Religious ethics and photography?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/24/2009 05:21:59 PM · #1

I had a situation (described below) that causes me to give some thought to the question: As a Christian, should I follow all the "rules" or restrictions laid out by others for photography? Is it ever ok to break a rule? What are the ethics a photographer - even nonChristians - should follow?

Here is the situation as I posted it on another site:

Grrrrr.....just need to vent because I was incredibly frustrated last night about this, so fair warning that I am whining and fully aware of it! This will be a little long.

Last October I was able to get tickets to see two of my all-time favorite musical artists perform together for the first time. If you are familiar at all with Contemporary Christian Music, it was a tour featuring Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman together. Totally amazing and talented artists and I knew it would be an incredible concert at the Aronoff.

We had 4th row seats :) and I debated back and forth about bringing a camera. Because of the nature of the concert (praise and worship) I thought that having the camera might actually distract me from the music and being with the 3 friends who attended with me. So I didn't take it. I learned a couple of lessons from that decision: First of all I was much MORE distracted by constantly wishing I had taken my camera. There were several people in the seats around me taking photos and if I had even taken 15 minutes worth of shots and THEN put the camera away, I would have enjoyed it so much more. (If that was possible since it was an extraordinary concert.) Second lesson was: This is who I am. I feel as if photography is a gift to me and by me. If it's an event I feel I might want to take photos at I should at least have the camera available. Then I can chose to NOT use it if I feel it's inappropriate or whatever.

So forward to last night. I found out that they were extending this short tour to a second leg this Spring and were appearing last night at a theater in Indianapolis. My 14 yr. old daughter had not been able to attend the first concert, so I found 2 row center Ebay tickets and the two of us went last night. Me, thinking that I would have a second chance to get the shots I wanted. I checked venue rules about photography and it was up to the artists. Since I've been to many, many MWSmith and SCC concerts separately and the one together last fall, and never had a problem with photos, I was prepared to get some wonderful shots.

As we got in line to enter the theater, they announced NO CAMERAS!!!! (I had put my camera w/lens in my purse - not a big bag or anything) And not only that, but they were checking the bags before you went in! I had to turn around and take my camera back to the car :(

Words cannot describe how angry I was at that moment. So many scenerios would have made this better. If I had gotten shots at the first concert - or if they had not allowed photography at the first concert; if the venue hadn't allowed it and I was prepared for that - but to say ok at one place and no (seemingly) randomly at a very similar venue on the same tour? I just don't get it. Before I left home, I had ALMOST at the last minute, stuck my Sony 717 in with my Canon, but figured I wouldn't need it. I could have gotten the 717 in the door and the tilt feature would have allowed for some great shots even while having the camera in my lap. So many what ifs....

Ok, the concert was still 3 hours of the very best in Christian music and worship. I'm not as angry this morning, but still a bit confused and extremely disappointed to have attended two times to this tour - both with perfect seats - and come away without even one photo. I'm blessed by the music, but haunted by the opportunity lost.

Thanks for listening. :)

It was then pointed out to me that I had shown a willingness to break the rules at a Christian concert of all places. So...that got me wondering what others thought about that. Comments?

Message edited by author 2009-04-24 17:22:45.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

04/24/2009 05:31:03 PM · #2

I think it's possible the difference in rules was either venue dependent or possibly even the people who were in charge of screening were so used to a no camera policy they didn't bother to find out they were ok.

We all look for justification to do the things we want to do rather than the things we ought to do. I'm afraid I can't provide any for you, but you can at least have the company of knowing we all have our moments like this. Take heart just in the fact you are bothered by it.

mgarsteck

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/24/2009 05:32:38 PM · #3

I guess thats a tough situation to be in. I would think it would be wrong to take the pictures if they requested not to have cameras. Do I think it would be a big deal of a sin? Absolutely not, its just a matter of your conscience.

mgsmith53

Pentax K-R

Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL

04/24/2009 05:35:56 PM · #4

It's never O.K. to break the rules...though we do it pretty much as often as the next guy, and don't usually think twice about it. But that doesn't make it right.
It's very hard for us to learn to accept the hand we're dealt, and to enjoy it completely. THAT I think is THE big lesson in the whole walk: how do I accept everything at His hand, with patience and joy. Take the whole experience, along with our likes and dislikes, wants and don't-wants. Tough stuff. But so rewarding when we do manage it.
They're coming here, Paducah, Apr 30th. I'm not a fan, so won't go, but it's going to be a big show by the looks of the promo.

