opinons, thoughts

Law and Ethics in Street Photography

copyrights, opinons, thoughts, photography, public

“I believe that an essential part of man’s duty upon this earth is to bear witness to the truth as it has been revealed to him.”  John Godolphin Bennett (8 June 1897 – 13 December 1974) was a British mathematician, scientist, technologist, industrial research director, and author. ​

This is an interesting statement for the photojournalist. Who defines the truth.

Accepted Definition​

1. The quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual the truth of his statement was attested

2. Something that is true as opposed to false you did not tell me the truth

3. A proven or verified principle or statement; the fact the truths of astronomy

4. A system of concepts purporting to represent some aspect of the world the truths of ancient religions

5. Fidelity to a required standard or law

6. Faithful reproduction or portrayal the truth of a portrait

7. An obvious fact; truism; platitude

8. Honesty, reliability, or veracity the truth of her nature

9. Accuracy, as in the setting, adjustment, or position of something, such as a mechanical instrument

10. The state or quality of being faithful; allegiance Related adjectives veritable, veracious​

So how does a photojournalist remain truthful in a world of complex truths? Difficult to say the least when one mans truth may seem a lie to another. How do we maintain integrity? the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity.​

As an ethical concept, integrity depends upon consistency. To have integrity, a person must base his/her actions upon a well-thought-out framework of moral principles. What he/she does should be the same as what he/she says.

I live in South East Asia and am surrounded by truths that may have different realities for different people. Political truths, poverty truths, inequality of power and sex, confusion and lack of will.​

How do I as a photojournalist not allow myself to be misled, my work used to define half-truths or lies? Is it OK to allow my pictures to be used in positive ”propaganda”  that generates interest from people able to help the needy? 

The ability to see pictures that will tell the true story without biases is difficult because no matter how we try to keep our own views and thoughts from shaping an image subconsciously it will still happen.

An Evening walk with some Lomo CN 400 and; Fuji GW690III — Tim Dobbs Photography

opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, public, Uncategorized

Short and sweet blog post today featuring a recent evening walk with my “Texas Leica” .. my actual Leica M2 has had to go to camera hospital due to a shutter curtain problem but that’s another story. The other week after work I spotted some pretty nice light here in the Garw valley so popped […]

An Evening walk with some Lomo CN 400 & Fuji GW690III — Tim Dobbs Photography

Fujifilm X100 – what a fantastic camera for a bargain price.(Opinion)

cameras, fujifilm, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures
Chris Orange. Interesting … just really like how much he thinks like me, that gear (newest of everything) is not EVERYTHING

I have just rediscovered my first generation Fujifilm X100, what a great little box.

Fuji XF 10-24 f4 R OIS Lens

cameras, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures

I recently got the opportunity to purchase, for a great price, the Fuji XF 10-24 f4 zoom lens (Version 1). Although it is one of the earlier releases by Fuji and does not come with weather sealing features, which does not really bother me, the XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS is equipped with excellent optical image stabilization that can work in conjunction with in-body image stabilization. I do most of my work hand held so this is a great thing.

Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS Specifications

  • Mount Type: Fujifilm X
  • Focal Length (35mm format equivalent): 10-24mm (15-36mm)
  • Lens Construction (Elements / Groups): 14 / 10
    • Special Lens Elements: Four Aspherical Elements, Three Extra-Low Dispersion Elements
    • Optical Image Stabilization: Yes
    • Focus Motor: Stepping Autofocus Motor
    • Angle of View: 110-61.2°
    • Number of Diaphragm Blades: 7 (Rounded)
    • Maximum Aperture: f/4
    • Minimum Aperture: f/22
    • Minimum Focus Distance: 9.45″ / 0.24m
    • Maximum Magnification: 0.16x
    • Weight: 410g
    • Size: 3.07 x 3.43″ (78.0 x 87mm)
    • Filter Size: 72mm

I have found the lens to be of excellent construction, as with all Fuji lenses, not too heavy for a fairly large lens with lots of glass, and a good metal lens mount. Similar to other high-quality Fujinon lenses, the build quality of the Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS is excellent. The lens barrel is made from a combination of tough plastic and metal. The focus and aperture rings, along with the rear mount and the front part of the lens (including the filter thread) are all metal, so the lens is built to last.

I paired up the lens with my Fujifilm XT3 and as the result above show it is a most capable lens giving sharp and contrasty shots straight from the camera in JPEG. Shooting with the lens at f8 to f10 everything, as expected. Its sharp – even at wide apertures. The bokeh is beautifully rendered. Color rendition is excellent and there are no noticeable issues with vignetting or light fall-off.
Fuji XT3 + XF 10-24mm f4 R OIS at f10
Fuji XT3 + XF 10-24mm f4 R OIS at f10

The zoom ring is quite large in size and has a rubber cover. When zooming in from 10mm to 24mm, the lens does not change in size – only the front element moves in a little.

There is a rear lens element that stays in place, which does a nice job of keeping dust from entering the lens when it is dismounted. There is no weather sealing. The front lens element is bulbous but reasonably small relative to the lens and filter can be attached. The petal-shaped lens hood is quite large in size. It is plastic and attaches securely to the lens without any wobbling.

