Hey, sorry about the lack of posts these days! I’ve gone from being on an organised tour through rural areas in Uganda to taking a course on a farm just outside a town with one computer that never works. To say that getting online has been a challenge would be an understatement! But it’s actually been pretty great to unplug, even though the earnings and blog posts have suffered (November earnings report coming at you soon!)
But this post isn’t about me complaining about a lack of internet, it’s about me complaining about travellers snapping photos of people without asking their permission. As you might know, I was offered a free press trip type tour around Uganda with a bunch of travel writers, a photographer and a few tour operators. We had two safari trucks on the go and I ended up in the one with three travel writer/photographers.
I was horrified immediately after we left and continued to hang my head in shame as we cruised around the country. Shortly after leaving, we found ourselves stuck in Kampala’s nightmarish traffic. I would have thought travel writers would have been less easily impressed but the moment we headed into the city, their cameras came out in full force and they started snapping shots of such exciting things as guys on the side of the road shoveling garbage.
I have a problem with people taking photos without asking permission. If you want to do it, that’s fine, but I will make sure I put a lot of distance between us because it makes me really uncomfortable. I feel like I’m on a people safari and treating locals like animals in a zoo. In this case, I was trapped in a vehicle and all I could do was close my eyes and pretend I was invisible. People were getting angry and at one point a man threw a rock at our car. Someone asked why and I surfaced from invisibility to comment that it was probably because you’re taking their photos without asking. One of the writers seemed to have an ‘oh ya… that makes sense’ moment, but the other two carried on snapping. One guy commented that they travel to experience new things and part of that is the people. Very true, but experiencing something and taking photos of it are two different things.
The other photographer asked our guide why people were being so aggressive (as he continued to shoot photos) because he’d travelled to lots of places and never experienced this kind of hostility. Paul, our guide, replied that it was due to people expecting money because people in the past have given it to them. There was a sort of feeling in the car that people who’d been through previously and paid people for their photos had ruined it for everyone else.
This sparked a bit of a debate about whether people should be compensated when their photo is taken. It seems like a Western person will be asked permission and presented with a release form when their photo is taken but someone in the developing world will have their image stolen and taken to who knows where. I don’t think the photographers even had release forms with them. One said it was unrealistic or too difficult to get the release from people due to logistics and language barriers. That might be true but just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. Every job has the annoying parts, even photographer.
After a bit of discussion I eventually sparked up with my strong opinions on the subject which eventually led me to suggesting that, if they wanted to take photo, they should get out of the car, interact with people and ask. Once you get permission it’s often easy to blend in a bit and get some candid shots. Their answer was that yes, of course that would be ideal, but we’re on a tight schedule and it wasn’t possible. I feel like the only pressing thing to get to most days was our accommodation where we’d settle in and relax for several hours. Whether we got to it an hour later wouldn’t really have been an issue.
I feel like the safari truck can become comfortable and snapping drive-by photos is easy and getting out is a hassle. Nobody had even asked to get out or hang around longer on an unscheduled stop up until that point, over half way through the trip. Shortly after this conversation, to their credit, the photo-mad folks saw an interesting market, asked to stop and wandered around, snapping photos with permission. They came back having had a great experience and with some great photos without leaving a trail of angry people in their wake.
I think my opinions on this matter are probably pretty extreme and I’m ok with people doing whatever they feel comfortable with, I’ll just make sure I walk away when they start snapping people shots without asking. No big deal, I’ll just go somewhere else and not bring up the issue – except when I’m trapped in a car!
It’s an interesting topic, I think, and not one that’s totally cut and dry. What do you guys think? Is it even something you’ve thought much about? Do you agree? Disagree? Do you ask permission before taking a person’s photo? Do you not? Have you ever encountered hostility? While I tend to ask to take people’s photos these days, I don’t always ask to put people’s images on this blog. Is that worse?
I’d love to know what you think!
