Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney  (Read 3001 times)

Nick Rains

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 705
    • http://www.nickrains.com
Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« on: August 22, 2010, 07:21:58 am »

Just thought that the LL faithful might like to lend their support to a protest rally in Sydney, Australia next Sunday, August 29th. Myself and Ken Duncan are leaders of a group called Arts Freedom Australia and we have maybe 1000 photographers turning up near the Opera House to protest against all the permits, restrictions and general bad attitudes shown towards bone fide photographers by administrators and officials these days.

http://www.facebook.com/ArtsFreedomAustralia?ref=search&v=wall

http://www.artsfreedomaustralia.com/blog/?p=99

Please turn up if you are in Sydney or, if not, please 'like' the AFA Facebook page or send us a supporting comment.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2010, 07:26:47 am by Nick Rains »
Logged
Nick Rains
Australian Photographer Leica

lightstand

  • Guest
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2010, 04:11:37 pm »

Hi Nick, read the blog and one quick thought/question.  It's not that "photographers" are losing their rights - it's that the general public is losing it's right to photograph (a freedom of expression)  I guess I pose this question because if you read it one way the general public might see it as "well weird uncle Henry in his safari vest can't take all those pictures he's going to bore us with."  Verses the government taking away rights the general public assumed they had because they were harmless.

I have never had the opportunity to visit Australia and don't have any knowledge of it's politics please accept my ignorance if I'm completely off on this idea, this was just my humble thought after reading the blog from a different country.

p.s.  after reading it again maybe you do mean only serious photographers / (commercial?)
« Last Edit: August 24, 2010, 04:19:37 pm by lightstand »
Logged

Nick Rains

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 705
    • http://www.nickrains.com
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2010, 04:38:03 am »

It's about it being a criminal offense to sell a photo you have taken of all sorts of places like Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bondi Beach, any National Park and so on. Even if you are an enthusiast who happens down the track to have the opportunity to get an image published, or even win a prize in a competition.

This affects both pros and amateurs alike, not to mention it making it very difficult for a pro to do any sort of travel or street photography with out being pestered by council employees or having people assume you are a pedophile.

And another thing, it's really tedious for camera buffs with half decent cameras to be assumed to be pros when out following their hobby. This means they get approached all the time by over zealous officials and have to defend their rights to go about their lawful pursuits.
Logged
Nick Rains
Australian Photographer Leica

Josh-H

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2079
    • Wild Nature Photo Travel
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2010, 04:58:43 am »

As an Australian landscape photographer who has been accosted by Park Rangers in the past at Mount Buffalo in Victoria - they wanted to make sure my images were not for commercial use or make sure I had a permit (and they were quite rude and blunt, and took my car rego details and threatened me with a lawsuit) I fully support this rally. I wrote about my experiences with the Park Guides at the time and my letter was subsequently published in Wild magazine - Australia's no.1 outdoor magazine. Now this was quite some years ago when the law was first introduced here that you needed a permit to photograph for ANY kind of commercial purpose (including postcards and calender work) in any national park. Since then I have never been approached again - but the times they are a changing and photographers need to speak out for our rights.

Were it not for the fact that I just got back from Iceland, are dead tired and way behind in my work I would be flying to Sydney to attend this rally. Regardless I fully support the rally and Nick's work in making it happen.
Logged
Wild Nature Photo Travel

lightstand

  • Guest
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2010, 08:21:34 pm »

This means they get approached all the time by over zealous officials and have to defend their rights to go about their lawful pursuits.

Thanks for the clarification.  As a photographer who has dealt with my fair share of officials I do hope you guys have a very successful rally.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2010, 08:23:26 pm by lightstand »
Logged

jerrygrasso96

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 83
    • http://www.jerrygrassophotos.com/
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2010, 08:01:02 am »

Hi Nick,
I just want you to know that I too support your efforts here in the States. My wife and I spent most of February between Cairns, Melbourne, and Sydney, and I can't imagine what I would do if I was harassed for taking pictures of the landmarks, etc. Keep up the good work!
Logged
---jerry
 [url=http://www.jerrygrassophot

Nick Rains

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 705
    • http://www.nickrains.com
Re: Photographer's Protest Rally in Sydney
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2010, 08:09:22 am »

Well, 700 photographers turned up yesterday, as did all the TV networks and it even hit the news in Canada. it seems our message is getting through.

You can see my report and pics here:

http://www.artsfreedomaustralia.com/blog/?p=242

The CBC News item is here:

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2010/08/29/australia-photographers.html

Logged
Nick Rains
Australian Photographer Leica
Pages: [1]   Go Up