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Ethics are practical moral rules that help us to act in a good way while we go about our lives. Ethics cover every aspect of life and although there is, and will always remain, some debate about exactly what they should be, thinking about the ethics of photography can help us to work in a more positive way than without their guidance.
The ethics of photography will always be somewhat subjective and will change from one situation to another. As a good, universal starting point though, we can say that if you, as a photographer, are seeking to do no harm, then the chances are that you will be acting in an ethical manner.
Ethics in Photojournalism vs Photography.
This can be a contentious issue, particularly when photographers are taking photos in an open public space. In the United States, the Supreme Court has ruled that those in public office, including police officers, ambulance staff and others who are employed by the government, have no expectation of privacy while they are at work. This means that you can, legally speaking, take their photographs without seeking their consent in advance, although, to avoid conflict, it is still better to get their consent first.
Of course, exceptions do exist. For example if a photographer is working in the capacity of a journalist, including a Citizen Photojournalist, then it is ethical to take photos of protests, public events and other situations that are newsworthy without first seeking the consent of all the subjects involved.
Ethics and Wildlife Photography.
Wildlife photography has opened up the world of nature to audiences all over the world. This is a fantastic thing because it helps people to appreciate and respect the natural wonder of animals and their habitats which inspires conservation and other beneficial projects, but it can also have negative impacts on the subjects of that same photography. There are a few basic rules that you can follow though in order to remain ethical while you take wildlife photography.
- First of all Do No Harm and Leave things as you found them.
- While you are out taking photographs do not destroy the animal’s habitat and take all your rubbish home with you to properly dispose of.
- Do not try to interact with the animals in the wild. Don’t try to get their attention to get a better photo and try to be respectful of their natural needs.
- For your own protection, especially during the breeding season, be careful that you know the signs of stress in your subjects so that you don’t get charged or put yourself at risk.
- Never feed the wild animals, not only because it is unethical to interfere in nature, but also because if they become used to being fed they can end up in situations that might lead to them being shot! In fact the Yellowstone National Park services state that if an animal has become accustomed to being fed and approaches humans it will be shot by rangers.
Privacy and appropriation.
When you are taking photos in public you need to understand the privacy rights of people. Appropriation is a situation where a photographer uses a photograph of someone to advertise their products or uses it in any commercial way without getting the consent of the person in the photo. This is a very important thing to remember when you are taking photos so you don’t fall into this trap by accident!
Although people don’t have the right to privacy while in the public square, you should try to consider the privacy of others at all times while you are photographing them. Usually if you ask someone nicely, and explain the project you are working on, most people will happily pose for a photo, including shopkeepers, street performers and others.
Getting the Consent of your Subjects.
One of the central requirements of an ethical photography practice is to always obtain the consent of a subject, even if the law does not specifically demand that you do.
Hiring and Sharing Practices.
As a general rule you can share any photographs you take in public on your social media, a website or on other photography sites. The problem only arises when you use those photographs for commercial reasons without the direct consent of the subject.
One way around this problem is to hire people when you need specific subjects in your photography that will be used for commercial purposes. When you do hire a subject, or a model, make sure that you draw up a contract which you will both sign just to be on the safe side legally. You can easily find basic contracts online for free that you can use to protect yourself from claims of appropriation or other invasions of privacy.
There are plenty of forums and agencies where you can also hire professional models who can pose in your photographs and although this is not ‘natural street photography’ it is a work around that you should keep in mind, especially if you are working on a specific commercial project with a time deadline.
Ethics and Street Photography.
The specific laws will vary from country to country but as a good ethical starting point you should always try to seek the permission of any subjects in your photography when it is at all possible. If you are taking a photo of a busy train station though, realistically it would be impossible to get the permission of thousands of people moving around the station!
However, if you are taking a photograph of a homeless person then you should definitely ask for their permission and perhaps offer to buy them a coffee afterwards. Using your common sense will not only help you to act ethically during your street photography but it can also stop you getting beaten up by an angry subject!
I take a lot of photographs in Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia. It is a densely populated area of the city and it is very difficult to take a photo without any pedestrians appearing on it (particularly when you are shooting in the landscape mode).
Do you need to delete a photo if someone asks you to?
If somebody ever asks you to delete the photograph that you took of them, either angrily or politely, then even if you like the picture you really should delete it! There could be many personal reasons why someone may want a photo of them deleted and you should always respect their wishes in this kind of situation.
Being sensitive to the wishes and where possible getting the consent of your subjects is the most ethical way to operate.
Remember that the ethical perspectives on photography are often based on people’s own life experiences and so it’s going to be very difficult for you to change their wishes by arguing or standing your ground. It is usually better to work with your subjects in a relationship of mutual understanding. There are notable exceptions, such as in photo journalistic work, where the subject, for example a police officer engaged in police brutality, may wish you to delete the picture but you would be ethically justified in refusing to do so.
Ethics in Photography are Important.
The Ethics of Photography are complicated but if you are sensible and respectful you should have no problems in your work.
The ethics of photography are particularly complicated because of the broad nature of the practice and the subjectivity of individuals in different situations. Some people may be positively flattered to be photographed on the street while others may strongly object. There are some religious groups in India and surrounding countries who believe that if you take their picture you are stealing their soul! Whenever you are taking photographs of other people, particularly strangers in public, even if you are acting within the law it is still more ethical to be considerate and respectful of their wishes, even if you disagree with their reasons.
Are you an ethical photographer?
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