At a rally in Union Square last night protesting proposed legislation in New York requiring permits for photography (more than 30 min in a given area or more than 10 min with a tripod) I saw all kinds of nonsense. The cause for the rally was legitimate. The legislation is just another way to abridge our first amendment rights.
If you are reading this there is a petition against this nonsense that you should sign.

I was extremely disappointed and frustrated to see an IMC photographer by the name of Jim Costanzo posing people people for some of his pictures. One example that comes to mind is requesting a citizen to put a bullhorn to his mouth and pose, like he was talking into it. This man was not yelling through a bullhorn, but holding it by his side. Not only is this completely unethical in the realm of documentary photography and photojournalism, it misleads the subjects of these photos into thinking this is how many documentary photos are made, leading them to question the legitimacy of any news photograph they see. I know actions like this would result in termination or a stern warning at the very least in any news media outlet concerned with fair and ethical coverage.

Furthermore, any legitimacy I might have given to IMC photos I now have to question. How can I believe the news that IMC is reporting if they are creating what it looks like? Not that I ever gave much credit to the IMC anyways….

I know what he did was not “illegal” but quite unethical by photojournalism standards. In addition to this, one of the leaders of the rally by the name of “Reverend Billy” recited the words to the first amendment, only he forgot them halfway through. Now really, it’s not a big deal. You don’t have to know it word for word to understand what it means, but if you are going to recite it, have it memorized. This along with a couple of gay women getting married, or unified or what have you, in front of the crowd was just a detraction from the issue at hand. It was good the rally was put together and spread the word, and I’m all for fun detractions…but that came in the form of giant flag that people were continuously lifting into the air for me to run under.