I do not think this bloke is an idiot, may be a little overdone.
I think the question is "How far can and may we go to get our film/picture" but this is an endless discussion, and I will not start it again.
I dont think he's an idiot. I do think the media may be overplaying his comments in light of human fears about intrusive photography such as paparazzi stalking. But for the media to spin his comments that way is to miss the point. This is about ethics, and subjects like this NEED to be aired and discussed.
Example? I did some otter documentary work with a well-known BBC cameraman who told me what may be an apocryphal tale about some filming he's aware has been done with lions in Africa - night hunting stuff using lights to illuminate the hunting action. This was allowing them to film unique activity that had never been recorded before.
A few years later this pride was revisited by a team using the latest digital kit, working either by starlight or infra red, so required no obvious lighting, and discovered the pride flat on their back snoring, all night, every night. When they popped a conventional light on them, off they went to hunt.
Conclusion - they were only hunting because they were opportunist enough to realise that when the researchers and film crew lamps were on you could see prey. When the lamps were off it was slumberfest. Apparently several Phd's were obtained from studies of the night hunting strategies and social behaviour of this group of lions.
Too often our intrusion affects whats going on in ways we dont realize. And in doing so we not only affect the animals but we deceive ourselves.
What I mean is that we don't see it as unethical to film people secretly. Watch any dodgy builder program. When your first premiss is false you are not very bright. John, do you ever leave the house?
Andrew - that could be interpreted as 'you need to get out more' but I'll be generous and assume its a real question!
Recently not out very much for photography as I am home dad to an under 2 year old wee boy and the majority of my work currently is being done sittting in front of monitors (last night it was four of them all running as I did various things).
But whilst it would be good to get out more with BIG cameras - I do carry a couple of compacts with me when I'm out with the wee lad and can get some pleasing stuff done, of all sorts of things.
John, It was more of a if you leave the house you are going to influence, impact the environment. I bet you are having much more fun with your boy than me with my cameras.
Discussion
7 repliesCan't we just look the other way while they do it?
I think the question is "How far can and may we go to get our film/picture" but this is an endless discussion, and I will not start it again.
Example? I did some otter documentary work with a well-known BBC cameraman who told me what may be an apocryphal tale about some filming he's aware has been done with lions in Africa - night hunting stuff using lights to illuminate the hunting action. This was allowing them to film unique activity that had never been recorded before.
A few years later this pride was revisited by a team using the latest digital kit, working either by starlight or infra red, so required no obvious lighting, and discovered the pride flat on their back snoring, all night, every night. When they popped a conventional light on them, off they went to hunt.
Conclusion - they were only hunting because they were opportunist enough to realise that when the researchers and film crew lamps were on you could see prey. When the lamps were off it was slumberfest. Apparently several Phd's were obtained from studies of the night hunting strategies and social behaviour of this group of lions.
Too often our intrusion affects whats going on in ways we dont realize. And in doing so we not only affect the animals but we deceive ourselves.
Recently not out very much for photography as I am home dad to an under 2 year old wee boy and the majority of my work currently is being done sittting in front of monitors (last night it was four of them all running as I did various things).
But whilst it would be good to get out more with BIG cameras - I do carry a couple of compacts with me when I'm out with the wee lad and can get some pleasing stuff done, of all sorts of things.