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Playgrounds
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Well theres not much you can do about the sickos who decide to spend 5 grand on an 800mm lens taking shots from a roof.
Unfortunately this type of thing DOES go on.
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Paedophile-stalked-victims-long-lens-camera/article-3371503-detail/article.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
I don’t think banning genuine people from photography will do anything to solve the problem.miki g wrote:
Unfortunately this type of thing DOES go on.
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Paedophile-stalked-victims-long-lens-camera/article-3371503-detail/article.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;that is fantastic :-), hahhaha, ” a paparazzi-style camera” aaaaaaa hahahahaha , white 70-200 ??
thanx god do not have one white :-)miki g wrote:
I don’t think banning genuine people from photography will do anything to solve the problem.
and this is the best answer ever on this forum :-)
Chris
To be frank Chris, I’m quite sure why you are so deadset against this. I certainly do not want anyone photographing any child of mine without my express permission. Perhaps I am old fashioned (at 29 ha!) but can certainly understand why this bylaw would be put in place – the majority of parents would feel extremely uncomfortable at the sight of a stranger with a camera taking photos of kids at a playground.
Their opinions and feelings on this are far more important than any photographer…
BillyC wrote:
To be frank Chris, I’m quite sure why you are so deadset against this. I certainly do not want anyone photographing any child of mine without my express permission. Perhaps I am old fashioned (at 29 ha!) but can certainly understand why this bylaw would be put in place – the majority of parents would feel extremely uncomfortable at the sight of a stranger with a camera taking photos of kids at a playground.
Their opinions and feelings on this are far more important than any photographer…
I’m with you on this 100% Billy. I Gave up trying to argue the point though. I can’t undertand why someone is so outraged at having to ask before photographing other peoples children.
There are plenty willing subjects out there animate and otherwise. Specifically setting out to photograph other peoples children without permission is more that bad manners, it’s creepy.
If I saw a person photographing my little girls without my knowledge I’d call the Garda and hold him until they showed up.
oK, guys , i am with YOu in 100% with this situation which You describe, BUT look on this HYPOTHETIC situation:
“MIzen Head, You want to shoot some panoramas, unfortunately the best position for shooting is on the small playground, so You just go there and start take a first pano, after few minutes Garda come to You and examine You , and Your gear because is illegal to Shooting on the playgrounds”
Now You know what i mean ??
C
Exactly Al.
Have no problem with photos being taken of me, my wife, or the adult members of my family without permission (we’re not a photogenic bunch at the best of times anyway!) but the thoughts of a random stranger standing around a playground taking photos does make me uneasy. Sadly that’s probably a reflection of the times we live in – it very much is an era of innocence lost.
Of course it’s unlikely in the extreme that the person with a camera at your local playground is some kind of sexual deviant, but it does make parents uncomfortable. As photographers, amateur or otherwise, we really have to acknowledge that a parent’s life is difficult enough without feeling uncomfortable at a place where they are meant to be able to relax and watch their kids play.
I can understand in the scenario above C the difficulties any one of us can run into – in these unfortunately my own personal view is that it is our loss as photographers. We do have the option though of taking those views at times when it is unlikely the playground will have kids in it ie early morning etc. It’s the actions of a twisted few that have led to this. Unfortunately we can’t hold it against the local councils as they are damned if they do, damned if they don’t!
As a parent, I totally agree that playgrounds would need to be monitored for suspicious activity, but banning photography will do absolutely nothing to stop perverts preying on kids. I think the county council, Gardai or whoever would be better off introducing legislation prohibiting known sex offenders from frequenting areas where they might come into contact with children.
The reason I would be mainly against these bye-laws is that it restricts the innocent from going about enjoying their free time & doesn’t tackle the real problem.
An example of this is where a sex offender can sit on a beach, in a playground, beside a swimming pool etc observing kids without being moved on or interrogated as to their reasons for being there & a person innocently taking photos of their own children are challenged or banned from their activities. There is no mention of public toilets being monitored for suspicious activity & this is a more likely area that a pervert would carry out their activities. This legislation is not after been thought through properly & should not be enacted until it is.To be honest, I don’t think it’ about stopping perverts per se – it’s about addressing the worries and concerns parents have around this area.
