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Candids/Street Photography: Any laws I should be aware of?
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Artris



Joined: 09 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:16 pm    Post subject: Candids/Street Photography: Any laws I should be aware of? Reply with quote

So I want to break myself of that feeling that it is rude to take photos of people in public without consent. Reading some blogs and photography forums, it seems most people don't care (that their photo was taken) and the photos taken can often be stunning. I also need a way to practice photography and am sick of landscapes/bugs. I don't have the proper lens to hunt birds (though I do get lucky on occasion).

So what are the laws here regarding photos in public? I don't want to break any rules. I don't speak enough Korean to find the laws myself so I was hoping someone here could tell me.

What I want to do:
Go to Yeoido tonight and take photos of random people at the festival
Hit general areas of Seoul and grab photos of people doing whatever

I don't speak Korean so there could be an issue if I piss someone off. I was thinking of maybe putting together some flash cards, or a business card, that I could hand out so they could get whatever photo I took of them.

Please, consider my question and try not to attack me over it. I understand the disposition that taking pictures of people without consent is rude, and at the moment I agree. I will not be taking pictures of beggars, dogs at markets, criminals, people in demeaning positions or anything silly like that. My interest is in genuine smiles or the completion of tasks. Sometimes you happen across something very interesting and I would like to capture that moment.
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minos



Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Koreans are moreso fearful than willing to call the cops.

People act like you carry a big kinife.

Sometimes somebody will run to tell you to delete the photo. Some will scream at you....many will dive out of the way or literally run away screaming. At night, some girls will slap your camera.

I do photography for events here btw. They really dislike random people taking their photos....do it anyway!

Some businesses will kick you out....Lotte and E-mart in particular. It seems to be official policy...one photo and somebody will be standing next to you asking you to leave or put it away.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bet if you look "journalisty/professional photographyphy" then you might be able to get away with it a lot more.
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jacksthirty



Joined: 30 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

minos wrote:
Koreans are moreso fearful than willing to call the cops.


Some businesses will kick you out....Lotte and E-mart in particular. It seems to be official policy...one photo and somebody will be standing next to you asking you to leave or put it away.


That's not really street photography now is it?

The above poster exaggerated a little! I've been taking pics in Korea for a few years now and I haven't encountered any problems. Now I don't know anything about the legal implications of taking photos in public but I can't imagine them being too strictly judging by what I've seen in photo exhibitions, books, online etc. The only times I've been stopped by police is when I've been near residential areas (I was shooting the fine architecture) with a tripod set up.

Try to be discrete about things and if someone 'catches' you just smile and walk away (or run if he's bigger). Asking someone for their photo doesn't hurt either. Actually festivals are fun places to shoot as people are often distracted and aren't aware of a camera in their general direction. Here's some stuff that I've taken recently
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksw/


Mind you, if you go to the beach and take photos of bikinis then you might run foul of the law.
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nathanrutledge



Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can shoot whatever you want.

The only rule is that if it's private property AND it's posted "No Photography," you can't shoot. If it's a policy and they enforce it (most places do, read the signs as you walk in), then you can be asked to leave and arrested if you don't leave. Taking a photo in and of itself is not arrestable, but failing to stop when told to is.

Otherwise, it's pretty much the same rule as in the US. You can photograph anything that is in the public sphere, including people. You CANNOT make money off of the photos commercially without a signed consent form from the people, and it's easier to get sued for defamation if you take an unflattering photo of someone and display it, but still, you're pretty safe.

