;)

I knew I'd get sued sooner or later, but please call off the Marines.
 
I find this thread intriguing as a parent of a two year old and as a teacher and photographer. I recently posted a photo of my daughter on facebook for the enjoyment of her grandparents. It was removed a couple of hours later by the FB moderators presumably on the grounds of semi-nuduty. I guess they had no way of ascertaining whether she was indeed my daughter. I also guess the moderators decision had more to do with the terms of FBs insurance policy than any moral code.
However, I instinctively feel that photographers who bring their gear down to the beach to photograph children without the consent of their families are stepping over a line, regardless of what the letter of the law might be.
In the end, this is a moral dichotomy where I think gut instinct has more validity than any intellectualising we might do.

To who's morality should we adhere? yours or Saudi Arabia's?

 
Stewart- does your daughter get mad at you for posting that picture? Do her college friends know about RFF...

Laws vary from country to country. Sensitivity is on the rise. Posting time, date, and place that the photograph was taken that would establish a behavior pattern is not allowed in places.

I've posted a lot of pictures of my daughter, but not many of her playing with freinds. I will post older pictures with her at the playground with other chidren.

Once I was taking pictures of Nikki with some other kids at the playground. a Mom asked- "are you taking pictures of my Kids? I don't like it when people have pictures of my Kids that I don't have." So I had two sets of prints made and gave her a copy the next time we saw her and her kids at the playground. She liked the pictures.
 
... what a sad old world we are leaving to our children

Some countries even outlaw on the suspicion of taking photos of children. In some countries, you can't even drive while female. Some cultures are just too "traditional", others are just too paranoid.
 
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Stewart- does your daughter get mad at you for posting that picture? Do her college friends know about RFF...

Laws vary from country to country. Sensitivity is on the rise. Posting time, date, and place that the photograph was taken that would establish a behavior pattern is not allowed in places.

I've posted a lot of pictures of my daughter, but not many of her playing with freinds. I will post older pictures with her at the playground with other chidren.

Once I was taking pictures of Nikki with some other kids at the playground. a Mom asked- "are you taking pictures of my Kids? I don't like it when people have pictures of my Kids that I don't have." So I had two sets of prints made and gave her a copy the next time we saw her and her kids at the playground. She liked the pictures.

I don't know on both counts, she's out at the mo but I'll ask later
 
There are millions more instances of people "protecting" their children or other's children compared to the actual amount of incidences of issues surrounding children.

It is like telling people to only trick-or-treat at the mall because of fear of razor blades in apples and drugs in candy. I have never, ever, actually heard a news store about any problems with trick-or-treat (I am sure something has happened at some point in time, but statistically? pppfffttt whatever).

Publish them? You are already a hardened pervert for acknowledging the beauty in humans being young, innocent, and enjoying life.
 
Unless you are making an artistic statement, or doing a news story or have some other compelling reason to take - and make public - the pictures, then why not just let the kids enjoy their play and leave them alone?

Sorry Chris my misunderstanding . It was this last statement of yours that I was empathising with.
As to the taking pictures of your own children .... that has often fallen casualty to the over riding concern in the UK I`m afraid.
 
Reminds me of an argument I had with a Shanghai vendor a few weeks ago.

Vendor: Don't take pictures of my chickens.
Me: Is this your shop?
Vendor: That is my shop.
Me: That is the sidewalk, not your shop. That is public property, that is your shop. If you don't want me to take pictures of your stuff, put it in your shop NOT on the sidewalk.
Vendor: ...
Me: Click

Point is, if you are in public you are fair game. Whether you are 6 months, or 60 or 100. If you don't want your picture taken go home.
 
Thing is, are there more paedophiles on the street today than there were 30 years ago? My parents are always advising me against things like hitchhiking "the days when you could do that are long gone". The question is, if I went out hitchhiking today, would I stand more of a chance of being picked up by a lunatic than 30 years ago? I don't think so.
 
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