Improper photography? What do you think? (Houston, Center: high school, arena, title)

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

I would use caution in photographing children in a public place. The times are what they are, and if I saw someone clearly taking pictures of my family in public without asking me first I am going to err on the side of caution and assume it's not for good purposes.

I generally use a lot of discretion with what I do when it comes to this issue. I've seen people get defensive in posture just with me coming up with a camera in my hand, like when I came up on Ervan Chew Park during the "walk before Christmas" that I posted a few weeks ago. I can understand. Now if I came up to you and told you what I was doing, or you happened to know who I was, would you still have a problem? I'm never out to cause any problems or do anything illegal.

You might notice it is rare there are children anywhere in my work, and photos showing people's backs are common regardless of their age. People get uneasy about being in the lens of a camera, even with surveillance just about everywhere and God only knows who's seeing that.

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by jfre81

I generally use a lot of discretion with what I do when it comes to this issue. I've seen people get defensive in posture just with me coming up with a camera in my hand, like when I came up on Ervan Chew Park during the "walk before Christmas" that I posted a few weeks ago. I can understand. Now if I came up to you and told you what I was doing, or you happened to know who I was, would you still have a problem? I'm never out to cause any problems or do anything illegal.

You might notice it is rare there are children anywhere in my work, and photos showing people's backs are common regardless of their age. People get uneasy about being in the lens of a camera, even with surveillance just about everywhere and God only knows who's seeing that.

If you introduced yourself as, "hi I'm jfre81 may I take your picture" of course . Seriously though, if a stranger approached me and asked if he/she could photograph me or my family in public I would say no. I wouldn't be a jerk about it, but I wouldn't be shy about saying no.

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

If you introduced yourself as, "hi I'm jfre81 may I take your picture" of course .

So I don't count as a stranger?

Maybe I should hit Office Depot or something before going out and get one of those "HELLO MY NAME IS" stickers and a Sharpie. Would be wild if someone on the street actually recognized me under this name. I wonder if they'd start hamming it up for the camera instead of shrinking away from it...

Now if anyone who doesn't look like the guy in the picture on my profile presents himself as "jfre81" then please do me a favor and deck him.

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by jfre81

So I don't count as a stranger?

Maybe I should hit Office Depot or something before going out and get one of those "HELLO MY NAME IS" stickers and a Sharpie. Would be wild if someone on the street actually recognized me under this name. I wonder if they'd start hamming it up for the camera instead of shrinking away from it...

Well, we are just anonymous screen names of course, but I would at least have a pretty good shot at guessing you were not taking photos for, um, *personal gratification*....

[jfre81]

Originally Posted by rb4browns

Well, we are just anonymous screen names of course, but I would at least have a pretty good shot at guessing you were not taking photos for, um, *personal gratification*....

Indeed. Though I do get (non-erotic) satisfaction from A) exploring the city and demonstrating we aren't just a 600 square mile parking lot in front of a Wal-Mart and B) people enjoying my work illustrating such. And that's the extent of it.

I have no problem whatsoever finding people willing to view pictures of vibrant streets full of people giving life to our city, but it seems people willing to actually provide that vibrancy are slightly harder to come by.

[RCH99]

My vote would be for you to simply keep doing what you're doing. It's obvious many of us enjoy and appreciate seeing the city from the interesting perspective you provide.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by RCH99

My vote would be for you to simply keep doing what you're doing. It's obvious many of us enjoy and appreciate seeing the city from the interesting perspective you provide.

Yes! Yes! I agree!

[jfre81]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advice and especially the support.

[sbhubbell]

jfre did you hear about the 600 mile photo contest awhile back? I heard about it through a bunch of photog friends of mine but never saw the exhibition or the winners. It was supposed to be shots that highlight the less common places in Houston. I think the Center for Photography put it on. If they do it again this year you should definitely enter.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

First, I don't think much could be done about taking pictures of the city scenes which you so often do; as it is a public space, anyone who unintentionally appears in your photos cannot realistically think they could win some sort of legal action against you as anyone can be photographed in public.

Second, I think the intent of the law is to keep it as vague as possible so that law enforcement can then use the law to their advantage. If they made the law too specific, then it would almost be useless to law enforcemnt. I think they would use the law to go after someone who really was photographing with the intent of gratification. Anyone caught doing this would be subject to a search of their property, possibly leading to the real reason, like child pornography. Or, it could be someone just wanted to capture life as it is.

Keep doing what you are doing, JFRE81. You are an inspiration... sort of. Procrastination has a way of creeping into my life. One day I am going to get out and take photos of the area where I live and post it here on CD as you do.