I wanted to share something with you. I was walking back along the beach after having surfed all morning and I bumped into a lady with a camera. She explained that she was from the department of fisheries for New South Wales and could she take a photo of me and my board for the “Shark awareness” campaign pamphlets and posters.
I said yes, sure but she was determined to tell me all about how my photo would be used and where I would see it. She showed me several forms of ID and told me all about her job and why she thought I would make a good picture. During this time I was getting more and more cold and willed her to just get on with it.
The truth of the matter is that if you do a search for my full name in any search engine you will find far more information on me than just a picture of me on the beach. You can also find out about my research projects, what University I went to, where I holiday, and so much more information. A single picture on a pamphlet is not a big deal in this case is it?
The offline community or those who don’t like and breathe the net like you and I do have a different perception of privacy. I think that I have become numb to the implications of having a photo of myself on a website. The same goes for being quoted. Those quotes can be put into the wrong context for example.
There are of course the legal ramifications involved in plastering someone’s photo on the front of a poster without asking them first. Are there similar ones if someone posts a photo of you online?
I find it interesting how we accept more and more and bit by bit that some of our life is so public. I want to conserve some privacy and I do, but how far are we really in control of that?
The photographer made me pose and took a few photos. She made me sign a piece of paper saying it was ok to use the photo and mention my name (which I handed back damp and covered in wax), and she gave me her business card that is drying on my kitchen table.
So another photo of me is loose in the world. And on this post is another.
It’s like 2 different worlds. What is funny is when someone’s quite happy to have a tonne of info about them online, but oh no, no chance they want their name on a letter they write in to a newspaper!
You’re quite right!