These guys are reporters, arent’ they? Photo reporters from all over the world take the photos they need without asking for permission, which is just the way the press works. Asking for permission will ruin the natural situation most of the time, and very few professional photo reporters would do it. Depending on the legislation in their country they may want to ask for permission to publish once the picture is taken, but that doesn’t apply in many countries. A British photo journalist can get away with almost anything in the name of freedom of the press. And I think that’s better than getting to the point where nobody wants to have their picture taken for a news magazine etc. Paying for photos is against most journalists’ ethical standards (and their editors’/publications’ guidelines too).
If the subject is interviewed it’s normal to ask for permission to photograph them because you’ll also ask for their names and permission to be a central person in your text. It’s a totally different situation than taking general pictures of unnamed people being part of an (urban) landscape, or similar.
Asking for permission to snap pictures when you’re a tourist is something else. It’s common sense and a question of politeness. But it’s nonsense to get out of your car if you want to take a general picture of the sidewalk with people, animals… on it.
Taking pictures many places in Africa and certain other countries will cause anger and/or fright because of belief systems (or fear of the dictator’s agents…), and it’s of course expected that a reporter is informed about the local culture and adapts to it.
I don’t usually ask with words, because I often don’t know the language, but I’ll usually motion to my camera and make an asking face and don’t take a picture unless they nod yes. Otherwise, I agree, it feels like treating the locals like zoo animals.
However, nowhere in the world have I ever asked for a photo release, even in the U.S. Maybe I should, the thought just never occurred to me. I think that’s more for the case where you’ll be making money off of the photo.
I think taking photos without permission or notice is really rude. I am the mother of a particularly pretty child, and people often take pictures without permission. Often they try to snap photos secretly, and that just makes me so uncomfortable. If you take a candid picture of someone just take the time to walk over and hand them a business card or slip of paper with contact information. In my case I would just love to have a copy of a cute picture of my child, and I’d love to know who has his photo and what they do with the photos.
I agree with you on this one. Some people also may have religious issues with their picture being taken. I feel like just because you are in under developed area you should still them the same respect you would give someone in a highly developed area. Privacy is a big issue with everyone today but it isn’t exactly being extended to everyone. while you may want to document something like you said you can leave a wake of angry people. I hate to be like this as I am an American but were those people American, British , French? I made those examples with nothing intended, those were just the ones that first came to mind. It wouldn’t shock me if they were Americans just not thinking and being disrespectful when they know better.
I usually see 2 sides to the story…on this occasion I believe it’s a blatant invasion of privacy.
Interesting topic. I’ve travelled a bit, and taken a fair number of photos and usually would rarely verbally ask to take a photo of an individual because the language isn’t there, or they’re not actually the subject of the photo – but as Kyle mentioned, a smile and some non-verbal motioning cover 90% of requests. Also, if you’re paying any attention, someone who notices themselves in a photo will turn away or signal they don’t want to be a part of it. Respecting that covers most scenarios.
But then, I don’t normally go around snapping photos of people all over the place anyway.
I don’t see it as a simple invasion of privacy. Privacy of what? your face? What on earth are you doing in public that, if word got out, there would be repercussions to consider?
When I think about my own photo being taken, if I notice someone taking it I’ll either smile, or turn away, depending on my mood. What is the harm that can be done really at the end of the day?
It certainly wouldn’t justify me yelling, and throwing stones at the person taking photographs.
Laziness and lack of respect drive these people. You are so right when you call this a “people safari”. When I shoot photos, I try to get the scenery and not the people so they don’t feel like I’m exploiting them. If I want someone’s picture, I ask first and try to make it a pleasant experience, rather than a cattle call.
Somehow these people feel entitled to take photos of anything they want. No wonder the locals bounced rocks off your car.
So has this soured you on taking any more of these trips if they are offered?
Wow! Great pics really, sight is really awesome. I think taking photographs without permission is really a offensive task and someone can punish that person. We can’t distribute someone’s best moment with others..
To the other people reading this blog, I am one of the travel writers / photographers that Kirsty is criticizing here. I was present on the Uganda media trip and traveled in the same vehicle as her.
I have worked as a professional photographer and travel writer for the past 15 years, doing features for most of South Africa’s prominent travel, environmental and lifestyle magazines as well as several leading international publications.
