Topics: 1. Street photography. 2. Camera Insurance

YogiBear

I know BAZ does a lot of street photography and ShepTheDog had some really cool shots there on another thread too... Personally I would feel very conscious going about town taking shots of people, although I'd like to.
I guess I would feel a little unsure as to how some people might react to it, what's the best way to go about it?



Another quick question:
Camera Insurance: I asked my motor car insurance company a while back about insurance for camera but because I don't own a house at the moment it seems to be not something they will do... Anyone know a company that will insure just a camera or what's the best way to go about it. Much appreciated!

Lifey2Alpha

Hello...
After looking at ShepTheDog's pictures from Moore St. I was going to ask just the same question! (about taking candid shots of people on the street.)

Like YogiBear, I'd like to do it more often, but don't think I'd be too comfortable at it. I've always thought that you could use a long lens from a bit of a distance so that you mightn't get noticed, but then if you did it might appear as though you'd have something to hide. Or, I've thought you could use a 35mm lens or whatever but then maybe get quizzed as to what you're doing etc? Do people ask why you're taking their photo? Do you ask their permission?

Thanks for any info!

Paulw

I have my camera gear insured with PJT Insurance (http://www.pjtins.ie/). It's just for my gear, and I find them great. Thankfully, I haven't needed to make any claims.

No harm in giving them a try.

Fajitas!

YogiBear wrote: »

Another quick question:
Camera Insurance: I asked my motor car insurance company a while back about insurance for camera but because I don't own a house at the moment it seems to be not something they will do... Anyone know a company that will insure just a camera or what's the best way to go about it. Much appreciated!

FBD will cover it.

TelePaul

If you;re gonna snipe with a zoom, wear headphones. People will eb less likely to talk to you about it if you're listening to music or whatever.

nilhg

Fajitas! wrote: »

FBD will cover it.

FBD cover my stuff as well, I also have my daughters laptop on my policy and its covered while she is away from home in college. I have them on an all risks addition to my house policy but as they seem to be mad for business I would think they would quote if you give them a shout.

Fajitas!

nilhg wrote: »

as they seem to be mad for business I would think they would quote if you give them a shout.

Yep!

sheesh

I did a night course in photography this year for a day out towards the end of the course we did a street photography day. It is very awkward at first but then you get used to it. I don't think I would be as bold if i was on my own so Bring someone with you who has a camera as well if there is 2 or more of you bristling with cameras you look like official photographers and people just walk around you.

Pretend to be taking a picture of the street instead of the person you a photographing.

Pretend to be really busy like you are on the clock and don't have time to talk to people.
The attitude I used was 'I'm out here taking a picture of this street you just happened to be in it'.
I didn't get any trouble. Dublin is probably different. there are more tourists people will probably take less notice of you.

ThOnda

I always say that I am just a stoopid turist :-)
Sometimes it's fun to be an alien.

YogiBear

It's nearly 9pm now so I won't phone the insurance companies now, but many thanks for the replies. I would feel safer having my camera, & maybe my laptop too, insured.
lol @ Thonda! I must brush up on my French so!
I think the "I'm a tourist" idea will probably work best for me, especially coming up to summer. I might invest in a backpack and a Dublin map for my outings too to look the part!!

shepthedog

In Dublin people just asssume you are a tourist or if using a long lens then some assume you are working.. People very very rarely say anything to you and if they do its usually more out of curiosity than anything..
Just get out there and work away..
P.S. Yep its always good to have your gear insured.. Accidents happen

tywy

I've just been reading that getting your camera insured is better than warranty... As I'm thinking of buying a camera in Japan this sounds like a good option. Can you just get your camera insured or do you need to get it put on the house insurance. If you put it on the house insurance is it covered when it's not in the house? I wouldn't have thought so...

nilhg

You put it on an all risks addon to your policy, that covers as the name suggests all risks, including out of the house, on holidays ect.

Not a replacement for a warranty though, especially if you are honest....

Not suggesting you are not:)

tywy

Now that I've thought about it, I suppose insurance wouldn't cover the camera breaking due to a fault.

What does insurance cover then? Just theft and it falling hard on the ground and smashing?

JohnK

Are there any legal issues with photographing people on the street or in public?

quilmore

JohnK wrote: »

Are there any legal issues with photographing people on the street or in public?

and I'd like to add:
what about using photographs of people on the street for our own benefit? (webpages, exhibitions, sales, etc), what happen/could happen if there is no written consent?

jaqian

JohnK wrote: »

Are there any legal issues with photographing people on the street or in public?

As far as I know anyone you shoot in a public place is fair game as long as you dont harass them (stalk them or bloack their path to get the photo) and don't use the photo to defame/besmirch their character.

Check this out...
http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

Rob

paudie

Besmirch,
good word.

JohnK

Thanks jaqian thats a good read; sounds like all very shaky ground though to be doing anything like that. I just have visions of me taking a crowd shot and some big fecker sprinting accross the street demanding to know why I'm photographing his wife/girlfriend/kids/pets/granny/etc then getting the police involved and me ending up like the guy in Midnight Express :eek:

PaulieC

tywy wrote: »

Now that I've thought about it, I suppose insurance wouldn't cover the camera breaking due to a fault.

