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Ask The Experts provides an opportunity for professional photojournalists starting out on their careers to put questions to some of the leading members of the profession.
For edition five there are two questions. For question two and the answer,
click the link at the foot of this page.
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Jonathan Jones
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The first question comes from Jonathan Jones, a 32-year-old freelance photographer in Charlotte, North Carolina in the United States of America.
Photography was a hobby until two years ago. Then Jonathan switched from film to digital and now his images have been published in several local and national newspapers and news websites.
“Photographs often contain people,” says Jonathan, “and some of the best shots are of subjects who do not know they have been photographed and might object if they found out. Do you need permission from everyone that you photograph? And how do you go about getting that permission?”
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Shyam Tekwani
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The answer is provided by Shyam Tekwani, who is an Assistant Professor in Photojournalism at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. A full-time photojournalist for 15 years before moving into academia, Shyam has tutored at World Press Photo Seminars in Colombo and Jakarta.
Says Shyam: The best way to get permission is simply to ask. But you might want to think before doing so – because you do not need permission from everyone you photograph.
Besides, seeking permission is not the best way to ensure candid photography.
In news photography, images containing people often require moments of candor. If a story is newsworthy and in the public interest, then taking photos without permission is the norm.
However, in this era of cell phone cameras, digital technologies and the internet, concerns over security and invasion of privacy have created a certain distrust among the general public.
The belief that photojournalists have more rights than ordinary citizens to take pictures has been dented and the debate about permission, ethical and legal, has been heightened. While the law varies across nations, as do cultural and social attitudes towards being photographed, the ethical dilemma remains global.
It is a truism in a good number of countries that if you are in a public place, you can shoot anything you see. But if someone - in a private moment of grief or as a victim of violence - objects, what do you do?
Do you follow your conscience and put your camera away? Or do you fulfill your professional duty?
The golden rule is: be sensitive and compassionate to your subject and balance that with the newsworthiness of the photograph and the legitimate right for the public to know.
Whilst it is not really possible to set out ethical guidelines which apply in all circumstances, be aware of the dilemmas photographers face shooting news.
Alternately, if your photographs are to be used to sell a product, the position is quite clear. You will need permission from your subjects. Consent forms need to be signed. The signed form permits images to be used for commercial purposes.
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