Everywhere you look people are posting a photograph or a video to a public website.  A favorite past time of many people is just to look at the various picture post on Facebook.  Often times it is better than the past time of watching TV or other things we used to do before the proliferation  of photographs.

Photographs used to be housed in big books and when you went over to a friend’s house sometimes you were invited to view the photo albums.  Many of which have been handed down over the years.

Going to Hagg Drug store to get your film developed was expensive.  Therefore, we didn’t waste precious film taking trial photographs.  Now that has all has changed.  We take phone camera pictures of everything.

Hardly ever we are without a camera in hand.  Most all mobile devices have cams.  We take pictures of everything from the food we eat to what we are buying at the local big box store.

Photographs are a great way to capture a moment in time.  Many amateur camera phone photographers take some really good pictures just because they were at the right place at the right time.

What you do with the photographs that we take are another issue.

There is a lot of talk about bullying in schools.  However, a lot bullying is taking place with adults.  The crazy website that depicts people shopping at a big box department store  showing them dressed sometimes weirdly or different. The whole purpose of this site is for a laugh.  Isn’t that bullying?  What the person is doing that took the picture is saying is that they are better than the person who is wearing that tacky outfit.  Then they post it so it makes them even feel more superior.  However, does it really? Aren’t we to bring people up in life and not try to be showing that we are better?

Here are some tips that work for me on the camera phone pictures that I take:

1. Private places to me are where people expect privacy. (Bathrooms, changing rooms-enough said!)
2. Anytime I take a picture of someone. I ask before if it is ok to take.
3. Make sure that if the picture was of me. I would approve.
4. Anytime anyone expresses any concern about the picture do not post it anywhere.
5. If you are taking pictures where groups of children are present ask the adult in charge if any children are on the no picture list.  Many schools and children’s organizations have children in their programs that parents/guardians request no pictures be made of their children.

A recent USA Today article gave some insight into this issue.  The article talks about a new cell phone photography class at a suburban Philadelphia university that focuses on both the quality of the images and the ethical responsibilities that come with taking and publishing them.

What are some rules you have for the camera phone pictures you take and post?