I've often felt uncomfortable out with my niece's and camera, this is exactly why...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1035315/Father-branded-pervert--photographing-children-public-park.html

(apologies for the source! :hihi:)

I had thought about posting in the parenting section, but though it would probably be more interest to guys here.

its terrible. recently my daughters gym team were photographed receiving a cheque from some local company. 3 of the mothers refused to allow thier children to be in the picture.

On the plus side... better at least the 'news' paper sided with how ridiculous he should be branded a paedophile rather than going the other way and encouraging parents to be 'vigilant'.

Now wait for the police to seize his computer...

'Takes one to know one' as they say. I can only assume that the mother in the story thought everyone else must feel like she does towards children and was just venting her guilty feelings! Effectively children are untouchable these days - even the theiving little s**s who torch cars!

I felt paranoid when I took that photo on my flickr of the girl in the fountains... it shouldn't be like that!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2593155677_03d3f7e388.jpg?v=0 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hook85/2593155677/)

If anyone suggests you're taking pics of their kids - a good reply is 'why would I want to take pics of your ugly kids ?' - works a treat :)

Seriously though, glad he found some decent cops :thumbsup:

I can feel with the guy . I get the same feelings when I'm out with my kids and a camera.

I took my kids to the Sherwood pines bike place to catch a few action shots of people on the dirt jump section. It was like i had Aids or a sign saying SEX OFFENDER around my neck. As soon as the camera was pointed to set up the jumps the kids ( mid-late teens) all went and very sharpish.

There has also been a very large thread in the General Interest section of this forum, where i got the feeling any man with a camera was branded a serial pedophile by very dumb people.

I have posted on this subject elsewhere before. It is a subject which makes me feel angry as a photographer and sad at the general paranoia in society.

The news story on this showed the picture taken by the "offending parent" of two boys on a slide, fully clothed. Now I may be very naive about this sort of thing, but this isn't what I would guess to be interpreted as Child Porn, which makes the hysteria of other parents even more baffling.

I like Grissom's comeback. I have a stock reply of my own, which I will no doubt get the opportunity to use soon. I always have one of my wedding photography business cards to hand when my camera is in use. If someone accuses me of being a paedophile, I'll give them a card and say "Yeah, a Professional Paedophile!"

A man recently got called a perv for taking pics of his children in the park.
Are some of us being over protective or is it ok to take pictures of children?

I think you know the answer deep down Matty :)

A man recently got called a perv for taking pics of his children in the park.
Are some of us being over protective or is it ok to take pictures of children?

Well I don't think you should take pictures of anyone without their consent.

I think the world has gone mad

if you don't want your picture taken wear a burkha :rolleyes:

if everybody had been this neurotic in the first place photography would never have survived it's infancy

There is a good thread on this (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=371618) in the Photo forum :)

And as discussed in depth on GMTV yesterday.
Unless specifically stated(i.e school rules) it is LEGAL to take pictures of ANYONE on public land/property.

I think the world has gone mad

if you don't want your picture taken wear a burkha :rolleyes:

if everybody had been this neurotic in the first place photography would never have survived it's infancy

What she says.

i think a lot of people tend to wonder if there is an alterier motive to the most innocent of things

I'm doing some public photography at the weekend at a local event, let's hope the people there are a little more sensible.

I asked a few parents last year but got met with a very stern 'no' and accusing looks :(
Shame, one in particular would have been lovely... lass with painted face and a goldfish, clearly enjoying her day out.

Threads merged.

Yeah I read about this in someone's blog. It really saddens me how quick people are to jump to the worst of conclusions these days. This is what we have become, a society where a father cannot take photos of his own - fully clothed - kids playing.

And as discussed in depth on GMTV yesterday. ....
Maybe if the likes of GMTV are putting out info to correct the misinformation we may hear of less instances of these problems :hihi:

Incidentally, wouldn't it be useful to have a similar thread in main forums as well as photography groups? That way non-photogs (most likely to worry about these things...) will see it to discuss? ;)

it wasn't in photography last time I saw it - and I don't think it should be as it affects everybody who may be photographed - so those who wouldn't be visiting the photography group

it wasn't in photography last time I saw it ...
Think it was moved with a merge into thread that in the photo group....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2679002467_dcc8ba7439_o.jpg

See "Home > Sheffield > Sheffield Interest Groups > Sheffield Photography > Photographing children... " path at top.

