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On attending an event - any one event, even your own birthady party, does being a member of Demotix change the way you look at people and interact with them?
The shard of glass i n the heart that makes a true artist?
I would say that photography has changed the way I look at the world around me, appreciating a scene and the light etc.
Being a contributor to Demotix. I would say that it has not. In that I know what events I will upload and which events are private.
As for the glass, yikes! did you fall on your telephoto lens?
That is interesting Barnie that you can separate them, I suppose I have the problem that I know people that are 'newsworthy' socially, and I am worried I might be tempted...
As for the shard of glass, it is an expression writers use use explain why they have exposed their family or friends.
Alexis,
That is an interesting dilema to wrestle with.
If I may, I have a suggestion. Why not talk to the 'news worthy' friend and ask then if it is ok to photo them for Demotix?
That way the line between public & private does not get trampled.
Glad to hear your tele photo is ok!
Barnie
I feel that changes the relationsip totally.
As an artist I find people are really interested in posing for me, especailly if they think it will end up in the National Portrait Gallery, but to give it to the press...makes me feel a bit preditory.
Yes, I appreciate what you say.
There is a big difference between press & gallery photography, in that with the pres photog you do not retain control as to the eventual use of the image.
Personaly I keep all my friends and family out of press tog work.
Had a look at your site - nice pics. I had a peek of the dancing men - I bet there were no women present....
A firm line then, black and white.
Sometimes even that is not clear. At an Stuckist exhibition, where I take pics of the artists and put them up on facebook, I met a woman who went to stay with a collegue. At a party later, she suddenly told me she was going to court for not contacting the authories about the death of her grandmother. I said did you murder her? and she NO! So I forgot about it. And she posed for more photographs.
4 weeks later and it is all in the press about a couple of women leaving this old lady dead for months. The papers used a picture of Jasmine Maddox dressed as a cat, or even a picture of a mummy in the British Museum as the grandmother's body! And I had all these new pictures of her posing for me, in a skimpy dress and flowers in her hair.
I did not sell these pictures. But then I was not on Demotix.
If you are at an event, and take more than just a point & shoot camera with you, there is nothing wrong with asking your friends If you can use the shots in the news. From my experience they would much rather be asked, and have their answer respected, than having someone just use the shots how they feel. After all you did bring pro gear with you so they do expect to be photographed if you were invited back. Asking about other uses with the shots would not be unexpected. It might be out of line to ask for a model release though.
If you ask, and respect their response, you will more likely be invited back at a future date than just publishing them. There are quite a number of news worthy people that would much rather know who they give permission to, and which pictures will be used, than having no input what-so-ever. Quite a few news worthy people depend on being current in the media to maintain their careers, with togs that are friends they can trust more likely to be given a yes to news use.
It used to be that inviting certain people to your party, or invitation only event, would guarantee being in the news the next day, and could be disastrous to your high standing reputation if they weren't invited.
Just a Traveler With a Camera
I agree when all kitted out with lots of cameras, beanie and anorak on, people are warned that you are a working photographer.
I find most people have an exhibitionist trait, and willingly pose for the picture. And these people photographed like to think it may be published somewhere.
So that is your demarkation - outside OK to point and shoot and inside ask?
Sometimes though I go incognito with a small camera. Like dressed as a ‘ Lost Lady Banker’ for the G20 protests at the Bank of England (Burberry scarf, pleated skirt, court shoes), to get a series of shots what I wanted right behind the horses at the start of a police charge. It was all ‘Excuse me Ma’am, but we are going now, be careful’ instead of ‘G-t the f—k out of the way!’ if I was in my usual hobo camerawoman attire.
