Photography under threat
Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 8:34PM A quick note about the new law on Photography. The authorities now have the power to confiscate your camera, or arrest you for taking pictures in public. What has happened to the freedom to take pictures? Some of the most iconic images in history were taken in public places. If you consider photography as an art form as I do, then you will agree that this is a ridiculous law. Have we grown so vain in society that we are offended by a stranger taking our picture. What is the concern? Bad hair day? Snot on your face? Are you so cool that we should pay you millions to take your picture. Where will this stop. Will we arrest artists for painting people without permission? One of the beauties of reportage is catching someone unaware. Why is it that we can have CCTV everywhere watching us 24 hours a day but we are offended by someone taking our picture. Also should we not have the same right as the government. If we see a policeman doing something wrong we should have the right to document this for the purposes of prosecution. Oh! of course I forgot. It's one law for them and another for us. As for the terrorist arguement, surely they will find other ways if they feel so strongly in the first place.
Anyhow. Just had to get this off my chest. I'm sure many of you agree.
Reader Comments (2)
Hello! I only happened upon this as I'm a very good friend of Audrey Albert and wanted to view this work. I am foucusing on surveillance and performance issues for a research project and was unaware of this rule...which I will be paying little attention to. Still, where did you hear about this...I have clearly been living in a bubble!
hi Helen sorry for the late reply. I've heard about this from other photographers and news sites. Paying it little attention is the best way forward !