Category Archives: Review

Description: review, evaluation, examination, study, analysis, audit, check, consideration, file, inspection, reassessment, reconsideration, reflection, report, rethink, retrospect, revision, scan, scrutiny, study, survey, view
May include: criticism, judgement
Notes: criticism is an evaluation or judgement of something, while critique is a somewhat elevated term for the same thing; review is used as a synonym for these but may also imply a more comprehensive study

Street photography law – a simple approach

• Street Legs •

• Street Legs •
Street photography has some simple rules that are pretty universal. Stay sensible!
Street Legs By Netkonnexion on Flickr External link - opens new tab/page

Common sense is the best guide.

Staying clear of the law is pretty easy if you follow common sense rules. These follow from good principles of established manners and social skills. Here is a simple summary to help you out. There is also some links below that will guide you through the more legal approach…

Disclaimer… not so boring!

I cannot offer you hard and fast legal advice. There are too many legal systems world-wide. Also, I am not a lawyer. Nevertheless most people go through life with few brushes with the law. They have been bought up to be good citizens. It turns out that, in most of the Western world at least, that good citizenry applies to photographers. Behave sensibly and you will probably be OK! So, feel free, follow my advice. Just remember it is best to get proper legal advice before taking action!

Go for it! A generalised approach to street photography law.
Do’s
  • Always consider your personal safety first, then the safety of others.
  • You can take a picture of any thing you want in a public place.
  • You can freely take pictures of any person(s) in public.
  • You can publish your work without permission.
  • Take pictures of the police, armed forces, general officials and professionals.
  • Freely take pictures of women, children and any other person or animal.
  • You can follow people to get a shot (paparazzi do it frequently and legally).
  • You can photograph buildings and structures.
  • Traffic wardens, security guards and civilian police assistants cannot search you or order you to do something without a policeman present.
  • If stopped by the police give a reasonable and calm account of yourself IF YOU WISH.
  • You never have to surrender your camera or other equipment to any official without a court order (UK).
  • You never have to delete your photos or modify any of them or your equipment (UK).
  • You do not have to justify yourself or your photographic activities unless arrested (but see below).
  • If you are arrested for any photographic activity tell the arresting officers “I have the right to remain silent until I have been advised by my legal representative on what are legal, fair and reasonable questions to answer”.
  • Check with local authorities for special regulations relating to photography (eg. Trafalgar Square for commercial shots).
  • If you have more equipment than a bag and camera then make sure you have appropriate insurance against third party liability (eg. tripod, free-standing lights etc).
  • If you are working in a commercial capacity you must seek permission from local authorities and procure appropriate licences to carry out a complex shoot (lights, models, staff, equipment, vans etc).
  • If working as a paid photographer you must carry third party insurance and you may need location insurance for certain shoots
  • Be open and relaxed about your photography – you should not be harassed by officials if you are legitimate.
  • Do know the appropriate laws for your country or the one where you are travelling.
Don’t…
  • Don’t scare or intimidate people you are photographing (especially children or women). Following people for more than a short distance may be construed as intimidation.
  • Don’t persistently stalk, harass, irritate or torment people or follow anyone around (especially vulnerable people, women and children) for your picture-taking.
  • Do not take pictures if there may be a reasonable expectation of privacy (homes, toilets, through windows, private property, gardens or other private areas, serious personal injury situations, hospitals, changing rooms, etc.).
  • Do not block access ways, pedestrian paths, roads, doorways or fire escapes, or prevent official works or access with your equipment (tripods, lights, general photographic paraphernalia).
  • Do not stay anywhere if you are feeling threatened by anything or anyone.
  • You CANNOT profit from your street photography work without written permission of the depicted person(s) (eg, stock photography sales, advertising, selling posters etc.).
  • Do not publish pictures of personal, private or government buildings for profit without a property release, even if taken from a public space.
  • In publications do not provide identifying information about people you photograph unless you have written permission to do so.
  • Do not deliberately set up people you photograph to misrepresent them or actions they may take.
  • Do NOT get angry or violent or threatening if stopped by police or officials.
  • DO NOT make statements or justify yourself or discuss your photographic activities without a lawyer being present if arrested.
  • Do not take pictures of secure buildings with Government associations of secrecy.
  • Do not hide your camera or appear surreptitious near secure buildings with Government associations of secrecy.
  • Don’t lurk or hide yourself near secure buildings/land with Government associations of secrecy.
  • Don’t behave in a suspicious manner or a manner likely to incite scrutiny.
Consider…