What does insurance cover then? Just theft and it falling hard on the ground and smashing?

it depends on your policy. I have an all risks caluse on my house insurance that covers just that - all risks, theft, breakage, loss, stupidity etc.

tywy

nilhg wrote: »

You put it on an all risks addon to your policy, that covers as the name suggests all risks, including out of the house, on holidays ect.

Not a replacement for a warranty though, especially if you are honest....

Not suggesting you are not:)

How is that dishonest?

If you've it insured and it's covered by Japanese warranty or US warranty or whatever, if you can't get it fixed for free here in Ireland, can't you get your insurance to cough up? I don't know the ins and outs of insurance...

Paulw

JohnK wrote: »

Thanks jaqian thats a good read; sounds like all very shaky ground though to be doing anything like that. I just have visions of me taking a crowd shot and some big fecker sprinting accross the street demanding to know why I'm photographing his wife/girlfriend/kids/pets/granny/etc then getting the police involved and me ending up like the guy in Midnight Express :eek:

Calling the Gardai would do no good. You're not breaking any laws by taking a photo of a public place, from a public place.

There is no shaky ground at all. You are perfectly entitled to photography anyone in a public place.

As well as that, no one has the right to get you to delete any photos taken. They cannot touch you nor your camera. Doing so is assault.

Not even the Gardai have the right to delete your photos, without a warrant.

Just remember your rights.

Covey

Paulw wrote: »

Calling the Gardai would do no good. You're not breaking any laws by taking a photo of a public place, from a public place.

There is no shaky ground at all. You are perfectly entitled to photography anyone in a public place.

As well as that, no one has the right to get you to delete any photos taken. They cannot touch you nor your camera. Doing so is assault.

Not even the Gardai have the right to delete your photos, without a warrant.

Just remember your rights.

I've had this emphasised by the Gardai recently, when photographing a street arrest. The arrested person went berserk, but the Gardai just calmly said "he can take whatever he likes".

T.

quilmore

I was kindly asked by a girl to review my recent pictures to see if she was portrayed on any (I was taking pictures of my son)
it was on religious grounds (I believe she was of Islamic faith as her hair was covered) and because she asked nicely I agree to review all of them on the back of my camera with her.
No one had her and it ended there, I may have deleted them if it was the case, again, because I was asked nicely

nilhg

tywy wrote: »

How is that dishonest?

If you've it insured and it's covered by Japanese warranty or US warranty or whatever, if you can't get it fixed for free here in Ireland, can't you get your insurance to cough up? I don't know the ins and outs of insurance...

Your insurance will only pay out if its accidentaly damaged or stolen or whatever, the policy won't cover normal wear and tear or defects in the camera, so for instance if your shutter fails after 6 months your warranty should cover it but the insurance wouldn't.

A dishonest person might claim that the fault arose from an accident.

Its quite possible to buy an international warranty for your camera so the situation should never arise, and most manufacturers give a worldwide warranty with their products anyway, (canon is the only one I'm aware of that doesn't).

Paulw

quilmore wrote: »

I may have deleted them if it was the case, again, because I was asked nicely

Well, that's a matter of respect. If someone asks, then it's only polite to abide by their wishes.

Religious grounds? First time I've heard that one. I didn't think there was anything in the Islamic faith that prohibits photography.

Covey

Paulw wrote: »

Well, that's a matter of respect. If someone asks, then it's only polite to abide by their wishes.

Religious grounds? First time I've heard that one. I didn't think there was anything in the Islamic faith that prohibits photography.

Opening a hornets nest there Paul.

By the strict interpretation of the Koran it's not allowed.

"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures." as someone once said to me.

In practise I found no problems in over 3 weeks in the middle east though.

T.

Paulw

Very interesting. I hadn't heard it before, but you've enlightened me there. I just remember that next time.

Another advantage of boards - wide knowledge.

Spyral

while I can empathise with the religious grounds you still have the right. If she's fussed with hair then that's her problem as she's in a public place.

thebaz

to OP , don't know why i do it -- maybe it was a coincidence of having a half decent camera , and giving up drinking a year ago , gave me something new to do -- but last week , i was asking myself the same question , someone gave me some some lip , and as as happened many times over the year i have been doing street photography , fealt like moving on -- but i'm still at it -- i'm confused myeslf so i can't answer :cool:

-- one thing for sure i ain't doing it for the money , photography is an expensive pursuit , and by standards here i have a cheap camera !

nilhg

Its a small bit ironic that after I posted in this thread about insurance, my house was broken into today and my laptop was stolen....

I'll be able to tell you soon how good FBD are.....

They missed my camera and other gear, got some of my good ladies bits and pieces, but not her important stuff thankfully.

The thing that annoyed me most is that they bashed my poor old house dog, Charlie, over the head with a garden shears, he has no permanent damage thank God.

Don't put off insuring your stuff.......

YogiBear

Oh no, sorry to hear that Nilhg! Hopefully the insurance will cover most of it. It's not nice though. :mad: Horrible thieves!