There was a website, a blog, of a guy here in Korea who does lots of photography. He was at Times Square Mall and was seriously harassed by the staff there for taking photos (this was after it had just opened). He followed the law, stopped shooting and was leaving, but the security guards wouldn't let him leave. Long story short, he was finally able to leave and he talked to a lawyer and wrote up a short card in Korean for photographers to hand to people if there is ever a problem. I can't find the link though, but here is a thread from the Seoul Photo Club about a situation. There is a link to a blog with lots of info in it here, too.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/seoulphotoclub/discuss/72157623732073524/?search=legal
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methdxman



Joined: 14 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Candids/Street Photography: Any laws I should be aware o Reply with quote

Artris wrote:
So I want to break myself of that feeling that it is rude to take photos of people in public without consent. Reading some blogs and photography forums, it seems most people don't care (that their photo was taken) and the photos taken can often be stunning. I also need a way to practice photography and am sick of landscapes/bugs. I don't have the proper lens to hunt birds (though I do get lucky on occasion).

So what are the laws here regarding photos in public? I don't want to break any rules. I don't speak enough Korean to find the laws myself so I was hoping someone here could tell me.

What I want to do:
Go to Yeoido tonight and take photos of random people at the festival
Hit general areas of Seoul and grab photos of people doing whatever

I don't speak Korean so there could be an issue if I piss someone off. I was thinking of maybe putting together some flash cards, or a business card, that I could hand out so they could get whatever photo I took of them.

Please, consider my question and try not to attack me over it. I understand the disposition that taking pictures of people without consent is rude, and at the moment I agree. I will not be taking pictures of beggars, dogs at markets, criminals, people in demeaning positions or anything silly like that. My interest is in genuine smiles or the completion of tasks. Sometimes you happen across something very interesting and I would like to capture that moment.


Don't take pictures of over-sensitive English teachers. They may claim that you have no right to take a picture of them and then proceed to smash your camera into pieces.
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jonpurdy



Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Location: Ulsan

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One thing that helps immensely is to act like you know what you're doing with a big smile on your face. If your subject acknowledges your presence, crack a smile and do a thumbs up or ask "okay?". If they say no, stop. But with a big smile (well, not a creepy smile, haha) people generally don't care.
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Captain Corea



Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the Metropolitician went through this a while back. Photo taken, cops called, irate boyfriend, cops said there was nothing they could do.

This became a big stink a few years back because of people camping out in Apkujeong taking street fashion photos.

Legally, I think you may be ok. But realistically, you very well might get hassled.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd say rather than be 'discreet', be obvious make it clear you are taking pictures down a street, say with a tripod and that way people can't really claim you are trying to be sneaky, but instead are trying to photograph "the public space".
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Css



Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Location: South of the river

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Im sure you would be fine in most cases as long as its actual real street photography and you arent just following hot girls and trying to take their pic..that kind of thing will get you beaten up fast.
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Artris



Joined: 09 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 10:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I wanted pictures of hot girls all I would need is a mirror. And boots.

Just kidding of course. I am sincere in my interest to photograph 'the public space' as someone put it. I certainly won't be following anyone around, unless they happen to be walking the same way I am at the time.

I'm thinking big camera + hood should make me look professional enough, but am worried it will scare people away. I plan on using my 17-50mm zoom so I will have to get close. Some people prefer telephoto zooms like an 80-200mm. It is tempting, but I am trying to break myself of the whole 'it is rude' mentality. Hard to do that when you are cowering behind a lens from 200 or so feet away.

Though if someone did attack me, an 80-200 f/2.8 would certainly come in handy...
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crossmr



Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
I'm thinking big camera + hood should make me look professional enough, but am worried it will scare people away.

In Korea?
Hardly. Everyone has one.
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Zackback



Joined: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Kyungbuk

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

When I jog there are some chicks that take my picture....I just smile and wave.
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sojusucks



Joined: 31 May 2008

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This youtube poster has many videos of just walking through better known areas in Seoul, and he captures strangers on video as they walk by him. It happens. But if you are just walking through, what's the harm? No one should get too upset.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIWkcVTlaRU&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbjymBNVaBo&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWm-fLngB-o&feature=relmfu
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hagwonnewbie



Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Asia

PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 4:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

People are arrested every weekend during the summer in Haeundae beach for taking pictures of women in swimsuits. In Korea that qualifies as sexual assault, so be careful.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I've seen it happen and know it is a fact.
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