January 17, 2007

Take photos, not a beating

Will snapping a photo get you popped in the nose, legally or literally? The latter’s a good bet in a biker bar, but what guidance exists for other situations–especially in a climate of heightened security? "Since I’ve heard various people ask (or debate) these questions from time to time," writes Photoshop engineer Russell Williams, "here are some references you might find useful:"

• A short guide to "When/where is it OK to take pictures? [in the US]":
• A short guide to "When do I need a model release? [in the US]"
• A 5-page article from Popular Photography about various legalities of
  taking, publishing, and selling pictures
• Possibly more than you want to know about model and property releases, with example
  situations and practical suggestions.
  (The Section 10 summary is reasonable to read on its own.)

And engineer Dave Polaschek adds, "There’s also The Photographer’s Right,
which is a single sheet that you can toss into your camera bag for reference
should you happen to get harassed by private security or cops when legally
taking pictures."

[Update: See additional good links in the comments below.]

Little Fluffy Clouds

• Paul Octavious has posted some of the most interesting photos I’ve seen in a while. I love the way his silhouettes play with our sense of scale. [Via]
• From Paul’s gallery I found my way to other cool cloud shots on Flickr.
• Philip Straub, head of concept art at Electronic Arts, creates some clouds that are anything but little n’ fluffy. [Via] He talks about his history, work in Photoshop & Painter, and more in this interview.
• In case you missed an earlier link posted in the comments, check out these rather amazing lenticular clouds. [Via BW Jones]