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Moral Photography

What is your take on this?

12 years ago, November 26th 2011 No: 1 Msg: #147768 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

This is a question that I've been wanting to ask for a long time. I've seen lots of wonderful pictures on TB, especially portraits of people from different ethnic cultures and backgrounds. However, my blogs are mostly devoid of portraits because whenever I travel I have a real problem dealing with the ethical and moral dilemmas of portrait photography.

I always shudder when I see tourists and travellers shoving their cameras in someones face just to get that ideal travel shot. While some photographers obviously ask if they can take a picture, language barriers often mean that this is not possible and others simply don't care.

I'd really like to know how my fellow bloggers feel about this, especially from the avid photographers among you 😊

[Edited: 2011 Nov 26 06:59 - Cockle:46288 ]

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12 years ago, November 26th 2011 No: 2 Msg: #147821 Delete Edit

deleted_116683
deleted_116683

D Posts: 109

I always shudder when I see tourists and travellers shoving their cameras in someones face just to get that ideal travel shot

I hate seeing this. Seeing tourists with enormous cameras leaning right into people's doorways is pretty cringe-worthy and just embarrassing.

Personally, I either stand across the street with a long lens, ask permission (if I've been talking or otherwise communicating with the subject) or 'shoot from the hip' - something I had to practice quite a bit before getting reliable results. In my opinion it's practice worth doing, since you can get some great shots with no harm done to anyone. I'm particularly proud of this one:

In my opinion, any technique that doesn't affect the subject is acceptable for 'personal use' photography in a public place.

Ben

[Edited: 2011 Nov 26 22:24 - BnK:116683 ]

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12 years ago, November 27th 2011 No: 3 Msg: #147828 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

Great picture Ben 😊

I would say that there comes a point where you are actually invading someone's personal space, however, as you say, if it doesn't affect the subject then what is the harm? I will have to try that 'shooting from the hip' method myself 😊

I live in Vietnam and I see wonderful sights every day that I would love to capture. But, I have to live with these people and I don't think I would be very popular if I went round snapping everyone and everything in sight. My wife (who is Vietnamese) has even told me that while tourism has now become an acceptable part of Vietnamese life, people (especially the elderly) would feel extremely annoyed and even violated if a western tourist should just happen to come up and click a few pictures off without asking first. After all, how would we like it if they came to our countries and started doing the same to us?

Looking at a picture, I would say it is quite easy to spot whether a subject has given permission or not for a photo to be taken. One extremely 'moral photographer' who I greatly admire and would especially like to point out is Dancing Dave. You can see instantly from his pictures that most of his subjects are happy to be photographed, standing tall, proud with some having huge grins on their faces.

Personally, I feel that this is a responsibility all photographers should be thinking about. The world has never been smaller and if we want to make a good impression while travelling then we should treat people with the same respect as we would expect ourselves 😊

[Edited: 2011 Nov 27 01:37 - Cockle:46288 ]

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12 years ago, December 1st 2011 No: 4 Msg: #148153 Delete Edit

deleted_116683
deleted_116683

D Posts: 109

Thanks mate.

I just wanted to add another technique that not only removed the 'invasion of privacy' factor but is also a lot of fun (I'm talking about developing countries here):

Give your camera to a local, show them the shutter button and let them go nuts, dragging in all local bystanders is the process. I can't take credit for either of these snaps, both of which are great, and probably more natural than I could have got myself...

(Both taken by a lady in a village in Myanmar).

Of course, you'll probably have to sift through a lot of blurry shots but it's well worth it!

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12 years ago, December 1st 2011 No: 5 Msg: #148169 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

Brilliant stuff! Thanks for sharing those with me 😊

What great pictures! Mind you, my next stop will probably be Thailand, so maybe handing the locals my camera might not be such a great idea, however, I will certainly put this idea into practice the next time I go off the beaten track.

I've done a lot of TFP studio photography in the past which I actually prefer doing. Having a subject who is more than willing to be photographed means that I can relax, negating any worries I might have about photographing subjects who are maybe not so willing.

Seeing some of these wonderful travel shots I sometimes wish that I didn't have the moral convictions and values that I have. However, by being a moral traveller and respecting others by not unceremoniously ramming my camera in their face, I feel that I am doing my bit to foster good relations between different cultures and can, most importantly, sleep at night 😊

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12 years ago, December 2nd 2011 No: 6 Msg: #148201 Delete Edit

MichaelnFaye
Michael & Faye Johnson

B Posts: 297

I can probably count on one hand the photos I've taken of people on this particular trip so far...

I am jealous as hell when I see the stunning portrait shots on here... I just don't take portrait shots of people and it's for exactly the reasons you describe. I'm not comfortable taking photos of people, even from afar without their permission, it feels like stealing somehow and asking for permission alters the shot considerably surely. If I was working (lab bench, I'm a scientist) and someone asked if they could take a photo would I carry on as normal, probably not, I'd be all self conscious.

I do love the 'hand them the camera' approach, maybe I'll give that at try...

My wife (who is Vietnamese) has even told me that while tourism has now become an acceptable part of Vietnamese life, people (especially the elderly) would feel extremely annoyed and even violated if a western tourist should just happen to come up and click a few pictures off without asking first. After all, how would we like it if they came to our countries and started doing the same to us?

I had to comment on this, and the answer is not a lot... Having spent 3 months in Vietnam in this year, believe me the Vietnamese are not above this, although of course it's the same everywhere we've been in Asia. I'm traveling with my two very young children, and of course I understand, tiny western children are a novelty, especially when they are the two most beautiful children to have ever existed (😱), but they get constantly hassled for their photo, and not just cameras in the face, I'm talking manhandled, pulled around and picked up against their will, and not just occasionally either, it happens maybe 3-5 times every day. How often do we get asked for permission? Maybe 10%!o(MISSING)f the time... does it piss us off? Of course it does... the funny thing is they must get some seriously awful photos of my kids as they're just not into it.

Sometimes people play with them for a while first before whipping out their camera and then my kids don't mind at all, I suppose it's because they're being paid off and they're all smiles and fun.

Maybe that's the trick, rather than just asking for permission and firing off a few shots, maybe putting some effort in with a bit of interaction first might break the tension... I am interested to hear from the people who do take these incredible shots we see on here as to how they do it...

Mike. Reply to this

12 years ago, December 2nd 2011 No: 7 Msg: #148203 Delete Edit

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

D Posts: 802

Yes, the Asian people can be very touchy feely especially when it comes to someone or something unusual. I feel the same way your poor kids do. I am frequently being manhandled by my young students, who are always slapping my backside, trying to tickle me or coming and sitting themselves down on my lap when I least expect it.

In a way, it is nice that they feel comfortable enough to do these things (well apart from the bottom slapping business that is), but in another way it makes me feel really awkward and uncomfortable.

I hope too that some of the more experienced portrait photographers will join in the discussion and tell us how they do it....I'm all ears 😊 Reply to this

12 years ago, December 13th 2011 No: 8 Msg: #148735 Delete Edit

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

B Posts: 6,094

Ah Nick...a topic dear to my heart...moral photography

My thoughts on this subject...saved up for my latest blog story...FACES OF ETHIOPIA...the good and the bad of portrait photography

...and the pics...warms my heart