04/24/2009 05:41:04 PM · #5

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

No...I asked and it was not venue dependent. Same artists, same tour, similar venue - why okay there but not here? I guess it was not my call to make, but we run into these decisions more and more and everyone tries to tell us not to take pictures.

This situation was just an example. What about stepping past a "no trespassing" sign to get a cool abandoned building? What about pulling off to the side to take shots of an accident?

Is it ever okay to ignore someone else's rules? Have you done it and why?

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/24/2009 05:42:21 PM · #6

By the way, I do seem to recall Jesus breaking alot of so called rules. 'Course he didn't have a digital camera in his hand...

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

04/24/2009 05:56:48 PM · #7

I was educated at a Roman Catholic School and was taught that even if commit a sin without knowing it was a sin then you are not in the wrong.
You clearly checked the situation before going to the concert and fully believed you were within the rules.

Upon finding this to be different you complied with the rules.

Therefore at no point did you show willingness to break any rules and in my book you have nothing to repraoch yourself for.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/24/2009 05:58:11 PM · #8

Originally posted by Lutchenko:

If I would have had my Sony with me, I would have taken it in. :)

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

04/24/2009 06:08:10 PM · #9

Originally posted by jpochard:

Is it ever okay to ignore someone else's rules? Have you done it and why?

Great question. The more abusive a rule is, the more I tend to ignore it. I have certainly broken rules, but that doesn't mean it's right. Getting reasonably priced food into a movie is a game to me, but it's breaking rules, no? Is it wrong then to bring food in? I can't say it's not. So do as I say, not as I do.

I have trouble with some park "rules". When I see a sign that says "don't go past here" or something, I often take that as a "we're not responsible if you go past here" warning rather than a "rule". OTOH, if it's a sign talking about protecting an area (and not for your safety), I might consider it different.

Let's put it this way. I don't think you would ever be wrong following the rules (unless they require you to do something which is in itself immoral).

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/24/2009 06:08:41 PM · #10

But would you have used it?

LindaLee

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/24/2009 06:10:10 PM · #11

Just generally speaking, I am not a "rule-breaker", and agree with your final decision, though I would have been as upset as you were. That being said, I would write to the artists and tell them about the issues that you experienced. Would they actually read it? Who knows? Would they actually care? Maybe. I emailed the Casting Crowns about something, and Mark Hall did email back and forth, several times. Go to their myspace/facebook/website forum or whatever, and voice your opinion and objections. Sometimes the artists don't know what the "security" people are doing.

Oh, and I don't care what your "faith" is, we ALL sometimes show a willingness to "break the rules". Being Christian doesn't make us less human.

kolasi

Nikon D300

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

04/24/2009 06:11:30 PM · #12

Originally posted by farfel53:

It's never O.K. to break the rules...though we do it pretty much as often as the next guy, and don't usually think twice about it. But that doesn't make it right.

Very often it is ok and right to go against the rules!
(not in this case, but in many others)

Lutchenko

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/24/2009 06:16:49 PM · #13

Here is a thought...

For the most part bands don't want you taking photographs because you may use them for commercial gain or show them in a bad light in the press etc.

Now my guess is that even if you had taken your camera in and lets say you took some pics, I bet you would only have used them for your personal
enjoyment and not for commercial gain etc.

Therefore in reality you probably wouldn't have broken the real rule

Message edited by author 2009-04-24 18:20:26.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/24/2009 06:24:27 PM · #14

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I have trouble with some park "rules". When I see a sign that says "don't go past here" or something, I often take that as a "we're not responsible if you go past here" warning rather than a "rule". OTOH, if it's a sign talking about protecting an area (and not for your safety), I might consider it different.

Oh, GAWD, Jason... Take it to the Moral Relativism thread, willya? :-)

R.