98. St Clair Beach
Summer in Dunedin, New Zealand
Summer arrived late this year at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island. December and the first half of January were cool and wet. The most settled weather often comes later—after most New Zealanders have taken their annual leave. This February, the hot, sunny weather drew locals and recently arrived university students to the beaches. St Clair Beach, popular with surfers, has lifeguards on duty all summer. I headed there on a recent Sunday with my Sony A7III and a 55mm prime lens.
Taking candid photographs at the beach is fraught with ethical issues, especially for an older man wandering alone with a camera. In New Zealand, as in most countries, it is legal to take photos of people in public spaces, including streets, parks, and beaches. However, under the Privacy Act 2020, individuals still have some rights if they have a “reasonable expectation of privacy” in a given situation. It’s best to avoid capturing images of people in vulnerable or private states and to refrain from taking recognisable photos of children without explicit parental permission. I try to avoid photographing people in compromising situations or in ways that could be embarrassing or objectifying. Ethical photographers should consider whether they would feel comfortable if the roles were reversed. It is also important to be mindful of cultural sensitivities—some communities, particularly Māori and Pasifika, may have concerns about being photographed.
When photographing people at the beach, I think of Julia Coddington, a notable Australian street photographer. Her ongoing project, “The Pool,” focuses on an ocean pool in her hometown south of Sydney, where she documents the interactions and play of children and adults in and around the water—something a man would likely have difficulty doing. Julia co-founded the Unexposed Collective, a platform for Australian women and non-binary street photographers, and serves as an administrator for @womeninstreet, an international community of female street photographers.
What’s next?
I’ll share a selection of photos of the Oamaru A&P Show.
What do you think?
I invite you to leave a comment below.
I feel the same way about how to approach street photography. Though I rely on candid shots, I don't take (or don't share if I used poor judgment in the moment) images where a person is particularly vulnerable. Somehow I feel sad when I take a shot of a person actively eating, like I'm capturing them in a lonely state of chewing. Go figure 😂
This is one of my favorite themes for street photography. My ethics match yours, Mark. It's always such a relief when I can make a connection with someone who is aware of the camera and doesn't care... in any case, back to the photos. Sunbathing is my favorite! The guy with the snack bag makes me laugh. Great colors too!