Health And Safety

1.1 Describe different applications of location photography.

Location photography covers a wide area, as in the name; location is different from studio, as one isn’t confined to a specific space. The topic can be divided into smaller chunks such as social events, documentary photography, and fine arts.

Social events would cover areas such as weddings, funeral, christening, naming ceremonies, etc..., with all events, the photographer would have a plan of action put in place; the plan will look at the necessary things that he would need to do.

Documentary photography looks at real life situations that affect people in a negative or positive way. The photographer uses this technique to highlight a situation to create awareness to find a solution for the situation.

A fine art in photography has its beginning in the latter part of the 1800’s to the early 1900’s. This style of photography is in some way like documentary photography as the photographer aims to capture the particular topic as seen in their eyes

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2.1 Outline the main health and safety, legal and ethical issues when preparing for and managing a location photographic shoot.

Before going into actual shooting of a particular location photographic shoot, there are certain procedures which the photographer will have to adhere to, these are health and safety, legal and ethical.

Health and safety looks at the location itself; the photographer will go to the location before the shoot if possible to things like accessibilities, any issues which might be associated with the location. Other things that can look at are things like know what time the area is at its busiest, look at the best place to setup and also would you or the equipment cause an obstruction.

There are some legal issues that cannot be undermined as a photographer. A photographer must ensure that they have got the legal permission for a particular job before undertaken that project. If a photographer would like to take some pictures in building, then that person would first need to get permission from that building before. Since the rise of terrorism, certain laws have been put into place to protect people and property. It is illegal to take pictures of any member of the armed forces including the police in relation to discussing or preparing for acts of terror. No one is allowed to take picture of any minor without permission form a parent/s or guardian.

Different individuals can view ethics from different levels; someone might find it ok to photograph a gruesome scene such as someone who hand was amputated during an accident or maybe someone who was involved in train wreckage, while others would find it really unethical. It would not be ethical to sell someone’s picture for the purpose of commercial use without that individual signing a model release form.

How do you ensure that the location is safe, that you are safe remain safe?

If one was thinking of taking picture of a building site or a dilapidated structure, it is important to take into consideration that the site might not be safe structurally and a risk that intruders might wonder unto the site. One should get a structural idea of any old building before venturing onto that site, and while there they should always have a mind set that there is a risk of an accident. When working on a building site the photographer must get permission from the site office before taking any picture. As this is a private property you must constantly check your surroundings to see if the area remain safe.

What legal and ethical issues do you need to be aware of when managing a location shoot?

There are responsibilities that a photographer must undertake when considering managing a location shoot. First thing let’s look at the ethical issues that surrounds this topic.

1. As location manager, one should as have signed permission for all the models.

2. At no time should one take images of children deliberately unless they are part of the shoot, which you would have to get permission.

3. Legally you should get permission from the owners of the location before the shooting session begins. You should be clear what the shoot is about, the start and time of finishing and know if there are any legal issues with the location.

2.2 Outline the steps in the preparation and management of a location photographic shoot

Ensuring a shoot runs smoothly is very professional is essential for any photographer. But this can only happen if careful planning and management is adhere to: I will outline some steps in which will ensure a successful shoot.

1. Time: make sure that you arrive on time for the shoot, not only you but all parties involve

2. Equipment: make sure all the equipment are in full working order. Ensure there are extra batteries and memory cards.

3. Management: one must ensure that the models are comfortable, they are fed and they get whatever they were agreed to getting. All segments of the shoot should run like clockwork, so as manager, you are in charge of making sure that all the props for the models are in place.

How will you prepare for the shoot?

As mentioned in the previous section, the first thing to do is to know what type of shoot it is. But one thing to consider is that things can happen which is not part of the original plan so must always be your plan “B”. Now that have ascertain that, check the camera, lenses, memory cards, light meter and tripod. It would be great if you make trips to the location at different time of day to see what the lighting conditions might be like which would help you to decide when is best for the shoot.

How will you keep the shoot as it was at the start and or keep other people in the shoot happy?

Engaging the client and make sure that they are comfortable is one of the key elements in pulling off a successful shoot. Make sure you are well prepared and allow the shoot to run as smoothly as possible. Let the client have regular view at the images to make sure they are happy with them and ensure the model gets enough break at each intervals but at the same time keep the shoot within the specified time.

(These are only some of the ways in maintaining a successful location shoot.)