Jump to content
  • entries
    354
  • comments
    0
  • views
    9248

I rarely doing rant but here goes...

SweetieBabie

Entry posted by SweetieBabie ·

230 views

 Share
Photographers, integrity, social consciousness and their responsibility...  Someone told me “A good photographer has to shoot first and ask questions later. One is by nature an intruder and a miscreant. There can be no "responsible" photography as there is no moral in Art.” Could someone clarify this statement for me?   Yesterday, while i was waiting for a sky-train on one BTS station around noon-ish, Siam station to be exact, there was an older caucasian male around his 50s – with his flashy big equipped professional style camera in his hand...... and there was another young Thai ladyboy in early 20s, not particularity a stunner but cute one, seems like a T.I.T. schooler (TS in training) almost, standing on the opposite side, also waiting for the train. Without a word, he pulled up his camera and started shooting her photos away like she was an exotic animal in a Zoo. She was not very pleased and looked uncomfortable as hell but dared not to confront him or telling him to not doing so, as she had to walk away after few minutes. Though it was none of my business but it was quite disturbed and annoying. I was in a position where i could have said or done something.   Would you let strangers taking your photograph without knowing what they are going to do with it? It might have no impact if those photos were kept and no one else see them, but if they were to be shown in Art gallery somewhere or for business proposes, I understand in some business you have to have some kind of release forms for models to allow those photos to be published or else you could claim for legal right or some sorts.  Do many farangs/ westerners love taking advantage of Thai people “mai pen rai” attitude and get away with it in other situations? Of course it is not said in the law that it is illegal to take photos but where is the manner and most importantly responsibility? It is like shooting photos of disabled missing arms and legs or burn victims, photos of fat overweighted people and publish them to who know where... Is it really that much of a burden to go, talk to the person, asking permission, and explain that you’re just a harmless photographer building a portfolio or for just recreational purposes?  
 Share

0 Comments

Recommended Comments

SweetieBabie
Photographers, integrity, social consciousness and their responsibility...  Someone told me “A good photographer has to shoot first and ask questions later. One is by nature an intruder and a miscreant. There can be no "responsible" photography as there is no moral in Art.” Could someone clarify this statement for me?   Yesterday, while i was waiting for a sky-train on one BTS station around noon-ish, Siam station to be exact, there was an older caucasian male around his 50s – with his flashy big equipped professional style camera in his hand...... and there was another young Thai ladyboy in early 20s, not particularity a stunner but cute one, seems like a T.I.T. schooler (TS in training) almost, standing on the opposite side, also waiting for the train. Without a word, he pulled up his camera and started shooting her photos away like she was an exotic animal in a Zoo. She was not very pleased and looked uncomfortable as hell but dared not to confront him or telling him to not doing so, as she had to walk away after few minutes. Though it was none of my business but it was quite disturbed and annoying. I was in a position where i could have said or done something.   Would you let strangers taking your photograph without knowing what they are going to do with it? It might have no impact if those photos were kept and no one else see them, but if they were to be shown in Art gallery somewhere or for business proposes, I understand in some business you have to have some kind of release forms for models to allow those photos to be published or else you could claim for legal right or some sorts.  Do many farangs/ westerners love taking advantage of Thai people “mai pen rai” attitude and get away with it in other situations? Of course it is not said in the law that it is illegal to take photos but where is the manner and most importantly responsibility? It is like shooting photos of disabled missing arms and legs or burn victims, photos of fat overweighted people and publish them to who know where... Is it really that much of a burden to go, talk to the person, asking permission, and explain that you’re just a harmless photographer building a portfolio or for just recreational purposes?  
Link to comment
beej

Its f**ked.

Really f**ked, but I admit, I used to shoot photos first and ask questions later but it was my job back then, after I while I started asking questions about my ethics and peoples feeling just to satisfy my perfect shot and some cash.

You wouldn't do it in your home country so why do it here?

Link to comment
Dr_Sassy

they must hand me a model release :)

.. i only take photos of people from TF... and sometimes use my tele-lenses to take photos of very old people from afar. Even some animals feel uncomfortable with my camera... so I bet people would feel the same way too..

I have one pretty pin saying "Don't think, just shoot" ... don't know what that means.. and don't know why I bought it :P

Link to comment
KingLing

Tonia:

I agree with your observation.

I went to the store one night and I drive a 2008 Mini Cooper.

When I came out of the store I see a man with a camera taking a picture of my Mini Cooper up close.

I approach him and asked what he was doing ?

He said that he liked my car and my personal license plate ( RADAR - 1 ) and he wanted to take a picture of it amd put it in his photo album.