It may not be logical, it may not be of any practical use – but if the perception of parents is that this makes them feel more comfortable in such areas, then I really can’t say why anyone who would be against it. It may be annoying, it may be frustrating, but ultimately it’s understandable
There is no logic in this by-law at all and I disagree with some of the comments made in this thread.
However that said, if there is a law or bye-law specially against any form of activity, photographic or otherwise then it must be respected full
stop. Ditto for rules created by owners of private property, clubs etc…Unfortunately, the media have helped to make photography an issue when its not. As a result parents have much more sensitive to it.
Of course, it would be more useful to have people educated on the subject, but there you go…It’s a copout to blame the media though Mark. Put it this way, I was with friends today – (none of them are photographers, both are parents, none of them have read stories about paedophiles with cameras by playgrounds). Out of curiousity, I put the question to them – how would you react to seeing a non-parent/guardian at a playground taking photos near/of kids.
Both felt it was wrong, with one saying he’d “swing for him/her”.
It’s not an anti-photographer crusuade by the media or authorities. I’ll leave it lie now, but I think you’re hugely underestimating the emotional response / distrust / concerns parents have over strangers who appear to be taking an interest in a playground. A non-parent/guardian taking photos in such an area is always going to trigger an emotive response. It’s a sad reflection of mankind that such a fear exists but to expect parents to react casually in such situations is a bit much. It may not be logical, and I’m sure most parents in cold light of day would admit that 99.9999% of photos taken near such areas are absolutely innocent but I don’t see why this is seen as such a bitter topic.
Photographers have two choices which remove this as an issue:
a) get the parents permission if you’re after a people shot
b) if the playground is simply part of the landscape , then take the shot when the playground is emptyAnyway, that’s just my views , not alot more to say! :D
Billy,
I said that the media have helped to make this an issue, I didn’t say that they did it alone.
Btw, the site here has a clear and public stance on child photography which reflects my approach to it.
Also I’m a parent and am fully aware of feelings around the subject and while its of course understandable,
its still illogical, good or bad.Sheldon wrote:
tsergairl wrote:
unless they are a member of a family
Stupid wording. Everybody is a member of a family…….
Should be something more like: Must be related to the person or person’s being photographed.
I don’t think they have thought this through at all.
Yeah, this was the first error I noticed aswell, seems to worded terribly.
miki g wrote:
Well theres not much you can do about the sickos who decide to spend 5 grand on an 800mm lens taking shots from a roof.
Unfortunately this type of thing DOES go on.
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Paedophile-stalked-victims-long-lens-camera/article-3371503-detail/article.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
I don’t think banning genuine people from photography will do anything to solve the problem.and even more clearly shows that where a paedophile is driven to photographing children, a by-law with minimal penalties isn’t going to stop them….
That example wouldn’t even be covered by the by-law in question…
So where is the poi t in bribing in yet mire legislation which will sit there unapplied….
do you know any learner drivers who have lost their licenses for driving while unaccompanied by a qualified driver of at least 5 years experience??
However that said, if there is a law or bye-law specially against any form of activity, photographic or otherwise then it must be respected full stop.
that being said I don’t even photograph kids when doing street photography because I’d be scared of getting a slap off some idiot who thinks I’m a perv, which is a shame as these pics show
http://www.markushartel.com/black-and-white/images/kids-and-fire-hydrant.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
http://imghost.1x.com/39677.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/039/e/5/arvar_by_sblourg-d39373m.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/043/b/3/children_street_theatre_by_michilauke-d39b553.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/068/2/2/story_time_by_bdwfh-d39hu5l.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
http://th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/045/a/c/strawberry_swing_by_siddhartha19-d39jbxk.jpg” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;Dermot, if that’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever (selectively) read then i recommend that you continue reading.
And while you’re at it please have a read of Godwins law!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin’s_law” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
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