Kirsty, you clearly don’t have any concept of how a professional photojournalist works. Read the first response by Hansson and you may get some enlightenment.
Taking pictures to illustrate daily life and different facets of a country is a lot more than just taking happy snaps of smiling kids posing for the camera or images of pretty landscapes (which I do take a lot of as well). Sometimes its also about the other side, like people pushing banana-laden bicycles or shovelling garbage.
I’m not going to repeat everything that Hansson has mentioned but just to say that its impractical to stop the vehicle every time one sees a photo opportunity. Photography and telling stories visually is often all about moments, sometimes fleeting ones that last 1/60 second, and are not all about planned shoots which can kill the spontaneity and realness of a situation.
You mentioned something about your feeling trapped in the car and that for photographers it seemed that getting out the vehicle to take pictures was a hassle…
Well to be honest, it certainly seemed that for YOU, getting out the vehicle was a major hassle, not for us photographers. Every time we stopped somewhere interesting, like the market you spoke about, you just stayed put in the vehicle listening to your ipod…. or you would nap at the one lodge when we arrived instead of walking to a nearby fishing village to see the locals way of life.
And maybe that’s why we didn’t ask to stay longer at a great photo opportunity – so we wouldn’t delay you any longer seeing as you were just sitting there morosely in the vehicle or sleeping.
My advice to you would be that if you are pointing a finger at someone, look where the other four fingers are pointing. Travelling is about getting out there and engaging with the people and not sitting inside listening to your music. There’s another world to experience.
Whenever I have the opportunity, I’d far rather be out there talking to the locals, and after having established a rapport with them, to take their photograph … and yes, i don’t offer them money but when i do shoot them, I always offer to send them a picture afterwards.
Lastly, as regards your question about whether one should get someone permission to use their image on a blog – yes, common courtesy would be to ask beforehand. Take your blog as an example – you have used an image of me as your banner picture on this blog post (admittedly viewed from behind with my face not visible) without asking me if I would be okay with this. The correct etiquette would have been to ask beforehand, even if I am indistinguishable.
I hope this response has been enlightening and educational for you and that your future travel experiences may be more enjoyable than your Uganda experience…
Jeremy Jowell
Cape Town, South Africa
jeremyj@iafrica.com
http://www.jjphoto.co.za
I am the photographer Kirsty is talking about and left a lengthy reply in response to her blog comments … but it doesn’t seem to have appeared here…
How come? Is there some sort of censorship being practiced here?
I also don’t really feel that comfortable taking photos of people without permission. I have in the past been asked for money after having been given permission to take a photo of someone. At that point I decided that I wanted to give people in my photo’s something to say thank you, but didn’t really want to give cash.
In the end I decided to buy a poloroid pogo, which is a small printer that prints out small photos direct from pictbridge enabled digital cameras. When I started handing out photo’s to people in a small Bajao village just off the coast of Malaysian Borneo earlier in the year they went crazy. I was immediately swamped with people wanting me to take their picture. I ended up getting to know loads of people in the village and went to several parties and celebrations there during my stay. The only downside of the pogo is that the battery doesn’t last that long, and pogo printer paper can be tricky to get hold of in some parts of the world. I now stock up on paper before leaving for a trip so that I have plenty of little presents to give people I meet.
Like Paul and Kyle mentioned, usually a smile and nod with the camera will be sufficient to indicate that you’d like to take a photo of someone in countries where you don’t speak the language. When we do speak the language (e.g., Spanish) I explain a bit about what we’re doing and why we’re interested in showing the people and culture of the person’s country to our home country. This is the respectful and right thing to do. We’ve been rejected tons of times, especially in Latin America. But not only is asking the respectful thing to do, your photo will come out much better because you have developed some trust through this simple interaction.
Although uncomfortable, it sounds like the discussion you had with your fellow truck-mates ended up with some positive actions being taken (e.g.. hanging out at the market).
@jeremy I didn’t get the original comment… this is the first one that’s shown up in my ‘to be approved’ queue. I’ll check my spam folder and post it if I find it. If it doesn’t appear in the next day or two, can you rewrite it? It’ll go through straight away now that you have one post approved. No censorship here!
