That’s why I don’t take photos of people, I just feel so bad afterwards. I took a photo of architecture in the Scottish National Museum, and just as I clicked I noticed a woman in the frame staring right at me. A second later she looked terrified, and actually ran out of the building. She obviously thought I was photographing her. I felt terrible about this, and vowed never to do that again.
But on my recent trip to The Hermitage in Perthshire, I took a photo of a tranquil scene. There was an old woman sitting perfectly still on a bench, seemingly at one with her environment. I took a shot from behind, so you just see the back of her head and shoulders, but it’s clearly an environmental image. I shared it here. But my wife berated me about it, saying I was being sneaky, and should have introduced myself to the lady, asking her permission, etc. And I think on the one hand she is right, I should have. But on the other hand we would have to remove tens of thousands, even millions, of great photos from over a century of photography, where people have unwittingly been part of an image other people find interesting. But add to this the sensitivity of a male photographer and an unwitting female subject…dodgy area.
I was once approached by a female photographer in the botanic gardens, asking if I could sign a model release form, as she had been taking photos of me! I burst out laughing, asking why the f she would want to take photos of an ugly middle-aged man walking round the botanics. She was an art college photography student (so clearly not right in the head!), and should have asked my permission beforehand, but of course that would have ruined the naturalness of the images.
And what about the man in your photo? How might he feel about being portrayed as a potential rapist? I know I wouldn’t be happy about that. Would you?
But it remains a good photo…
Big subject, and no easy answers.
