Louisville Photographic Society
Code of Ethics
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Photographers should adhere to a certain Code of Ethics. These guidelines are
designed to inform club members of a certain code of conduct we should all keep
in the forefront of our minds while behind the camera.
This code of ethics is broken into three parts. “Code of Ethics In General”
should always apply. The “Wildlife Code of Ethics” should serve as a reminder
that we are visitors and should all practice a “leave no trace” philosophy. The
“Photojournalist Code of Ethics” is something to follow if our attempt is to
show editorial, truthful or factual images.
Practice common courtesy
in contacts with other people.
Never advance one's own
interests at the expense of photography as a profession or art form.
Respect the laws, and the
rights of others. Do not enter private property without the owner's explicit
permission.
Follow all laws, rules,
and regulations governing use of roads and public areas, both at home and
abroad.
Tactfully inform others
if you observe them engaging in inappropriate or harmful behavior--many people
unknowingly endanger themselves and others.
Report inappropriate behavior to the proper authorities.
Don't
argue with those who don't care; report them.
Be
a good role model, both as a photographer and a citizen.
Educate
others by your actions and enhance their understanding.
Maintain a high quality
of service and a reputation for honesty and fairness.
Oppose censorship and
protect the copyrights and moral rights of other creators.
Never deliberately
exaggerate your qualifications, nor misrepresent the authorship of work
presented in self-promotion.
Never engage in malicious
or deliberately inaccurate criticism of the reputation or work of another
photographer.
Donate time for the
betterment of the photography and to advise entry-level photographers.
Respect the privacy and
property rights of your subjects.
Never use deceit in
obtaining model or property releases.
Treat others courteously
and ask before joining others already shooting in an area.
First and foremost, view
wildlife from a safe distance for both you and them. Respect their spatial
needs. If the animal interrupts its behavior (resting, feeding, etc.), then you
are too close and must distance yourself.
Acquaint yourself with
the fragility of the ecosystem and stay on trails that are intended to lessen
impact.
Learn patterns of animal
behavior and know when not to interfere with animals' life cycles. First study
the species you want to photograph. Make sure that you can recognize signs of
stress. Never let your presence cause the animal any stress. If there is a sign
of stress, pull back.
Never force an action. Be
patient! The most beautiful photographs result from natural action.
Never come between a
parent and its offspring.
Never crowd, pursue,
prevent escape, make deliberate noises to distract, startle or harass wildlife.
This is stressful and wastes valuable energy in needless flight.
Never feed or leave food
(baiting) for wildlife. Habituation due to handouts can result in disease or
even death of that animal and injury to you.
Never encroach on nests
or dens as certain species will abandon their young.
Never interfere with
animals engaged in breeding, nesting, or caring for young.
Learn to recognize
wildlife alarm signals and never forget that these animals are NOT tame no
matter how docile or cuddly they appear.
Do not damage or remove
any plant, life form or natural object. Do pack out trash.
Acquaint yourself with
and respect the behaviors and ecosystems of the wildlife you may encounter. By
doing so, you will enrich your experience tremendously.
Prepare yourself and your
equipment for unexpected events. Avoid exposing yourself and others to
preventable mishaps.
Remember that the welfare
of the subject and habitat are irrefutably more important than the photograph.
Photojournalist Code of Ethics
Photograph as honestly as
possible, provide accurate captions, and never intentionally distort the truth
in editorial photographs.
Never alter the content
or meaning of a photograph and prohibit subsequent alteration.
Disclose any alteration
or manipulation of content or meaning in editorial feature or illustrative
photographs.
Be accurate and
comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
Resist being manipulated
by staged photo opportunities.
Treat all subjects with
respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and
compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief
only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
While photographing
subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or
influence events.
Editing should maintain
the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate
images in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
Strive to be unobtrusive
and humble in dealing with subjects.
Respect the integrity of
the photographic moment.
Strive by example and
influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When
confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the
counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of photography.
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