In a day and age where there is a threat of images falling into the wrong hands, the issue of street photography is coming under fire from public opinion. Ironically, in a time where everything we do is being increasingly captured on camera anyways –whether by security cameras or at the ATM– public awareness and opinions on the issue of street photography are also on the rise and the debate goes on.

However some photographers wonder why there is even a debate on the ethics of street photography. Surely ethics aren’t an issue for photojournalists, or something that other photographers have to face. Why are street photographers being singled out and viewed with suspicion?

Photography has always come under scrutiny. Whether it’s a photographer photographing people in a culture that is superstitious of the camera or a photojournalist being criticized for photographing the plight of someone –rather than helping– photography of any kind will always involve an ethical dilemma.

Photojournalism in and of itself isn’t unethical; however, snapping photos at the scene of an accident can cause the issue of ethics to come into question. In the same way, street photography in and of itself is not an ethical issue. It’s the problems that arise from some of the tactics that are used, the potential conflicting motives that are involved with some cases of photography (should homeless people be photographed for art?), and the public concerns and […]

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