Comments on: Your Picture is Being Taken

By: The 1.8 Gigapixel Flying Panopticon | Panopticonic

The 1.8 Gigapixel Flying Panopticon | Panopticonic — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:04:08 +0000

[...] couple of years ago I wrote an article explaining how you, average person in life, are most likely being photographed numerous times without your knowledge. You are being caught as people take photos of the street [...]

By: The Uninvited Camera as Art « Panopticonic

The Uninvited Camera as Art « Panopticonic — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:46:02 +0000

[...] me, that goes beyond secretly taking photographs of people in public. When you are in the public domain, there is nothing you can do to stop someone [...]

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:54:29 +0000

Why do you reckon he was taking your photo? Hoping to cast you in a film? Or was it a bit creepier than that? :/

By: Kathakali Chatterjee

Kathakali Chatterjee — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:16:32 +0000

Hi Gordon,
It’s so true! It happened to me very recently.
I was in a car…on the way to the hotel from the airport and the car happened to stop at a traffic light; I had an uncanny feeling as if someone was watching me – I looked to my right and saw a guy shifting his posture with his cellphone in one hand pointing towards me…how awkward is that???
My immediate thought was – cellphone camera should be banned!

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:18:52 +0000

Ha! That might be it, Gordon! I used to smile all the time, too, when I moved to NYC and then I got so much hassle for it from strangers on the street that I stopped. I “turn off into neutral” when I’m in the public midst now.

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:43:49 +0000

Interestingly enough, I smile a lot in public anyhow. I wonder if subconsciously I think I may be getting my photo taken and don’t want to be caught sans smile.

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:12:19 +0000

That is definitely a creeping wondering, Gordon, and I shudder to imagine how many people have snapped us as we unwittingly wander around our ordinary lives.
I wonder if we should always be smiling in public — or do we risk letting down our mask to be captured as we truly are…

By: Gordon Davidescu

Gordon Davidescu — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:08:42 +0000

I suppose not, David. I wonder how many times we have inadvertently been put on display without realizing it.

By: David W. Boles

David W. Boles — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:50:05 +0000

You ask many great questions, Gordon!
Do we have a right to expect any sort of privacy in public from strangers who are not gathering news; but rather collecting peccadilloes display on their blogs?