The minute you step off the public land you are subject to very different laws…

  • On private or Government land none of the above “Do’s” apply!
  • You do not have a right to do anything without the owners permission on private property.
  • In public buildings, and privately-owned buildings open to the public, rules often apply that photographers must obey. Check with the management – you should know about those before you go snapping.
  • Beware the Official Secrets Act (UK). Basically this applies in any Government secure area. Don’t go there! Warning – there are extensive powers of search and arrest, but there must also be reasonable grounds for suspicion.
  • Beware the Terrorism Act 2000 (UK) – this applies in any Government secure area, certain designated areas (not published) and anywhere that a policeman will have reasonable suspicion that you are carrying out a terrorist act or collecting information for such an act. Don’t make yourself look like a terrorist! Again, be warned, there are extensive powers of search and arrest, but there must also be reasonable grounds for suspicion.
  • If you collect a lot of information about the same individuals you may need to be “Registered” under the Data Protection Act (UK). In certain circumstances (eg. where identity is clear) pictures count as “Data”.
  • If people ask you not to photograph them it is polite and courteous to comply. Happy subjects make great subjects. Upset people might pop you a punch on the jaw! So think carefully before upsetting someone.
  • Don’t deliberately portray people in a bad light, a defamatory way or depict them in a way that may misrepresent their intentions or lead people to draw inappropriate conclusions. Such actions MAY lead to court action against you.
  • If you are observed frequently or persistently photographing in places where one person, children or vulnerable people may be found, ensure you have a legitimate, officially agreed and written reason to be doing that. Regular behaviour of that sort is deemed suspicious and grounds for a police investigation.

I hope that this list is helpful. You should feel free to take pictures in public streets. However, you should remember it is better to know the law than to fall foul of it! Prepare yourself properly with the right local legal information before doing anything controversial, or new-to-you.

#11030#

 

By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)

Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.

Photographs have a life…

The Life of a Photograph is linked to the life of a photographer.

Nothing is more apparent than this fact in this video. The video is a great insight into the life of the National Geographic Photographer Sam Abell. He is a very intense and charismatic man. He is a person who feels everything about his photography. By that I mean he is intimately in contact with every scene as the observer, but also that he is tied to it by the impact it has on him.

Sam Abell has a wonderful eye. The video is a testimony to the depth of his vision, the way he composes his images. Despite that vision, the stunning compositional insights are surpassed by his anticipation. He has an incredible view of the photo he is about to make. Abell describes how he composes and waits. That is an invaluable insight for us as learning photographers.

I can think of no better way to sum up this video than was said by one of the comments made by a previous viewer. He said, “This is incredibly inspiring! This means so much more to my photography than any gear video I could watch”. Abell also has a wonderfully dry wit and that too is a hallmark of this man’s style.

National Geographic Live! : The Life of a Photograph

Uploaded by National Geographic Channel  External link - opens new tab/page to YouTube

 

By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)

Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.

 

Get Photokonnexion tips by email!
We send you tips daily – find out more…

Start email subscription now!
#11030#

Two great gift ideas for photographers

Christmas Bonanza

Gift Bonanza


 

Love and friendship is about giving!

The lead up to any major festival is always a bit frenetic. So you can use these ideas to take the pressure off. See what you think. I can recommend these things from my own personal use. I think you will find they will make great gifts.

 

 

 

 

Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter)
David DuChemin is not only a great photographer he is also a visionary. In this book he speaks about his vision and how it relates to his photography. It is much more than a personal journey however.

DuChemin is a talented and sensitive photographer who has a compelling vision passionately expressed in every photograph. His book is aimed at helping the reader to understand what photographic vision is and how it relates to the photograph. He looks carefully at the way each of his images is created and provides some excellent photographic tips and his professional advice too.

The essence of the book is aimed at helping the reader get past the purely technical aspects of photography. His main point is that any photographer can learn to visualise great images and then go on to create them. DuChemin is giving away a gift in this book – how to see your photograph with a passion and create it with a passion and vision of your own.

