Formal Gardens
Formal Gardens - high angle. Of course as I was about to take this I was notified that tripods weren’t - click - allowed in the formal gardens without - click - permission.
A few years ago, I actually saw someone given a ticket for using a tripod in Central Park. I’ve been using a tripod in the park for 15 years without getting a ticket so I don’t know…
Also - is it true that Paris passed a law making it illegal to photograph strangers on the street? That’s what someone told me. Well anyway, the weather’s good and I’m going out again with the streetwalker. I hope to rent a telephoto today and see how it sits atop my baby.
Comments
Comment from Adam Maas
Time: June 12, 2008, 9:39 am
Not Paris, but France. You need permission to use anyone’s likeness in a published image, for any purpose (including art).
Comment from luke
Time: June 12, 2008, 9:46 am
The same law holds in Quebec, where they follow French legal precedent. The madness that is Canada.
Anyway, as Adam says, street photography as we know it cannot be practised in France or Quebec.
The Eiffel Tower, but only at night, is copyrighted, so you’re not allowed to publish photos of it either.
Comment from Craig Nisnewitz
Time: June 12, 2008, 10:39 am
So what did HCB do? Get a release from everyone? I doubt it.
Comment from luke
Time: June 12, 2008, 4:56 pm
Craig, the law was put on the books long after HCB retired. I see lots of “street” work from France, but they’re breaking the law. While it’s not a law I respect, it is enforced and you’d lose if anyone challenges you.
Comment from bounty1342
Time: June 12, 2008, 5:50 pm
Actually, I’m from France and French people in general aren’t as bad as american imagine. I have lived one year in Fairbanks,Ak and meet a lot of people during different road trip.
So if you go to paris, and if there is people in the background, if they can recognized themselves on the picture, they have the right to ask you not publish the picture. But if it’s not a close up, nobody really care! Sure if you take a beautiful girls half naked at the beach and publish the picture on the internet. She might not be really happy 
Otherwise, just ask an they will usually be really happy to take the pause (maybe even the cute girl on the beach )
Oh and if somebody challenge you, if the picture is respectful, they will just ask you to remove them.
The law is just here to be protected against paparazi and friends who want to put pictures of you after a very good party.
Comment from Rory
Time: June 12, 2008, 8:11 am
Hi Dave. Never heard taking a photo of a stranger on the street in Paris is illegal, but they did have a pretty high profile case against a company using a persons image without their permission in a photgraphy / advert. See this link for more information - http://www.webinfrance.com/paris-google-street-view-512.html. But Paris has to be one of the most photographed cities in the world, and I have not heard of heavy handidness on the part of the French authorities, unlike say, the authorities in London.
Rory