I told him that I was not comfortable with people taking pictures of my personal belongings without me agreeing.

He apologized and offered to delete the picture.

I told him it was ok and that he can keep the picture but explained to him about my feelings of people taking pictures without the owners consent.

I feel this is a violation of people taking pictures without asking for permission.

Who knows what they are going to do with it ?

Is this person a starker or someone that might do harm to you ?

These are questions that are valid in any parts of the world you live in.

King

Link to comment
melted012345

I would do the same in my home country too if I see something interesting. You are in public, you are destined to be captured on electronic devices. The good MANNERS demand to ask permission before shooting, but per se there is nothing illegal with it.

By someone who has taken a lot of photos of ppl without their consent or most times even them knowing I had taken their photo because Thailand is like big zoo ;)

Link to comment
primetime

Can't always ask permission up front because you lose the moment and the naturalness of the situation. I do feel kind of strange if I take a pic where someone is the main subject and I don't know him/her although I almost never take pics with people in them.

Link to comment
beej

The moment?

Snapping photos of people that you don't know is a bit creepy, flashing them all over the internet/books/magazines without their knowledge is creepier.

Sometimes it does feel like a zoo here with everyone snapping away at some sweaty granny working her street stall or a beggar just surviving on the street, its just not right.

I again admit I was guilty in the past of this snap don't ask mentality.

Link to comment
Neo

Sometimes I take a candid photo of someone without asking, but only if I don't feel I'm being intrusive. And sometimes it's good to ask permission, especially the street stall grannies because you might get a bigger smile (and see her beetle leaf stained teeth).

Link to comment
condotown

I almost always carry my camera with me, but almost never use it.

Yesterday I was marveling at all the lovely and interesting people as I did my business in Sukhumvit, Silom and Pratunam areas. I wondered to myself on the skytrain if I should take photos of some of these people, but nixed the idea when I considered the implications.

Link to comment
LittleBit

"A good photographer has to shoot first and ask questions later. One is by nature an intruder and a miscreant. There can be no "responsible" photography as there is no moral is Art."

I'm sorry I never heard of such thing as I'm too very far from such kind of artistic world but I find it absurd. And what that older cacasian ill-mannered male did, i find it improper (may i add the ill-manner in there? as I'm Thai and am too damn concerned with treating people with respect especially when I'm in my own country ;-)) but again it can be understandable and accepted if the guy later apologise and make excuse for not asking first, considering that he didnt want to miss the chance to capture that natural shot.

And I would not do anything as the model didnt seem uncomfortable enough to do something for herself, may be she is shy or too 'kreng jai' or may be she might secretly like it ;-) but I might just stand by as a back up incase she need it ;-)

As to the Q if I would allow stranger to do that to me? Well if they ever asked at all then this Q is solved ;-) Otherwise it depends: unless the the photographer is cute ;-) otherwise I'm sure to need you as my back up (if you happend to be close)

Link to comment
bigKus

There had happened to me once in Banglumpoo long time ago, when i was in school. I went there with friends. While we walking on the street side, A, you say, caucusian man walking passed by us, but he stopped infront of me and lifted up his camera, spoke to me that 'photo, photo' I was scared with his appoaching, then i said (screamed) 'Mai, bah ler' ( Nooo, are you crazy ?? ) and ran away. My friends said its annoying walking with me.

Link to comment
Damnam1

of course should he ask in advance, as long as it is not a VIP. But our rights at our own pictures exist and others have to respect it.

On the other hand the most interesting pictures are the ones you take when people feel comfortable and dont notice being watched.

A friendly smile in advance or when being noticed and friendly smile a n d an excuse often help. It also helps a lot to avoid being slapped by an angry ***, lol

Link to comment
babyoiy

Yes annoying and I'd considered it impolite. I mean the case that someone intentionally taking my pics. Just gimme some sign to ask for permission a bit then it would be okay as I will go Thai "mai pen rai". I'm not sure but I think to use a pro camera, it takes time to set up thing, probably longer than the time he would spend if he run to ask her permission.

Or even if she doesnt mind but I think she would love to see her pics so a conversation is needed.. It's just strange... plus BTS station is not a huge place, it might be obvious for what he was doing..

Apart from this, I wonder why didnt he afraid of her yelling at him or doing something as he didnt respect her privacy at first...

Link to comment
babyoiy

If it happened to me I think I will give him a nasty look first then if he still continue shooting I'll walk to the security guy(s).. even though they may not be able to talk to him (in Eng) but I need some company before walk to him.. LOL

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...