Ethics

I have started my research into the ethics essay, I am considering looking at the ethics of street photography, in particular in relation to my profession :

I have a working title which is  :  The ethics of street photography

I intend to question whether it is ethical to still take photographs on the streets and if not why not? 

It is my belief that it is; street photography has been around almost as long as cameras have been portable. People like Bresson started in the 30's and it has carried on ever since. But is it ethical today?

 

I found several good websites which look at street photography :

http://www.nickturpin.com/nt11/words/what-was-the-subject/

I also found an interview / documentary at this website called the in-sight documentary :

http://www.nickturpin.com/nt11/moving/in-sight-documentary2/

I watched the preview and may download the whole documentary  for my essay if it proves relevant, guidance needed from my tutor.

 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/photoblog/2009/08/twirlrun_on_the_street.html

I bought a book in the summer  which will help me with my essay :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Photography-Now-black---white/dp/0500289077/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1317033955&sr=8-3

Nick Turpin says of this book

I find it significant of some slight change in attitude that this year a large publisher, Thames and Hudson will release their survey of the contemporary scene, Street Photography Now and my own small publishing company will release '10' containing 200 mostly un-themed images from the in-public group. Neither of us would invest in these publications unless we thought their was now an audience for this work that is largely about nothing and, of course, about everything.

Benifits of Slr Video

I read with interest an article regarding the use of the SLR video function and the writer stated that he felt the uses are limited and the idea was a passing fad.

http://www.photozz.com/fizz/19966598.aspx


I recently took some photos of an elderly gentleman who is dying of cancer.

The client wanted to record some images before he became to unwell. I filled the brief with ease and then an opportunity arose to shoot some discreet HD video, I asked a few gently probing questions . My intention being to cover his highs and lows in life. At the time I had no idea if the family would be able to use the footage or would even want the footage. But I felt it was an opportunity that could not be passed up. My camera was on a tripod and recorded silently while I asked about the subjects life.


I showed the family the images and asked them if they would be interested in some video footage I had shot explaining that I had taken it discreetly and gently led the questioning. The family stated they were delighted as they had nothing like that. What I had done on the spur of the moment had become a precious record of events that the family could not have dreamed of capturing.


With this in mind I feel the advantages of video capabilities is something that I could now not do with out, I will always consider using both Video and stills in future.



There are of course limitations to hand held SLR video, but I have made several high quality films which have been of excellent quality, the one below was all filmed on a hand held digital compact camera :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tei488YgBZs

While the qaulity is not as high as an SLR, it shows that even a small compact camera can produce great results

I feel this extract article below also argues the point very well by stating

Video capability in DSLRs represents nothing short of a revolution. A new generation of photographers will embrace what they have to offer and use them to create new forms of art and commerce. In a few years we'll likely think that a still camera that can't also shoot video, or a video camera that can't also shoot stills is strangely underfeatured.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/camcorders/cam-cam.shtml

Further interesting reading can be found below :

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/technical-report/1650999/the-ultimate-guide-hd-dslr-camera-accessories