Encouraging street photography

Roger Hicks · 03-07-2008

...and getting anti-criminal and anti-terrorist security on the cheap. This seems to me to fit very well with the underlying questions of 'what is photography for?' and 'how can we benefit from it?'

First, a legal right to photograph and publish anything in a public place that is not a Restricted Place within the meaning of the Official Secrets Act. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Second, a government-funded national street photography contest with significant monthly prizes and a big annual prize.

Someone is taking pictures you consider suspicious? Photograph him/her doing it. If they are a terrorist, or a paedophile, or a common thief casing the joint, this will greatly increase their chance of being caught. If they're not: well, you both have a legal right to photograph anything, including each other.

The cost would be trivial -- the prizes, and expenses for the judges.

I first proposed this in my column in Amateur Photographer magazine in the UK in (as far as I recall) October 2005, with the idea that Britain could become a Mecca for street photographers, as well as gaining the security advantages. As no-one in the UK seems keen on it I offer it to the rest of the world...

Cheers,

Roger

Stephanie Brim · 03-07-2008

Why don't we pull out a street photography contest on our own little forum? I'm getting a new rangefinder soon and my Kiev with the Sonnar is itching to be taken out again. The prizes don't have to be insane. Should we talk about it?

Roger Hicks · 03-07-2008

Oh, blast, mis-typed 'street'. Can a moderator change this please?

Cheers,

R.

tripod · 03-07-2008

There's no way that a government is going to sponsor a street photography contest, even though it makes good sense - photographers are typically more visually perceptive and would make great "watch dogs" against terrorism, but privately sponsored strret photography contests would get photographers out onto the streets, asserting their rights. Great idea, Roger!

Perhaps we have found a leader for photographers' rights. Excellent credentials.

JoeV · 03-07-2008

Roger, I like this idea; it keeps public photography above board and visible, while simultaneously addressing the supposed "security" concerns of photographing people, locations and buildings in public.

I would propose this could be implemented by the "it's better to ask for foregiveness than permission" theory, as a grass-roots movement of photographers assembling in an area en masse.

~Joe

BillP · 03-07-2008

I am all for this. I am a firm believer in anything that gets people out and about with their cameras. If in so doing we assert our legal rights by peaceful means so much the better.

My suggestion would be a little more subtle, however - why not seek to get it sponsored by the Metropolitan Police as a "counterbalance"?

Regards,

Bill

BillP · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeV

Roger, I like this idea; it keeps public photography above board and visible, while simultaneously addressing the supposed "security" concerns of photographing people, locations and buildings in public.

I would propose this could be implemented by the "it's better to ask for foregiveness than permission" theory, as a grass-roots movement of photographers assembling in an area en masse.

~Joe

Sort of Flash(mob)photography...?

Regards,

Bill

p.s. Please note removal of colour from quote to enhance READABILITY!!!!

tripod · 03-07-2008

Street photographers: the solution, not the problem!

or

Street photography: the solution, not the problem!

Bloody excellent idea, Roger!

BillP · 03-07-2008

I posted this in the "My Fellow Criminals" thread, that has now been relegated to "Off Topic" to kill it. I am therefore repeating it here:

http://fourthirds-user.com/forum/sho...64&postcount=7

This is simply the best statement of UK photographers' rights that I have seen in recent times, taking into account the recent anti-terrorism legislation. I would urge all UK street photographers to print and carry a copy.

Regards,

Bill

JoeV · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillP

Sort of Flash(mob)photography...?

Regards,

Bill

p.s. Please note removal of colour from quote to enhance READABILITY!!!!

Yes, or perhaps a bit like Critical Mass, the bicycle-rights rally, only without the hijinks. I'm thinking of a name like "Exposure Time", or some-such photo-related terminology.

~Joe

tripod · 03-07-2008

T-shirts that say:

Street photographers against terrorism.

or

Street Photograhy:
Smile if you're a terrorist.

Larky · 03-07-2008

Let's do a competition. I have hosting space on a fast sever with unlimited bandwidth if you need a place to host it all. I also have access to a gallery in Norwich almost whenever I want.

I'd be well up for being involved some how.

MCTuomey · 03-07-2008

stephanie, congrats on the new family member!!

my street photography is awful ... but i'd contribute to the prize fund just to see others' work.

cosmonot · 03-07-2008

Roger - thanks for supporting my idea!

Though I do think this initiative will be rendered useless without the mandatory state-sponsored photo classes in all elementary/primary/secondary/whatever schools. I mean, what good is a photo of a terrorist if it's out of focus, under/over exposed, and poorly composed? We can forget it's value to law enforcement. In that case, the best we can hope for is "fine art."

xayraa33 · 03-07-2008

this is on fine idea, how do we get the people who pass laws to go for it?
this will be especially good for the UK, and Henry Fox Talbot can finally stop rolling in his grave.

fidget · 03-07-2008

I wonder if the government consider street photography to be a "healthy" pursuit?
After all, they need more hospitalisation than most, don't they?

MickH · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmonot

I mean, what good is a photo of a terrorist if it's out of focus, under/over exposed, and poorly composed? We can forget it's value to law enforcement. In that case, the best we can hope for is "fine art."

Cosmo, I know you're taking the p155, you must have seen the quality of the surveillance footage of shoplifters, muggers, terrorists etc. I wouldn't recognise my wife from most of that stuff!

Cheers.

gb hill · 03-07-2008

Just think of the reverse theology of all this. Next time Bozo the rent a badge or some other nosy comes up to you and ask what are you doing? Just tell them you are a photographer for Homeland Security, (or some sort) and are out photographing the community for the ensure of keeping our streets safe from terrorist & crooks, perverts, etc.. We can become like the Guardian Angles in NYC. Instead of being the intimidated we then become the intimidators.

Macka · 03-07-2008

I'm Asian. I don't think our governments would approve that they sponsor this kind of event. Nor do they t want to see their shortcomings and broken promises being hailed with pomp exposure.

MikeL · 03-07-2008

"Street Photography: We do it on the Street"

Stephanie Brim · 03-07-2008

Coed Naked Street Photography
We shoot on the street!

...

Yeah, sorry. Really.

Stephanie Brim · 03-07-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larky

Let's do a competition. I have hosting space on a fast sever with unlimited bandwidth if you need a place to host it all. I also have access to a gallery in Norwich almost whenever I want.

I'd be well up for being involved some how.

I really do want to do something. After having a baby, I need an excuse to get the boyfriend to go walking with me in Des Moines.

PetarDima · 03-07-2008

Roger, we had at least 1 contest for a year on this site(older members will tell more about that). Last contest was inspired by HCB's street work ... the rules was very interesanting: to shoot
with RF camera & 50mm lens(or f.l. close to 50mm). 3 shots from one photographer. The prize was incredible! ZI body + 50mm f:2 ZM lens!( donor was pop-photo). Top 10(or 12) shots gallery was very, very nice ...
Regards, Vlad
P.S. Nice to see you again on RFF Steph, all best to baby-girl!

Dogman · 03-07-2008

There appears to be a great deal of govermental and privately sponsored "street" photography already going on. Consider the traffic cameras, red-light cameras, street corner cameras, home security cams, business surveillance cameras, ATM cameras, lobby-cams, dorm cams, carwash cams, nanny cams.... Not to mention everybody snapping away with their phone cameras and posting video to CNN and You Tube 24 hours a day ad nauseum.

I believe any government that really looks at such a proposal would consider it redundant.

MikeL · 03-07-2008

Have folks seen the Street View on google maps in San Francisco?

Google maps: San Francisco

Click on Street View and then click on the little person. Cool stuff.