Think On It
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.
I see street photography as a privilege. The right to photograph anyone and anything in and from a public place for the purpose of art and documentary is not universal around the world. Rights can be taken away at any time, especially when abused.
I shoot courteously and always respect my subjects right to refuse to be photographed. I have always deleted shots when asked to do so.
On Thursday in Glasgow I was harassed by another street photographer. I don't have to justify why I turned my back to them as they tried to photograph me and I am not a hypocrite for doing so despite their protestations that I 'had a nerve'.
However, if someone indicates or tells you that they do not want to be photographed, if you continue to photograph them over and over again what you are doing can be classified as harassment, a criminal matter. Don't be a jerk and don't bully people.
I reacted out of a place of trauma and I am not proud of that but, as you all know, harassment formed a major part of causing my trauma in the first place. The point is that we, as street photographers, have a responsibility to treat people respectfully. This is deeply important if we want our 'rights' to continue in a world becoming increasingly wary of photographers and 'surveillance'.
This is why I take one shot and move on.
You don't follow people, chase them, take multiple shots or feel affronted if they refuse to be photographed.
Take care my Flickr friends. Take photos. Be kind to one another and I wish you a wonderful week in this crazy world.
Think On It
© Leanne Boulton, All Rights Reserved
Street photography from Glasgow, Scotland.
I see street photography as a privilege. The right to photograph anyone and anything in and from a public place for the purpose of art and documentary is not universal around the world. Rights can be taken away at any time, especially when abused.
I shoot courteously and always respect my subjects right to refuse to be photographed. I have always deleted shots when asked to do so.
On Thursday in Glasgow I was harassed by another street photographer. I don't have to justify why I turned my back to them as they tried to photograph me and I am not a hypocrite for doing so despite their protestations that I 'had a nerve'.
However, if someone indicates or tells you that they do not want to be photographed, if you continue to photograph them over and over again what you are doing can be classified as harassment, a criminal matter. Don't be a jerk and don't bully people.
I reacted out of a place of trauma and I am not proud of that but, as you all know, harassment formed a major part of causing my trauma in the first place. The point is that we, as street photographers, have a responsibility to treat people respectfully. This is deeply important if we want our 'rights' to continue in a world becoming increasingly wary of photographers and 'surveillance'.
This is why I take one shot and move on.
You don't follow people, chase them, take multiple shots or feel affronted if they refuse to be photographed.
Take care my Flickr friends. Take photos. Be kind to one another and I wish you a wonderful week in this crazy world.