The book is a pleasure to read and is filled with many of his wonderful images. His emphasis on street and travel photography makes the book all the more colourful. The current interest in street photography also helps make the book a relevant buy.

The book was published in 2009 and it has already become a classic. He has written a number of other books which follow on from this one. All are worth reading. The book provides a great grounding for beginner and expert alike. Great tips, great photographs and wonderful insights make this book the perfect gift for a photographer. Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision (Voices That Matter)

Rogue large Flashbender
I just love this great flash diffuser. If you have an off-camera flash this is the best. It is the most adaptable diffuser I have ever used. You attach it to the flash with a wrap around grip. The big diffuser stands up above the lens of the flash.

The white fabric diffusion surface is used to reflect the light where you want it to go. It is really controllable. The fabric is reinforced with very versatile but highly bendable backbones. These can be bent to give any shape of deflection so you can point your diffused light almost anywhere. It will allow you to point the deflection up, down or to either side. More to the point you can control the light intensity because you can wrap the sides in a bit to control how much light can get out of the gap. You can even roll it up and make it a snoot, a really directional focus for your flash.

While this diffuser is only of use for off-camera flash, it is very simple to use. It is a great way to prevent those nasty highlights that spoil flash shots. It is also a daylight matched colour so the diffused light will not have any colour cast.

I have used this in many different types of portrait and group shots. I have also used it in studio and still life situations. The material is very robust and resistant to damage. The white diffusion surface can be wiped clean and is very durable too. The whole thing is extremely light and I keep it rolled up in my camera bag ready for any time I need it. I would not be without this diffuser now. Another great gift for a photographer. Rogue large Flashbender

By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)

Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.

Could you make an iconic picture?

There are very few iconic pictures created every year world-wide.

Some of the most iconic pictures are taken by journalists. They visit difficult places and see sights to challenge the human spirit. Here are some pictures that tug our heart strings.

The video below shows thirty one iconic pictures from the last century which have a lasting punch. They are mainly taken by journalists and they all have a collective impact. It is a short video, yet in those few minutes I was moved to tears. There is something that smashes your defences in an iconic shot. However, a lot of the pictures in the video would not have the impact without the title text. It is important to have a context even for an iconic picture.

Three Iconic photographs missed in the video

The video also set me thinking about a few pictures that were not in the video that have had a powerful effect on me as a photographer. They are clearly brilliant photographs. I include them here because they also show class, lasting punch and great skill. There are many more, but these spring to mind.
Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry External link - opens new tab/page – (in Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans by Michael Appleton; 2005 External link - opens new tab/page

The World’s Most Powerful Photographs…

Published on Aug 1, 2012 by BuzzFeedVideo

Video: What makes a great photograph great?
Music: “Hypnagogia,” By Andrea Rossi
Attributions/Photographers:

1. Robert Capa
2. No official citation. Army photographer referred to as Major Benjamin
3. Heinrich Hoffman
4. Citation not given
5. John Dominis
6. Jeff Widener
7. Claude P. Dettloff
8. Stan Stearns
9. Aaron Thompson.
10. CFP – Photographer not given
11. Héctor Rondón Lovera
12. Yomiuri Shimbun
13. Mark Pardew
14. Nevine Zaki
15. Marc Riboud
16. No Official citation. Possibly George Mejat
17. KOREA POOL – Photographer not given
18. Goran Tomasevic
19. Cecil Stoughton
20. Vanderlei Almeida
21. Getty – Photographer not given
22. No citation given. Photographs are on English Russia if you’re interested.
23. AP. Photographer not given
24. No official citation
25. Jeff Roberts
26.Str / AFP – Getty – Photographer not given
27. Louie Favorite
28. Getty – Photographer not given
29. Can’t find this one.
30. This has gotten so saturated over the internet, the original is near-impossible to find.
31. William Anders
(many thanks to BOSOX9004 for compiling, http://www.youtube.com/user/BOSOX9004!!)

Beware image theft – online images are in danger

Beware image theft… track down image pirates.

Beware the image pirates… track them down.

Image theft is almost the norm – now you can catch them

It is a sad fact of online life that images get stolen daily. Photographers live with the fact that their images are open to image theft. Tracing it is difficult, but now you can find pirated images.

