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Street photography in france


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I've heard that France has really made their laws on street

photography (specifically photographing people) very strict after

the Lady Di thing. I'm headi1ng out to Paris to do a bunch of

photography. Anyone have some rules of thumb to follow WRT the new

laws, or links to sites with current info?

 

Thanks!

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do a search, photonet, on "France". several discussions. Couple hints that Paris may be a bigger problem than elsewhere,nad I do remember some Frech law changes that would make suing you easier, no matter ultimate use, but daily practice inhibition I am less clear on.
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you got to distinguish TAKING PHOTO from USING PHOTO - there is no law preventing you from taking anything or anybody - except that in some touristic place of Paris you may get annoyed by some sort of law officer if you are shooting with a tripod (eg. Jardin du Luxembourg) - now as for the USE it mostly depends if you are gonna to publish them or not. In the case they get published some people might compalin your photo has caused prejudice to them in someways (they have to make the proof of it). Also there is a distinction when the character is clearly identifiable and alone on the picture with group of people. If you happen to get to Paris before Sept 22nd I strongly recommend you to go see the retrospective on the French photographer Jacques Henri LARTIGUE at Centre Georges¨Pompidou (Beaubourg). http://www.cnac-gp.fr/Pompidou/Home.nsf/docs/fhome - I went there this morning, it's a terrific exhibition ! Also, at Musee d'Orsay - http://www.musee-orsay.fr - there is the exhibition "photography at the turn of the century" until Oct 19th, and an exhib. on the French Daguerreotype tull August 17th.
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I was in Paris in mid-July, and I did my usual street stuff -- taking pictures for personal, non-commecial use. No one seemed to be annoyed the least bit. Not even during Friday Night Fever, where thousands of in-line skaters start at Place d'Italie and skate the streets of Paris accompanied by police and marshalls on skates themselves.

 

Of couse, security was tight during the Bastille Day military parade itself, staffed by rows upon rows of police, but that was understandable, considering the past assasination attempt on President Chirac. But after the parade, a lot of people took out their cameras and snapped away, with the military vehicles, the soldiers, even the police.

 

So, know the laws and keep your wits and common sense about you, and you should be all right.

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Rob

 

Don't worry. I lived there for a couple of years and never had any problems. Occasionally people with indicate that they don't want their picture taken but that's the same all over the world.

 

Paris is a great place for streetshooting - if you have a chance catch the Sunday morning market at rue Moufftard (nearest metro Place Monge). There's a food market outside the metro exit, Moufftard is just behind that. I used to get there about 11am, there are usually some musicians at the bottom of Moufftard next to the church. Members of the public singing and dancing - very French, wonderful.

 

Sorry that this has tured into a plug for Moufftard :-)

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