⌛ About the Photo Board

Well PhilT, I'll bite.
The notion is silly, to say the least. People all over the world take pictures of street scenes with other people in them and post them on the Internet. Like RHB says, if you're intentionally taking a personal photo of someone and intending to turn a profit or (on the ugly side) taking a picture that could be considered offensive or an invasion of their privacy then there is an issue. For someone that's concerned about unintentionally ending up in somebody's photo album; What exactly is the fear? Are you hiding something or from someone?
Sorry but I just don't get it.

 

There is a lot of misinformation on this topic posted so far. The first thing is that every country has specific laws pertaining to this topic. I cannot speak to the Philippines but in the US it is not illegal to take pictures of people in public, this means a man, woman or child. There is no right to privacy in public places, actually the opposite is true.

From most of the research I have done the Philippines is pretty much exactly the same. The link below can sum it up much better than I can.

Bert P. Krages Attorney at Law Photographer's Rights Page

As far as my two cents, I get slightly annoyed when I see these kind of blanket statements about "everyone hating it" or "It's illegal" as for the most part I see it as making mountains out of mole hills.

As for being sued, that is a civil matter and anyone can sue anyone for any reason. You will almost always lose in court over this matter. Read the link.

Street and candid photography has been an widely accepted and admired art form. I have been a photographer for a long time and much of what I do is street and candid. Typically if someone does not want their picture they will gesture or say so and I would say 90% of people I see on the street could not care less or even like the fact they may be in a picture.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I find it arrogant to speak on behalf of an entire country as having issues with their picture being taken. My experience is that this could not be further from the truth.

If you see me on the street a simple head shake is all it takes for me to move on the other 90% that could not care at all.