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Re: photos (was Re: Filk, email, and copyright)




Poster: rmhowe <magnusm@ncsu.edu>

AlysounA@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Poster: AlysounA@aol.com
> 
> << I wanted to include a photo gallery with shots from some of our activities.
> I was told that according to SCA policy I  would have to have permission from
> every gentle pictured, preferrably in writing. So goes the photo gallery. :(
> >>
> 
> Aside from the legalities of the question, it seems to me that individual
> privacy interests -- and courtesy -- would require a person to obtain such
> permission before publishing photos on-line, yet I have seen a number of photo
> galleries (presumably created without permission of all the subjects). Does
> anyone else have an opinion on the matter?
> 
> -- Alysoun Ashling

When I was a news photographer many years ago we operated on the rule
that if it was in a public place it was not necessary. On the other
hand, if you stood in a public place and shot into, say, someone's
home (bedroom, whatever) then that was an invasion of privacy and 
not to be done. 

How many newspaper, or television photographers do you
see worrying about this? What people do in public, and what happens 
in public, is simply public domain. It particularly applies if they
are well known public figures. Libel or altering the images is another
matter entirely.

While someone in the SCA may have contrasting opinions, the real 
world operates on much different rules. There is courtesy of course,
and there is common sense and daily practice.

I have a copy of Title 17. And I am not a papparazi. I attempt to use
common sense. My opinions are based on practical experience and are 
not going to be argued about by me. (For one thing, I lack the time.)

I suppose next we'll all have to shelve our recruiting books with 
the photos we show newbies and mundanes. I can see some sense in not
putting closeups on line as those enable some folks to do unusual 
things with the images, steal them, or allow them to fixate on 
individuals though. For example I disagree thoroughly with identifying 
people too closely on websites, or putting up pictures of young and 
potentially vulnerable children on them. Anonymity has its rewards.

I've taken pictures in the SCA for nearly 18 years now, and I have
filled half a dozen rather large "recruiting books" over those years,
which help us present a fairly full range of SCA activities to the
public. I took pictures for my school paper, three regular newspapers
on a daily basis, and some for the university over a period of five 
years. I don't use a flash, and I often have taken extra photos just 
to share with the people receiving their awards. By now I've certainly 
given out hundreds.

Magnus
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