Austrailia and Pictures
Christophor Nedd Looney (98930549@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu)
Sat, 2 Apr 1994 12:05:59 PST
I hope someone may be able to give me advice in this matter. A woman with
whom my wife works has recently returned from a trip to Austrailia. She was
showing me her pictures and various tourist trophies, when she puased, looked a
t me, and with much pride said "this is the one I want to get blown up". The p
icture was one of an Aboriginal couple sitting with their backs to the camera f
ar off in the distance. She looked at me again and said " your'e not even supp
osed to take pictures of them" I replied that I didn't think it was very respe
ctfull of her to take pictures of people who do not want their picture taken, a
nd it would be very polite of her to destroy it. She acted as if I was insane
and said "well, it's not as if you can see their faces anyway". So, I don't th
ink I really can or should do much about a person's private picture, but one of
her duties is to prepare a monthly display where she works (a school library a
t Washington State University). I fear that she intends to include this photog
raph in the display, and this would distinctly disturb me if in fact the Aborig
ines do not want their pictures taken (especially given her attitude of thinkin
g that it's silly for someone not to want their picture taken, and therefore it
's all right for her to do so). So the information I request is Is it a fact t
hat tourists and others are requested not to take pictures of Aborigines and is
it at their request or someone elses. If it helps any, the picture was either
taken at Alice Springs or Ayers rock. The people were on the other side of a
chain-link fence, like maybe the boundary of a reserve or something. Please re
spond, and thank you for any advice offered. Sincerely, Christophor Nedd Looney
98930549@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu (i think)