Fuji XT3 + XF 10-24mm f4 R OIS at f10

If you have a Fujifilm XF camera – get this lens. For sharp landscapes or interiors its absolutely essential. I will be using it for street photography also. While you don’t quite get the depth of field of say, the 16mm f/1.4, you still get some depth of field. Sharpness and rendition are the key features of this lens and it delivers. Highly recommended.

My New EVERYDAY kit in the bag.

cameras, fujifilm, Lenses, opinons, thoughts, photography
Fujifilm X100

So what do I carry when I go out shooting around town and why.

Whatever it is that I carry it needs to be lighweight but at the same time sturdy and able to produce great results many times under adverse conditions, heat and high humidity;

Up until fairly recently I used to carry lots of different cameras and lenses, mainly Nikon or Canon Pro range, with a good selection of lenses. Not going to go into that right now but needless to say they were a heavy group to carry around for any length of time.

Fujifilm X-E2 always in my bag.

  • Sensor: 16.3 MP (1.5x crop factor), 4.8µ pixel size, same as on X-E1.
  • Sensor Size: 23.6 x 15.6mm.
  • Resolution: 4896 x 3264.
  • Native ISO Sensitivity: 200-6,400.
  • Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 100.
  • Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600.
  • Sensor Cleaning System: Yes.

Its small, its lightweight and just gives great result for the kind of stuff I shoot, usually mounted with the XF 18mm f2 its 16MP sensor is excellent.

Almost always in the bag FUJIFILM XT3

This is one wonderful piece of machinery, high MP with great functionality and produces crisp and clean images even at very high ISO.

Even with its attached battery pack it is comfortable to carry and the extra power means I can go all day and not run out of power. I like to mate this with my most recently aquired lens the XF 10-24 f4 R IOS as the result can be superb and the wide angle can be challenging. The X-T3 brings with it a brand new sensor, improved autofocus and video performance that makes it competitive with Panasonic’s GH5, taking the X-T series from being a very good stills camera to one of the best stills/video hybrids on the market. This is a true professional camera, and it’s already NOT the camera that a Fuji user would buy if they wanted a truly portable, lightweight APS-C kit. It weighs in much heavier that the XE2 but it has much faster AF and battery life that IMO make up for the little extra weight. I also have a XT2 as a back up but that is not carried all the time.

Fuji X Pro2

Used probably as much as the XE2 but a little heavier to carry. The results from this camera mated usually with an XF 35mm f2 are no less than astounding. Easy to carry and easy to use once you have it set up the way you like it. As with all Fujifilm cameras the menus can be a little complex but once you understand how they work the cameras can be tweeked to how you like your images to come out if you use JPEG’s out of the box. (which I do).

Fujifilm X100 (original)

I have just rediscovered why I went over to Fuji when I bought this camera with its fixed 23mm f2 lens. Its just a superb piece of retro design. It has a smaller sensor but gives lovely feeling images of great quality. The X100 is still surprisingly usable, even 10 years later. Technically, the X100 is not a rangefinder camera. (but it looks like one) … For most practical purposes – other than manual focus – shooting with the X100 feels a lot like working with a Leica M9 or any other classic rangefinder camera. The 23mm f/2 lens – equivalent to a classic 35mm lens on a full frame camera – is convincingly sharp.

I only ever carry 2 cameras, which they will be I decide when I know what I may be shooting. I carry them in an old Lowepro bag that I have had for years. It keeps them safe and it does not look too much like an expensive camera bag as it is quite battered.

Its an OBSESSION it really is.

opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, public, Travel, Uncategorized

Wandering the wet markets of Phnom Penh,and watching the people go about their hard daily lives. is my not so secret obsession.

These people appear to have such hard lives, they work constantly and I have the privaledge of documents that time to the best of my ability.

Man, Woman and child all working and trying to make a decent life for themselves. Up early close late. Fresh fruit and Vegitables, live fish and sea food, freshly slaughtered pigs and live chickens all to be made ready for those who buy.

This is my ongoing obsessional project

New Builds. Good for the city ??

opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, public, Uncategorized

Phnom Penh city is a changing place with all the new and apparently empty, for the most part, high rise structures, offices, apartment, condos.

Little thought or planning as to where and how these new structures are placed and how they will fit into the local area, it all seems very higgle de piggledee. Palace next to hovel.

Buildings seem to be getting taller and taller, big and shiny but with IMO little charecter and I sometimes wonder about their foundations and safety. Fire could be a big problem considering the ill equipped fire services here. Towering Inferno, the movie, comes to mind.

Money, money, money is what its all about, getting the most revenue from the smallest amount of valuable land, going skywards is the only way. I does beg the question, how do you make money from and empty building that few can afford to rent.

