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Sensitive Hungary photography

Bill Oterson posted on Linkedin, Art Photography this group is members only, easy to join though, they even let me join!

Taking photos, without permission of everyone in photo, is now illegal in Hungary.

When asked by Bonnie Thomas why I wrote “unenforceable” I replied I assume Bill has the facts right. Bill’s post reminds me of the French situation.

La belle France, land of Libertie, Egalitie et Fraternitie, you probably know those words which propelled the French revolution still appear on almost every town hall be it village or grand city.

France was also the home of Henri Cartier-Bresson, mentor of press and paparazzi photographers.

It was a similar law in France that was partly responsible for HCB developing his style of discreet photography.

The point being the law is made for the observance of fools and guidance of the wise.
French TV regularly blur faces in reports.
I am a painter (www. frickers.co.uk).
I trained as a photographer and for a while worked as such.

I take and use photographs frequently in France.

In the past 5 years maybe 2 people have tried to deny me permission (which I invariably respect).

I often use the HCB approach, sometimes when appropriate I ask permission.

I can’t say the French law has made any significant difference to my or other people’s photography.

The law may help protect some people from being hassled and discriminated against which in my opinion is good.

I don’t think it has had much impact on 99.9% of photography in France.
In my opinion I think we photographers and painters have a duty to expose evil and corruption, we also have a responsibility not to invade people’s innocent privacy.

The French are in general a very polite and cultured society, every town has maison d’arte, many villages too and they are well used.

The balance is France is different to that in GB and the USA. You can stiil be arrested in many countries for taking inappropriate photographs, of military installations for example.

I think the French have the balance about right.

I also read Robert day’s report from his contact in Hungary and thought it ‘spot on’, on Bill’s Art Photography post