Phone Photography & Consent
In the last week news has broken that Apple has been awarded the right to disable iPhone cameras at concerts. (If you’re not up to speed have a read of this article)
DSLR’s have been banned from venues for decades, unless one was a professional with a media pass. They would be escorted in and out the venue, given specific area access and the “three songs and out” rule; or free rain to do as they please. These options normally depend on the venue and artists. I personally find the more famous the artist then the the more likely the three song rule would be given.
How do I as a professional feel about Apple’s possibility to disable phone cameras? I think
it’s fantastic, because I’m paid to come in, take photographs, either for a publication or the
artists themselves, and I’ve been asked to be there to do a job to the best of my ability.
If I’ve been located to an area that isn’t smack bang in front of the stage, the last thing I want to be doing is trying to capture images around audience member’s phones. Especially with the three song rule implemented.
Why is it always more often then not people towards the front that have their phones glued to their hands!? Seriously, did you just get a spot at the front so you could view the concert through your phone, to plaster photos and videos all over social media to let people know that you where there. Whilst making it a less pleasurable experience for the people behind you and also yourselves (because you’re not fully engaged in the moment).
This comment above moves onto my next point. How I personally feel about it. I as a concert go’er wouldn’t like an item I’ve paid for to lock me out of a function I’d like to use.
However, we have to remember the subject matter we want to photograph is human. It is their choice if they want to be photographed or videoed, not ours.
Comments such as “People pay ridiculous prices for tickets, drinks, merchandise etc. They
shouldn’t be begrudged a poxy photo or video to look back on when they get home. Absolute disgrace” I think are wrong. Just because a musician preforms in front of you does not give you the right to have photographs of them, if they do not consent to it.
These musicians hire out the venues, it’s not the middle of London Bridge a public space for
all to do as they please. I’m sure in that situation you may have an issue with a stranger taking your photograph without you prior consenting to it.
Now maybe musicians need to be sterner with their concerns. Putting actions behind their
complaints. Honestly the fact that they have to do anything more then politely ask us to stop; to me raises a red flag of our entitlement and lack of empathy.
Most of the comments to all the articles are expressing that they only take a few snaps and
then put their phone away. They only take those few snaps for memorabilia. Now there is no denying that some people honestly do this, but clearly not enough people, or we wouldn’t be facing these problems.
As for “Its so I have memories” That is what the merchandise stands are for. You buy a
T-shirt or a poster etc. that probably have the tour name & dates on it. The money goes to funding the concert and you walk away with tangible memorabilia. What do you think generations before did?
There are many reasons as to why venues and artist don’t allow DSLR’s into these concerts. Technology has evolved since these rules where implemented. Now that phone cameras are getting more advanced and many exceeding in quality then entry level DSLR’s (not to mention all the lenses you can purchase for a phone) it’s of no surprise that they want to evolve the rules.
If you are dead set on needing an image, that’s what the professionals are there for. Taking
images that are then published on websites and in magazines. These publications viewed by you. Depending on the artist, different rules are in place. Some insist on specific contracts and others allow photographers to do as they please.
The fact that Apple and artists have to ban the use of something, demonstrates that not only are we not listening to people’s requests but also have abused any little rights we
may have.
Like children we have demonstrated that we can’t be trusted to play nicely with others so we have been banned from playing at all.