@everyone Thanks for all the thoughtful comments!
I also prefer some kind f refreshment during my busy schedule
@jeremy Found it! Thanks for your comment. Your points are all completely valid and I’m not going to argue with you about anything you’ve said, including not asking your permission to post the photo. I figured face not showing was fair game… but, you’re right, common courtesy would have been to ask first, sorry. My post is more about how I felt about the photo taking, not about what a professional should or should not do. I realise pros will need lots of different shots and operate with different rules but, from my point of view and the point of view of the people whose photos are being taken, they don’t know or care whether you’re a pro or not. The post is about how it makes me feel and I’m curious if others feel the same.
I didn’t get out of the car at a few stops partly because I didn’t realise we’d be staying for so long and I didn’t want to buy a drink or food and partly because I hate the feeling descending on a place as part of a big group of gawking tourists. When I did get out at a place we stopped for drinks, Psycho Bill was arguing (or discussing) with Paul about wanting to give money to the kids after being told not to… not something I really feel like being around. At the market I ended up chatting with Paul and a bunch of kids. Napping instead of fishing village… I was completely and utterly exhausted!
I don’t know if you know this but I’m also hoping to spend a lot of my time in Uganda in the future so I didn’t feel the need to try to cram in as many experiences as possible… I was happy to take things a bit slower. Plus, now this seems like I’m making excuses but it’s true, I had a cast on with a sore arm and getting in and out of the back seat of the truck was a pain… literally.
Plus I had some other things on my mind for the trip and wasn’t in the best mood. If you felt like I was in a hurry to get anywhere, that was entirely your own creation because that wasn’t the case at all. You could have just asked me instead of making assumptions.
Though I’m not sure what my safari habits have to do with my original post, or why I’m defending myself. That part of your comment seems a little petty.
Thanks again for your comment.
Interesting discussion. Professional photographers do seem to act as if they are above common courtesy. They think their job gives them the right to exploit people for their own benefit. Regardless of a person’s job, they should give fellow people respect and dignity. People have various reasons to be uncomfortable being photographed. A photographer should not have the right to take away a person’s freedom and force them into something they do not want to be part of. It is that ignorant attitude that contributes to negative feelings towards tourists. A camera is not a license to be rude. A true professional would not use a rushed schedule as an excuse to skip courtesy.
Kirsty, it sounds like you were extra frustrated with the situation because of how it reflects upon you to the locals. As someone who wants to spend quality time there, you probably don’t want to be associated with the drive by tourists who are just fine being an outsider instead of truly experiencing the area.
Nice post.A photographer should not have the right to take away a person’s freedom and force them into something they do not want to be part of. It is that ignorant attitude that contributes to negative feelings towards tourists.
I try to ask permission when it is possible and when it is not, I take the picture. I do try to get the “land of the land” before I go someplace and don’t violate prohibitions on photography (the Kuna women on the islands off Panama never want their picture taken under any circumstance), but if there isn’t a prohibition and I’m 150 meters away and there is a good shot… yea, I’m gunna take it. And if someone walks through my landscape style photo of whatever I am taking and it lends scope to the shot…. no I am not going to go up to them, ask if I can take their photo, and then ask them to walk back where they were in front of the church or whatever.
@Michael: I don’t think anyone has a problem with people showing up in backgrounds of photos. The bigger problem is when it is a closeup of someone who doesn’t necessarily want to be photographed. I think when someone is the main feature of the photo, they most definitely should be asked about it, even if it has to be after the fact.
This is all too common and people don’t even realize the ethics behind it. Taking anyone’s photo without permission is an invasion of privacy in itself and that should be well realized especially by professional photographers after all. Good that you stood up and explained them about it. Hopefully, they actually realized their mistake and won’t do it again.
Really nice photo. So, you were in Uganda and enjoyed life there in safari. It would had been a nice experience. I love to travel across the places but never got such time and money.
But i am happy to see that there are people in this world who have same hobbies.
Nice.