A posting in today's
New York Times's Lens Blog discussed "
Protecting the Right to Photograph, or Not to Be Photographed". It's an interesting issue, that I myself have struggled with. When I take photos while traveling in urban locations, I prefer my shots to not look post-apocalyptic. I think they're more vibrant and better capture the true experience of the setting with people filling them, preferably locals and not my staged friends. But this means strangers. Is it rude to use people's images without their permission? The didn't consent to being extras to enhance my photos. Will natives think I'm stealing their souls? In the U.S., I believe anyone out in public is fair game to photographed, but being legal doesn't mean not jerkish. Abroad, our on-board pro camera man during
Semester at Sea us told us that he always asked permission before he shot photos of other people (though it pretty quickly became clear that wasn't the case). I try to snap quickly and rush away; I rationalize it by rarely sharing the photos I take with anyone but me.
The blog post included an photo taken by
Henri Cartier-Bresson of two women seated at the
Brasserie Lipp in 1960's Paris, a clash of generations. I loved the photo - it's amazing how in just one static image Cartier-Bresson was able to tell a whole story. To have asked for permission, the moment would have been lost. I'm glad he snapped the camera, and gladder still he was able to share the picture.
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| Brasserie Lipp, Saint-Germain des Près, Paris. 1969 |
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