Sunday, March 30, 2014

Crass Or Kosher ?

Photographic Etiquette, or lack thereof  doesn't appear to be something that is frequently discussed. In the absence of hard and fast rules, establishing a criteria appears to be left up to the individual. Some of the behaviours that really irk me may just be my pet peeves but here goes. For me the benchmark is : "Would I like somebody to do that to me ? "
Obviously for professional photographers or photojournalists, the lines blur, and that's probably why I am happy being nothing more than an amateur. Once money comes into the equation, rivalry takes on an entirely different meaning. 

Crass as I see it:
On Facebook:
 

1. Setting yourself up as an expert - editing somebody elses image without consent and posting it as a response to them

2. Online bombing - Using every opportunity to include a shot of your own in response to somebody else's post and then directing them to your Flickr page

3. Badgering people in groups to vote for you in comps. One request on your own page is one thing but posting relentlessly is spamming. Pleas like "only 3 votes off top spot on 500px peeps" is tantamount to begging. Everybody appreciates recognition of effort, but don't make use of friends.

4. Posting multiple times a day in groups - groups are not created for one member - that's why they're called Groups !  If you want to post do it on your own timeline, and people who are interested will find it.

5. Bragging about your expensive equipment or making fun of others because they dont have the latest and greatest.

6. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery but imitating everything another photographer does e.g frames, borders, watermarks, colours devalues both by making it commonplace

7. Pseudo Humility - professionals masquerading as amateurs for competitions

On The Road:
1. Setting off  flash in the midst of another person's long exposure . I haven't really experimented much with flash but I'm sure there are copious other flash annoyances that I'll leave for now.
 
 2. Treating homeless or emotionally fragile people as nothing more than a photo opportunity.  Asking permission dependent on the circumstances is another scenario completely


3. Ignoring " No camera" signs e.g in galleries

   
 4. Attempting to force people to be in group or family shots - you may want a memento of the occasion but you don't have the right to make others uncomfortable
  5. Hogging an optimum spot - take the shot and move on


6. Stalking other togs and taking every shot they take - find your own perspective

7. Photobombing - it doesnt take a lot of effort to not walk directly through someones composition
8. Never purposely get in the way of another photographer’s shot. 

I'm sure there are oodles more, but I've lost the impetus for recording them. On to something new and uplifting :-)

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