Image theft is a numbers game

The problem with image theft is one of numbers. If you put the word “all” into Google Image search it returns “About 37,770,000,000” results. Yes, thirty seven billion, seven hundred and seventy million images at the time of writing! That is not all the images online. It is not even all the images Google knows about. It’s not clear if anyone knows how many images there are online. Trying to find out if one of your images has been used online without permission could be a huge task. Image thieves use this large number as cover. They expect never to be found.

Image theft – catching the thief

So how would you find out if someone was using your images? One way is to use the “Reverse Image Search Engine” called TinEye  External link - opens new tab/page. The search engine has been around for more than a year, but is becoming more and more useful. As it crawls the web it picks up a large reference library of images. It currently holds over two billion. What is special about TinEye is that each image has a special ‘signature’. This is the code behind the image. The signature of each image is unique. If someone steals your image you can find it. Simply provide TinEye with a copy of your image from your computer. Alternatively, you can give it a web address. Either way, TinEye will search its database and see if it has found your image somewhere else. It is simple and quick to do.

If an image signature like your image is found TinEye lists it for you to see. The search engine is pretty accurate. It shows exact replicas and any edited ones it can match to the signature you submit. Major edits still do not change the image signature. So even if the pirate tries to hide the image theft TinEye has a good chance of finding it.

What happens when you know who and where?

The work for you starts once you know someone has used an image you made. If you Want to pursue them it could get expensive. Concentrate only on sites using your images for commercial gain. Follow up if you think they might be able to pay for your image. You could make a small profit. It has to be said, it’s unlikely that an image theft will make a profit if you need legal support. However, at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing you got some justice.

My image of a ‘Jolly Roger’ above is actually used all over the web. It is made from a typed character in Microsoft Word. Here is how it is done…

  • Open MS Word;
  • Select the font “wingdings”;
  • Type N;
  • A tiny Skull and cross bones is typed;
  • Make it large (200 point type);
  • Process in your favorite image editor.

The address for my “Skull and Crossed Bones” image above is…
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8012/7585876596_83505e860f_o.jpg

If you copy and paste this address into TinEye  External link - opens new tab/page you will be able to see how the search engine works. There are quite a few “Jolly Roger” images made the same way I made mine. More than 350 variations were listed when I wrote this article. These are legal as they are made from a copyright-free type character. I am not claiming any copyright of my own. And, I have attributed the original image to Microsoft. My image above is known as a ‘derivative work’ in copyright law.

TinEye has only got a small percentage of the images on the web in its database. However, it’s grown from about 500 million images since last year to over two billion today. As it grows it gets more useful because more images are able to be matched.

Copyright law is working in most countries. It can be a complex law. It is worth reading more on the subject. I have included some links below.

Image theft – a dire crime

Copyright or image theft is a huge problem and a crime. It can seriously devalue a picture and take the livelihood away from an artist. Be vigilant. Make sure you protect yourself. And, if you use images, make sure you have not carried out an image theft by accident.

By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)

Damon Guy - Netkonnexion

Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)

Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers.
See also: Editors ‘Bio’.

365 Project

365Project - a great way to get your photos seen and to see the photographs of other people.

365Project - a great way to get your photos seen and to see the photographs of other people. Sharing and commenting is a effective way to learn.

Getting your pictures seen is what its all about

Photography showcase websites have been popular for some years. Flickr, Photobucket, and 500px are examples of popular social/sharing photo-sites. There are many more. However, some social-networking photography sites are a bit intimidating for the photographer who is just building up confidence. It is sometimes daunting to post your shots when you unsure. Getting started posting online is easier if you are with a friendly website where the community is supportive and helpful. 365project is one such site.

365 websites provide a challenge for users to post a photograph every day for a year. The idea is simple. Photographers challenge themselves to produce photographs daily just for the fun of it. You have to provide the self-motivation to take a daily picture and to become a part of the site community. Beyond that pretty much anything goes. There is no agenda as far as the site is concerned. Do as you wish (within the bounds of decency and legality). If you become a part of the community regular posting is important. Your ‘followers’ miss you if you don’t post, so you feel obligated to keep your photos going. The community spirit is very strong. Everyone helps each other. It is astonishing how friendly the site is and how helpful everyone is when you need it. The 365project is definitely about community.

