I grew up in the 50s and 60s. Through the 70s and 80s I had lots of these types of discussions. Now in the 90s and beyond I have come to realize that these discussions are moot. "Take, make shoot", it doesn't matter. They're words. It doesn't matter what you call the act of creating, it just is. Yes you should respect the individuals right to not pose , knowingly or not, for your lense but then if that subject doesn't know it then in the large overview of cosmic history, what does it matter. If a person is out and about in this world then that person is a part of the scene just as you are. A meteor falls on them or you "take a picture of them. They and you are part of the scene and in 20,200,or 2000 years what did it matter. If they object, be reasonable and ask yourself if you are "big enough to kick thier butts or are you "big enough to see from a different place and respect thier desires. The Maya would kick yours but they would pose if you were "sincere enough". Just depends on your perspective. So the discussion is moot. Just get out there and shoot. Just search yourself, don't hurt yourself. It won't matter when your gone.

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), July 17, 1998

Answers

With this attitude, one should be able to rob a bank as long as one has bigger guns than the guards and police. Unfortunately, it is all too representative of an arrogant attitude to cultures and a lack of respect towards other people. If it is in the prevailing "rules" of a culture to not take photographs of people, particularly when this has religious significance, such as with the Maya or the Berbers, then taking the photograph is a violation and equivalent to an assault or worse within these cultures.

Violating other cultures has been a standard and it's probably time to change. Photographers should understand and respect other cultures.

By the way, who is to say that a photo taken in this way gets published and then seen, and the subject of the photo held responsible? Will you spend the time and money to go and help the person who may face expulsion from their village? Will you even know? Are you happy to carry that possibility with you for the rest of your life?

-- Jeff Spirer (jeffs@hyperreal.org), July 20, 1998.

berbers in NYC?

I don't understand how shooting on the streets of, say, New York City, will adversely effect the Karma of Berbers.

It seems to me you're using specific, rare (for most of us) situations laden with emotional baggage as the norm whereas most street photography poses fewer ethical/moral dilemmas.

Smile, enjoy the process, engage your subjects. Don't worry, keep snapping. The moral issues you can deal with when editing your contact sheets.

-- Mason Resnick (bwworld@mindspring.com), July 20, 1998.

The reason I commented on other cultures was that the original poster mentioned the Maya.

-- Jeff Spirer (jeffs@hyperreal.org), July 20, 1998.