My mate tells a great story about being accused of taking photos of kids in a park. This mother came over and asked him what he thought he was doing, and he said, I'm taking photos of that girl on the slide. And she said, well please don't take any photos of my children. And he said, I'm not. And she told him he should ask for the little girls parents permission before taking photos of her. And the little girl came over calling 'Grandpa...' and gave my mate a big hug, and they all lived happily ever after.

My mate is a wind-up.

I have only ever once been in a difficult situation with my camera. Taking photos of a livestock market it became apparent that there were a lot of angry Welsh farmers glaring at me. I think I might have looked like an animal rights protester or something. I beat a hasty retreat.

Surely all this tells us about what power the camera still has. And people know it. And we should treat that with some respect.

As a parent, the fact that we can no longer take snaps of our children on their school sports day/ christmas play etc, deeply saddens me, and makes me wonder what the world is coming to.

I just don't get it... Everyone is catched by the security cameras hundred times a day, but photographing people in public seems to be very controversial. It's just simply crazy, UK goes nuts about it, to be honest... It's far from what I have read about this country when I was younger. Where's the freedom?

And where are people's brains, that they cannot understand that this is one big brother society - and that we shall protect the bits of normality which are left, not to lead to their extinction?

Sad.

I got told off yesterday (I think?!) for taking photos inside Heathrow, yet here at Hong Kong International Airport it's acceptable... I'll be off for a proper wander with the camera soon! ^_^

This is a good link for how photgraphers stand regarding taking photos in public.
http://www.sirimo.co.uk/media/UKPhotographersRights.pdf
Download the PDF file provided.

Last year I was at some Fayre at Heely and an official came over and said some people were concerned that I was taking photos. I was, of the Sheffield skyline!
I simply told the official, that the people people complaining were ignorant morons and they should get a life and if I wanted to photograph people there I was perfectly within my rights to do so, I explained the law regarding photography in public and she was absolutely fine about it.

Iconic images like this one by Cartier Bresson will no longer be captured as people will be too scared to do so.
http://www.ldesign.com/Images/Essays/OnReality/OnReality%20Part%206/Henri-Cartier-Bresson12.jpg
And France the country famous for Cartier Bresson , Lartrigue, Doisneau and scores of others is particulary heavy handed about privacy now. Heck you cannot even photograph the Eiffel tower at night.
And as mentioned above, if you want to do child porn, pictures of fully dressed kids isn't really going to get you many subscribers to your website.


Grissom's ugly kid comment is a nice response, to a very dumb attitude.

Last year I was at some Fayre at Heely and an official came over and said some people were concerned that I was taking photos. I was, of the Sheffield skyline!
I simply told the official, that the people people complaining were ignorant morons and they should get a life and if I wanted to photograph people there I was perfectly within my rights to do so, I explained the law regarding photography in public and she was absolutely fine about it.....
:hihi:
How did that go down?!
Did the 'official' leave you alone or pursue it some more?

I was left alone to carry on photographing whatever I wanted.

Austin Mitchell M.P. has tabled an Early Day Motion that condemns police action against lawful photography in public places. He is quoted as saying, "It's all daft" and that Police Community Support Officers are among the worst offenders.

The EDM, in the House of Commons, is defending the right to take photos in public places. To see the motion and check if your M.P. has signed, click-on this link -
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35375

M.P.'s email addresses can be found at -
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm

Send your M.P. an email if they haven't signed. NOTE - if your M.P. is a Government Minister they can't sign an EDM, so they won't be on the EDM list.

Well, I got "tutted at" today for daring to have a "proper" camera in a beauty spot full of other people with compacts.

I'm obviously a bit of a weirdo, carrying a tripod around with me and a long lens. Everyone else with compacts were fine and not in need of "tutting"

I could have explained how a long lens means that I won't necessarily pollute my photos with their darling scruffy little oiks and other "noise" but I have a feeling I'd just have been wasting my breath.

where is that beauty spot ? We may have to have a photo forum outing there :)

A little bit too far for that methinks, since it was in Wensleydale.

(Even further when you put the wrong thing in the sat-nav, end up an hour out of your way so that by the time you finally get there the sun is much lower and shining right from the direction you need to shoot in...grrrrr!)