Great things, bad things, wonderful things, exciting things, tragic and the mundane, the 365ers are there for all of that. Believe me it is tear-jerking sometimes. The community all rally around and help out, congratulate, support or just provide {{{{hugs}}}}. It’s fun supportive and enjoyable to have people so focused on your interests and theirs and you get to share intimate insights into peoples lives.

Regular commenting on peoples photographs will bring in return comments on your shots. 365ers are really positive about the photos they view. People do not make bad comments. They may refrain from comment, but will definitely talk about the good aspects of your shots. If you just pick up on the positive comments and repeat good ideas in future shots you would learn a great deal. If you ask for advice people make really helpful and useful comments. Not every one agrees with everyone else. But, its all about understanding your photography so accepting different approaches to a shot is all part of the learning process.

As your skills progress some shots may prove to be crowd pullers. The site has a ‘popular page‘ where pictures that have caught wide attention get posted. The popular page helps pull new visitors to your project helping you make new friends.

A daily photograph is a challenge and lacking inspiration sometimes is part of the journey. The project has members all over the world. Normal and everyday for you is totally new for some of them. So just take a shots that you like – even if it is your cat, and post it on the site. Er… actually, take a picture especially if it is your cat. The ‘Awwwww’ factor is big on the project (cats on 365 project). Appealing pictures are very popular.

If you like a photograph ‘Fav’ it with the button at the top of every daily picture-page. ‘Favs’ are stored in your fav pages which keeps your favorite pictures. You can also look at other people fav pictures. This is great for developing your ideas about what is a good picture. It’s helpful to look at good photographs every day. It develops your skills as a photographer. Favs are the pictures that influence your photography, give you ideas and help you improve.

Camera carrying becomes a habit. You get to know your camera intimately. 365project is also a great place to get to know post-processing. Helpful comments, ideas, tricks and tips are shared everywhere. The site also has lots of articles, discussions and help groups.

There are some really fun things to try out during your project…

  • A 30 day challenge on a theme (black and white; mobile shots; abstracts…)
  • Taking a photo and link it to a music track every day
  • Two weeks of abstract shots
  • A photo each day that starts with a letter of the alphabet from A-Z
  • Photograph the seasons throughout the year
  • A self portrait week, or month, or whatever.
  • A regular timed photo every day, say, taken at 2.30pm.

There are lots of ideas like this on the site and a weekly theme for you to follow, among other things.

Using the site is free – just register and start. There is also an ‘ace’ membership for $19. For that you get two extra albums and access to online editing software. There is a lot more to the site – more information can be found on the site. You can use any camera – its about the shots, not what equipment you own.

Seriously committed to your photography? Want to be a part of a committed photographic community? 365project is for you. It’s an excellent way to build your skills and confidence. And, I can tell you, it is quite an achievement to finish the year. Enjoy!

Project Based Learning is Best

Colins Complete Photography Course.
A great book available on Amazon

The best way to improve is to do…

When you read a book, you learn things. However, practical application is different to book knowledge. I am reminded of a great line in a film, “…there’s a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path” (Morphus – ‘The Matrix’). In Collins Complete Photography Course you get to “walk the path”.

Actually doing photography is what teaches us to move forward. This book is about taking our inspiration, our passion, and developing our skills through project-based photographic work. Its about getting involved; getting inspired. Learning through projects.

This is a project based way to take the important steps that lead you to get control of your camera, get control of your ideas, get control of your confidence. Step by step the book takes you through the things you need to master photography. By inspiring you to undertake projects it helps you to get an insight into one interesting aspect of photography at a time – learning from inside the experience. It is a great book to grab your enthusiasm and to express your art… while learning.

Here are some things that others have said about: “Collins Complete Photography Course

“This is a really instructive book…” By Mrs. C. Leigh.

“…if your photography has gone a bit ‘flat’ or you’re struggling to find a subject, it would be worth buying this book for the inspiration alone.” By J. Mousley

“An excellent book for anyone starting on their photographic journey…”. By ‘Fellingmal’

 
If you want to move your photography forward this book can take you on a great journey. It is an opportunity not to be missed. Buy it now…
Collins Complete Photography Course