"Unauthorized" pictures??

[Scottish Chi]

When anyone wants to take a picture of this old buffalo it boosts my ego. It's nice to be noticed even if it is because of the kilt. Usually it has been either fairly young girls (I know that is relative) or someone from eastern Europe or Asia. It puts a grin on my face if it puts a little excitement in their life.

Cheers! Bill

[usndoc]

I am not a lawyer. I am just someone who spends a great deal of time on both sides of the lens.

I frequent a few photographer forums that have this conversation almost weekly. The only difference is they are often writing from the other perspective. They got caught... "somebody demanded that I stop taking pictures" Keep in mind that these are not the camera phone jerks. These are people who legitimately either shoot for money or do it for the art. I have a camera in my cell phone but I never use it. The cell phone jerks are usually the ones causing problems.

In the US it is pretty well known by photographers that anyone is fair game for having their picture taken in a public place as long as the photo is not used for commercial purposes and is not offensive. Private property is different as the property owner can ask you to leave. If you don't, you can be charged with trespass. I am finding a few places with No Cameras or Photography signs as a result.

I was at a private event recently as the photographer. All was well most of the night. I saw many people there with disposable cameras and a few camera phones. During a few group shots we had a little problem. Some of the women decided to squat for a photo... Why? I have no clue. But I took the photo while standing up and only captured the faces. I look beside me and there is a cell photog squating down taking pictures. You guessed it. Someone yells "hes taking pictures up your dress" and all eyes turn to me. I simply pointed to the other person and kept shooting. I was a little worried but they saw the other guy slowly getting up. It was a close call for me. I walked away and kept shooting.

I often have people tell me that they don't like having their picture taken. After talking to them I usually come to an undertanding that if I take their picture I will give them a chance to look at it. If they don't like it, I will delete it.

That being said, I love to take pictures at highland games. But, I usually have a reason for the photo and I am not shooting random people. Keep in mind that if you are in public it is fair game.

Here is a handout that many photographers are carrying now:
http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

After saying that, I hate the cell phone cameras. The quality sucks and who knows what they are doing with the picture. I know a lot of people that take the picture with the cell camera and have no clue how to get the picture off and printed. I always think about cell cameras when I put on my kilt. Then I usually laugh and say if they are that stupid, let them have their fun. If I catch them, I might be tempted to press charges if they are taking the upkilt photos.

[way2fractious]

Interesting thread. It has dredged up a few items from my mind.

"Camera etiquette" now has to be added to the list of social manners that appear to be in perpetual decline among the young and the non-thinking.

I love my digital camera and I'm sure those who have camera phones love their toy, too. I see so many interesting sights in this world, yet, sadly, can only capture a tiny percentage of those images to keep my memory refreshed.

An image of my backside was captured in public, at a highlands game, and published without my knowledge. See thread http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=17635 . Was the image unflattering? (Yes, every picture of me is.) Was the intent hostile? (No, the photographer was out for fun.) Was this a commercial venture? (Yes, but she's not going to get rich off me!) I tracked her down, traded witty emails with her, and hope to have her autograph my poster next month at the Pleasanton, CA games.

Another image of me kilted was captured by a group of young boys "hanging out" by the doors of a Wal-Mart in some small town in Nevada. Judging from their guffaws, their entertainment for the night had just begun, and the shouted "dress" comment after I had moved halfway through the store confirmed that suspicion. However, all that was offset by a brief, favorable chat with a young woman in the housewares aisle. What harm can these boys do with that image? (None, except to reinforce their peer-driven xenophobia... unless one of them secretly desires to become a liberated, comfortable, confident individual... rugged, handsome, dashing... oops, getting carried away!!)

Just the disjointed ramblings of one rapidly slipping sideways into curmudgeon-hood...

[Retro Red]

I don't care if they take a picture as long as the camera isn't pointing UP my kilt!

That's pretty much my sentiment, too - and YES, once I did catch a middle-aged woman (definitely not a lady) trying to find the answer to 'The Question' with her camera at a wedding reception I was entertaining at. I had to firmly inform her that I only give private showings!

.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

I haven't let this bother me too much. As some have said, it is actually some nice public attention, and it has only happened to me twice. I would rather they just ask though, and I have had that happen as well.

And RR, I love your comment "I only give private showings!". A great response, and with a double entendre to boot!

[morrison]

I too have been asked for permission a couple of times and have been snapped "unknowingly," they thought, in at least six instances that I'm confident of occurance. Once at the Seattle Center, once in Seattle central bus. dist. and four in the PIKE PUBLIC MARKET. I don't mind that I wasn't asked. In all instances the photographers were tourists. Tourists are very good for our economy. Other times are possible but I no longer pay it any heed and by now have probably been subjected by scores of shutterbugs that I've no awareness of. Kind of a nifty little feel good boost. Am I not abhorrent to being photographed. Just don't ask me to look at the camera. I know when I want to be photographed with my eyes pointed at the camera (about 1% of the time). Oops, my sunglasses cover is showing Posing is a contrivance of some publisher out there and I don't want to comply.

[cessna152towser]

Its probably a good practice not to publish photos of friends on the net unless you are satisfied that they won't object. This very subject came up today on an aircraft forum where an innocent photo was posted this morning showing a group of four men with their aircraft. Two of the people in the picture were members of the forum. Later today the poster removed the photo, saying that he had been requested to do so by one of the people in the picture who was not himself a member of the forum. That said I feel that if you wear distinctive clothing such as a kilt you are tacitly encouraging people to take your photo. Thus while I would ask a friend if its Ok to post a photo of them on the web, I wouldn't think of asking every member of a marching band or every re-enactor at a historic event for permission to post a picture of them in their kilts or other outfit.

[Tattoo Bradley]

I wasn't actually concerned with legal issues. It was more an issue of manners.

That said I feel that if you wear distinctive clothing such as a kilt you are tacitly encouraging people to take your photo. Thus while I would ask a friend if its Ok to post a photo of them on the web, I wouldn't think of asking every member of a marching band or every re-enactor at a historic event for permission to post a picture of them in their kilts or other outfit.

I'm not in a marching band or re-enacting anything of the sort. Those people are in the light for entertainment. I am not. I'm simply wearing a garment I enjoy. I actually enjoy the flattery of photographs. But, I'd appreciate the courtesy of asking and letting me get myself situated.

[beloitpiper]

Somebody tried to use a camera phone to find out what was underneith. After stopping her before she could snap the photo, I asked if she would do that to a woman. She, of course, said no, and I asked why...I could tell she connected the dots. I've had to threaten sexual harassment charges before when somebody tried to (repeatedly) lift my kilt. I, like KiltedCodeWarrior, also only give private showings!

[Tattoo Bradley]

I fear the rage will pour out if/when someone tries to lift my kilt.