Invasion of Privacy?
I recently picked up one of those spiffy new combination digital still camera/camcorder units. What fun! You can record over a hundred high-resolution pictures on a little stick half the size of a stick of chewing gum. And for only a fraction more in cost, record moving video and audio rivaling the quality of the big, $40,000+ broadcast cameras used just a few short years ago.
My primary interest has been in nature photography although I’ve never been one to pass up an attractive form should it pass in front of the lens. But I was at the park a few weeks ago trying out my new gadget. One of those compressed images from one end of the park to the other squashed together into a two-dimensional image like those ‘S’ curves you see in car advertisements. A moderately attractive young lady passed in front of my camera and asked; “Are you videotaping people?” Hard not to since people are everywhere. “Kind of a violation of privacy isn’t it?” she snipped.
I was a bit shocked and a little disappointed. I’ve had people smile, wave, pull faces, or just act goofy, but seldom has anyone ever taken offense. You would of thought I was some kind of sick-o or something. I remember hearing stories about those so-called “sick perverts” hiding out in outhouses and the like.
But here I was, in a public place, doing a very public thing. We are all under surveillance, being monitored virtually everywhere we go. Often times, without our knowledge, electronic eyes are on
us form every conceivable angle. Yet, although we have come to accept this covert scrutiny, someone overtly standing where all can see and taking pictures of birds, trees, people, or whatever is looked upon by some as being intrusive.Ironically, the only people to express any objection, be it verbal or through means of certain hand gestures, have been women dressed in a manner that clearly says; “look at me.” Please don’t misunderstand me. I have never been one of those sexist individuals to ask why women dress provocatively if they do not want to be admired for it. But let us not be naive either. You go running down the street in a skin-tight bodysuit or a cleavage yielding bikini top and you are going to attract attention as surely as you would by strapping a flashing blue light to your head and running through the streets shouting; “I’m a coconut!”.  Yes, I have pictures of that buried in a box somewhere too.  Although the screaming coconut seemed to take no offense at my presence.
So help me out here…
While this little project is not likely to qualify as my masters thesis, I am curious to understand why the reluctance to be openly photographed is of such concern to people. Like some remote tribal culture, do we subconsciously beleve our souls is being stolen? I suppose I am much more comfortable behind the camera rather than in front of it. But you will likely never see me in a skin-tight bodysuit either. Flashing blue light on my head? Maybe.

Following gallery…

The images on the following pages are not intended to offend anyone. They are perfectly legal, rated…, well, PG13 at worst, and are taken on public property. As none of this is for profit, no releases are required. Once you step out your front door, and in particular on a public street or in a public park, your image is fair game. HOWEVER! Should you see yourself in a picture on this website and not wish it to continue, I will remove it upon request.
So help me out here…