hanz_franzell

<p>I don't come here more than maybe once a month, I am a casual reader of forums and admirer of much of the photography I see here. Beyond that, what I do see here is a passionate community very interested in the future or their site. I see a lot of suggestions and many if not most of them are a very good. For a moment, think outside the box. </p>

<p>Why not set up a crowdfunding campaign, raise the funds needed to take it back? Yes it will not be easy, but many of you claim to come from backgrounds where you could contribute. Rather than only making suggestions, you could actually do them! If there are 5,000 of you and you each paid $200, thats $1M. Is that enough to buy it back? I don't know, but why not ask? Those that can't do $200 will do less, those that can do more, do more, point is - tier it like they all do but crowdfunding is making things that once seemed impossible, possible. What is the number? Think about the possibilities with the end goal of making photo.net a true community owned and operated site. Think of the PR that a crowdfunding effort might create and the new users that could come from that effort. Lots of details and color to fill in, but its a start. Think outside the box in effort to make a difference. Think about making more than suggestions, make action. </p>

<p>Drafting my bucket list and wanted to know if any of you have one place, just one - that if you could go you would. </p>

<p>What's your one place you'd go to photograph? </p>

<p>I need some inspiration for my list!</p>

<p>@ Carlos - "Well colleagues, for sure there are much more interesting and useful topics than this dumb discussion about "ethics" of photographs taken at the beach." if you don't like the thread and feel as though it is a waste of time then simply move on - why must you make such a negative post? <br />The beach reference was posed as an example for ethics question which is about subjects of photos granting permission to be photographed. Its a question every photographer should think about if taking photos of people in public places regardless of the law. <br />Photos of people where they are undoubtedly the subject of (regardless of gender, age, weight, etc) that have not granted permission or have knowledge they are being photographed never mind having their photos posted here (again without their knowledge or consent) has the potential to give all photographers a bad name - thus I believe this discussion is important....but thank you for granting us your infinite wisdom on the subject - we're all so much more enlightened now that you've weighed in.</p>

<p>"I am free to photograph it, <em><strong>because it doesn't hurt her</strong></em>."<br>

<em><strong>"because it doesn't hurt her" </strong></em>How would you know it doesn't hurt her unless you asked for permission?<br>

<em><strong>"There is no need to discuss what might be done with the photo later, because that is a completely new and different act." </strong></em>Of course there is because it reveals intent.<br>

Lets be real here - these photos are not "beach photos" - the subject matter is clearly women in bikinis that happen to be at the beach, AND the women have no idea they are the subject of the photographers shot, so I ask again - if the intent is pure as the driven snow, why not ask for permission?<br>

PS. I believe it is polite and ethical to ask for permission to take photos of people as subjects of the photo. Key here being these women are the subjects of the photo and have no idea they are being taken or what will be done with them. Its really that simple. </p>

<p>I agree that intent is the primary keyword in this argument. <br>

To expand on the original question of ethics of "taking" pictures at the beach ....is it also ethical to post pictures like this <a href="/photodb/folder?folder_id=994057">http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=994057</a> which appear to be taken of the subjects without consent and without their knowledge?<br>

You will notice that the vast majority of comments on these photos are about the subjects and have very little to do with photography or technique. What is the intent of the photographer taking photos like this and should a site like photo.net welcome them? Or put more bluntly - Is it OK for creepy old men to take pictures like this and post online for comments - again without the subjects knowledge or consent? <br>

If their intent was pure as the driven snow, then why not politely approach the subjects and introduce themselves and explain that they'd like to photograph them?</p>

<p>Every country deals with this question differently in terms of the law <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_consent_requirements">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_consent_requirements</a><br>

However - is it ethical to take photos of people in public places without their consent? For example - you are a man taking pictures of women at the beach without their consent or knowledge? </p>

<p>I see some pictures posted here and there everywhere on the web, and do wonder if the photographer that took those photographs has a moral compass. How would they like it if a photographer took photos of their daughter or wife without their consent? </p>

<p>How does a site like this deal with photos like this that could be viewed as unethical even if legal?<br>

What do you think?</p>