Covid 19 in Cambodia

opinons, thoughts, public

Covid 19, until recent months following the illegal escape from quarenteen by 4 Asia working girls from th hotel that they were supposed to stay for 14 days. After they bribed their way out of quarenteen the hit the nigh clubs and bars and spent time with various individuals. When they were recaotured it was found that 2 of them were positive for Covid 19. It had begun.
The Hotel from which they escaped

Following this initial community infection the powers that be attempted to isolate the infection with selective lockdowns and quarenteens, without good effect and the infection was spreading rapidly in many areas of the city. The eventually led to the closure of the markets and certain other places where the infection was spreading rapidly by contact. A night curfew was implimented and all bars, restaurants, KTV’s and night club were eventually closed for initially a period of 2 weeks.

Movement around the city was restricted and travel to other provinces was stopped. Face masks become compulsory and advice about hygiene and cleaning hands given. Social distancing was introduced. Number were rising rapidly and there had been a number of associated deaths.

Masks quickly become the new ”norm”. The authorities even distributing the to those who could not afford to buy them.

By this time it was becoming rapidly apparent that the lockdowns, although slowing the spread, they were not stopping the increase in numbers affected. An extended period of lockdown, in specific areas where the infection rates were highest was implimented. The vaccination program was started in earnest.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Royal Government of Cambodia for making vaccines available to those X Pats living and working in Cambodia.

Copyright Law, Copyright Infringement

copyrights, opinons, thoughts, photography, pictures, public

Author : Renee Brussard (AKA Easypickings). © 2011

I’ve been asked recently to write a little article for the NEM Magazine and have chosen a topic that has come to the fore-front in my life recently. As most of you on NEM’s know, I do digital art. One of my images has recently become the center of a small battle. In essence, the owner of the subject of my image took an interest in buying the copyright of the image to be used as a branding tool for her business and her project involving the subject of the image. This is the first time I have been approached for something like this and I do admit to being somewhat naive. This person was first receptive to negotiating a price for the copyright, then a day later decided that she didn’t want to pay the price and was going to have someone else reproduce the same image. She demanded that I turn over my photos and threatened me with trespassing (I was invited along to shoot the subject at the time) to try and get these images (especially my art) for free. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to research copyright laws here in Canada in order to protect myself and my work.
I want to share what I’ve learned with you so that you can protect what is yours too. Now, laws do differ from country to country, but I believe the essence may be the same. The way that I understand it (and I’m not a lawyer so do your own research!!) is that if you take the picture with your own camera, then the picture belongs to you. You own the copyright of that image. Now, if you work for a company and are doing the photography as an employee for your employer, then the copyright and images belong to them, not to you. Are you with me so far?
If you took the photo for yourself using your own equipment, then the photo is yours. Your work is automatically copyrighted. You don’t need to register it with the government. However, you can still do so to further protect yourself, and to give you official documentation for court, if you ever need it. It just strengthens your claim. The cost to do so at this time is $50.00 and can be done at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office online. Here is their website: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr00003.html

The Picture in Question

Dahlila,Dalilah,Delilah © Renee Brussard 2011

This now leads into another topic – what can you do with your images? Not a heck of a lot is the answer. In order to DO something with your image, as in selling them, you need a release form signed. If you didn’t get a release, then the images cannot be used to for commercial purposes. There are two types of releases that you can obtain and SHOULD obtain when you shoot an image.

The first type of release form is a Model release. A model release is a contract that says that you the consent of the people in your image to photograph them and use the images for commercial purposes. It doesn’t have to refer only to selling an image itself, but it also refers to using the image of that person for advertisement purposes. For example, if you run a website for advertising your wedding photography business and have some really cool photos of a bride that you’d like to post, you need a release. It doesn’t only refer to a full frontal of the person either – but it also relates to anything that someone could recognise as being a part of that person – say the hands, or a silhouette.
The second type of release form is a Property release. This would refer to any recognisable OBJECT, like a dog belonging to someone, a public building, etc. You can shoot Uncle Joe’s house from the sidewalk, but if you do it from the front yard, you need a release. If you want to sell your photo you will need a release.

When do you not need a release? One reason is for editorial purposes. You can sell the image to a magazine, newspaper, television show as long as it’s used in conjunction with a story.
Just to sum things up, here is what I’ve learned:

● You take the image with your own equipment, for yourself, then you own the copyright
● Get property and model releases before you take that first click. You never know when something you take will suddenly have a real value assigned to it. If you don’t get your releases, then you may regret it later.
● Photos/images can command quite a lot of money. There are calculators out there on the internet to give you an idea of a price – they can range from $500-several thousand $$ per use of the image, depending on the size needed, the amount of subscribers they have, if it’s colour or black and white and the demand for your subject.
● NEVER sell your copyright – don’t let someone else profit off of your work. Sell them a licence instead. There is never a need to sell a copyright.

Remember: knowledge is power. Look up your rights as a photographer in your country and protect yourself and your work. You never know when you’ll need to stand up for yourself and the better prepared you are, the better you’ll be able to do it.

Here are a few sites to check out on the internet:

http://ambientlight.ca/laws/
http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_C-60_(38th_Canadian_Parliament,_1st_Session)
http://ambientlight.ca/laws/overview/what-can-i-publish/