Street Photography

[Deadtrees]

I know we live in days that you can't just take out a camera and start shooting people as Bresson's days. What I know is that I can't take pictures of people on the street or in any public places without approval of subjects; however, it's okay to take pictures of people in public gatherings as there's supposed to be an unspoken agreement that those who come to publics gatherings have approved having their picture taken. This is all I know about laws of street photography.
Now that I'm interested in street photography, I'm wondering about what I can do and I can't do. Can anyone guide me through certain things that I should keep in mind?

 

[Triumph]

The laws of what you're actually allowed to do versus what people will actually object to are quite different. I think you are allowed to photograph anything in public, or otherwise in plain view. Cops and security guards may try to take your camera, they're really not allowed to do that, but it happens. All this bullship about protecting from terrorism is just that, bullship. I had a handy document on my other computer that kinda gave an overview of general legal rights while photographing, let me see if I can find it.

 

[Triumph]

Here you go:
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

Just think of all of the stuff that appears in the newspaper. Pictures of accident scenes, pictures of celebrities in compromising positions, pictures of pretty much anything. You are ALLOWED to do alot of things, whether or not some rent-a-cop on a power trip tries to stop you is another thing entirely.

 

[Jawo]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Here you go:
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

Just think of all of the stuff that appears in the newspaper. Pictures of accident scenes, pictures of celebrities in compromising positions, pictures of pretty much anything. You are ALLOWED to do alot of things, whether or not some rent-a-cop on a power trip tries to stop you is another thing entirely.

Awesome! thanks alot for the link!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Triumph has said it all, but I do want to emphasise one thing:

You do not need the subjects' permission as long as the following are true:

- Subject is in or is viewable with the naked eye from, a public street. (For example, it is 100% legal to stand on public property like the sidewalk and take photographs of someone in his or her front yard, backyards would be different in most cases if there can be a "reasonable expectation of privacy".)

- You do not use the image commercially. (Photographs of "public figures" like celebrities, politicians, etc are typically exempt from this requirement.)

ZV

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Triumph has said it all, but I do want to emphasise one thing:

You do not need the subjects' permission as long as the following are true:

- Subject is in or is viewable with the naked eye from, a public street. (For example, it is 100% legal to stand on public property like the sidewalk and take photographs of someone in his or her front yard, backyards would be different in most cases if there can be a "reasonable expectation of privacy".)

- You do not use the image commercially. (Photographs of "public figures" like celebrities, politicians, etc are typically exempt from this requirement.)

ZV

the 2nd one is only true 1/2 the time tho, as you dont always need a permit to shoot something you plan on selling

 

[TheChort]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Triumph has said it all, but I do want to emphasise one thing:

You do not need the subjects' permission as long as the following are true:

- Subject is in or is viewable with the naked eye from, a public street. (For example, it is 100% legal to stand on public property like the sidewalk and take photographs of someone in his or her front yard, backyards would be different in most cases if there can be a "reasonable expectation of privacy".)

- You do not use the image commercially. (Photographs of "public figures" like celebrities, politicians, etc are typically exempt from this requirement.)

ZV

the 2nd one is only true 1/2 the time tho, as you dont always need a permit to shoot something you plan on selling

what are the rules for obtaining releases before you sell something?

 

[Triumph]

From what I've read, getting the persons permission is necessary if you publish their likeness in an endorsement, say a woman walking down the street drinking a Coke. I don't think you can just put her picture in a Coke ad and say, "This woman endorses Coca Cola."

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Triumph has said it all, but I do want to emphasise one thing:

You do not need the subjects' permission as long as the following are true:

- Subject is in or is viewable with the naked eye from, a public street. (For example, it is 100% legal to stand on public property like the sidewalk and take photographs of someone in his or her front yard, backyards would be different in most cases if there can be a "reasonable expectation of privacy".)

- You do not use the image commercially. (Photographs of "public figures" like celebrities, politicians, etc are typically exempt from this requirement.)

ZV

the 2nd one is only true 1/2 the time tho, as you dont always need a permit to shoot something you plan on selling

It's true almost all the time, selling artwork is not the same as using an image commercially. You always need a release to use a person's likeness commercially.

Triumph's endorsement example is a good one example of a "commercial" use. So is an image used on a resort website even if they don't explicitly say "these people endorse this resort". So would a photograph taken explicitly for publication in a magazine.

Taking a photograph as "art" and selling it as "art" does not require a model release though (in most cases, I'm sure someone with more experience can find an exception somewhere).

ZV