Thanks for that Paul - I have on occasion (as reported here last year) stood
my ground when challenged taking photos in public. I am well aware of the
legal situation, but the fact is that the current hysteria about
paedophiles, digital cameras and camera-phones is of such intensity that
merely carrying a camera seems to inspire some people to look at one
suspiciously! And I'm not about to risk having my camera or my nose busted
by some thug who thinks he has a right to enforce some non-existent law
about taking pictures in public places.
Overall though, I will continue to take pictures of every subject except
other people's kids, and let he who dares tell me I can't...
John Coyle
Brisbane, Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Ewins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 8:28 PM
Subject: Photographer's rights in Australia (was RE: My Home Town)
John,
In Australia there is basically no restriction at all on who or what
you can take photos of if you are on public property. If you are on
private
property (which includes shopping centres and council owned land) then the
property owner has the right to set the rules. A lot of the time the
restrictions are a mixture of bluff and ignorance. Remember, we have no
bill
of rights so we have no inalienable rights, and specifically no right of
privacy. Putting it another way, our rights as photographers stem from
other
people's lack of rights to prevent us taking photos.
This link ( http://www.4020.net/unposed/photorights.shtml ) explains it in
more detail and includes copyright too. From reading it, there is no bar
to
street photography and no model release is required for non-commercial
work,
including selling prints regardless of how much you are charging. Using
someone's image for advertising and the like is different and does require
a
release.
A couple of weeks ago one of the members of the Geelong Camera Club was
hassled by the local Police for taking photos of a local chemical refinery
at sunset. He stood his ground and the next night the Police Minister was
on
TV explaining that in fact he was perfectly legal to take photos in
public,
regardless of the subject. The TV footage then cut to a bunch of camera
club
members all lined up at the refinery taking photos! One of them had a
Pentax
6x7.
Having said all of that, there's no point being in the right if it gets
you
a broken nose from an irate parent.
Regards,
Paul Ewins
Melbourne, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: John Coyle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 6:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: My Home Town
Some really nice shots there Jens, it looks a nice place to live.
Good job you don't live in Brisbane, our local paper reported today that
all
sorts of people are coming down heavily on photography of children in
public
places, with even parents having to seek permission to take photos of
their
own kids if there might be others in shot!
The gauleiters are at it again...
John Coyle
Brisbane, Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jens Bladt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 12:24 PM
Subject: GESO: My Home Town
For those who might be interested; here's a slide show of photographs
from
my home town.
Please allow some time for the photographs to load. Warning: A fast
internet
connection is necessary.
Windows (IE) users may press F11 for a full screen.
The time for each slide can be adjusted at the right hand side, below the
image.
All images are shot with a Pentax *ist D, most of them utilizing a SMC
Pentax lens.
Enjoy: http://www.jensbladt.dk/Nykoege/newfile.html
Sorry for the inconvenience of my using the three "extra" Scandinavian
letters
Regards
Jens
Jens Bladt
http://www.jensbladt.dk
