“ I have never understood why there is such a taboo with cameras and nudity. If people are nudists and think there is nothing wrong with being nude and most like to take pictures of events in our lives then why not when we are nude; but naturally of ourselves not random other people (but I suspect that's another topic - or an extension of this?)”

I tend to agree with this sentiment: anyone can take a photo of me in any state of dress or undress if they want to. If in a public place, they have an entitlement to do so in any event, unless the image is “pornographic” and I can assure you that any naked pictures of me would be very unlikely to satisfy any but the most obscure areas of the pornography market!

And I think that does deserve another topic...

I use film. A Minox 35GT accompanies me when a “proper” camera  does not. It is about the size of a packet of 20 cigs and is fairly unobtrusive. Film also means that any stroppy people cannot demand to see the pictures I have taken, let alone demand I delete them. Pictures I take in a public place are legal and they are my property. They aren't even images until I develop them! Any attempt physically to interfere or any use of threats would be illegal, and I do not hesitate to point this out and if they threaten to summon the police, I say good, and that I will report them for harassment/threatening behaviour/assault, or all three.

i got my first slr when i was a teenager nearly 50 years ago so have been a snapper since before i was a naturist.  camera goes with me on naked walks and to the beach. i use a messanger bag slung over one shoulder.  if you need both hands free  you can sling it on your back by passing the strap up infront of both shoulders and round the back of the neck .
i dont normally carry a tripod , an slr or bridge camera will sit on top of fence posts, tree stumps rocks etc.

using a camera on a beach with naked people arround is actually less of a worry now, if anyone complains its easy enough to scroll through the pics of pretty pebbles , breaking waves, seabirds or whatever to show what youve been taking piccies of, not that anybody has ever asked.
acting furtive with a mobile phone is more suspicous than openly taking ordinary holiday snaps with a proper camera.

<snip>
using a camera on a beach with naked people arround is actually less of a worry now, if anyone complains its easy enough to scroll through the pics of pretty pebbles , breaking waves, seabirds or whatever to show what youve been taking piccies of, not that anybody has ever asked.
acting furtive with a mobile phone is more suspicous than openly taking ordinary holiday snaps with a proper camera.

I have always found that there is no problem at all if you are being perfectly open about what you are doing with your camera on a nudist beach.

I use film. A Minox 35GT accompanies me when a “proper” camera  does not. It is about the size of a packet of 20 cigs and is fairly unobtrusive. Film also means that any stroppy people cannot demand to see the pictures I have taken, let alone demand I delete them. Pictures I take in a public place are legal and they are my property. They aren't even images until I develop them! Any attempt physically to interfere or any use of threats would be illegal, and I do not hesitate to point this out and if they threaten to summon the police, I say good, and that I will report them for harassment/threatening behaviour/assault, or all three.

Oh yes and what about basic good manners. If I saw you my friend trying to take photos of me and my wife with your packet of fag size Pervy camera to do with them I  do not know what. It wouldn't be the police that would have to be called, it would be a surgeon,  to remove said camera.

All you have to do is not point the camera at anyone with them in the shot, if you want a specific picture position yourself with no one in the shot. anyone coming to complain then deserves to be rebuked.

Just do not point at people unless they agree.

This doesn't count for meerkats of course point and click and even walk closer to get shots of them, they will soon run.

This has moved on a bit from the original post, but since its been brought up - what's wrong with people taking pictures of other nude people ?

If we don't get worked up of people taking pictures of us clothed, as true nudists why should we get worked up of people taking pictures of use naked?

When I take pictures of places if there are people in shot (wearing clothes) I don't wait until the shot is clear (providing they are not blocking the subject), the other people are not of interest to be and often in certain places / shots there will always be others in shot - so what's the problem if you happen to be naked in shot of someone else's picture.

I say this as a discussion topic only - nudist beaches are public spaces just as high streets are.

P.S. don't get me wrong, if I want to take a picture of a person for what ever reason i.e. they are the subject - I ask them (but I don't ask all the other people passing by).

This has moved on a bit from the original post, but since its been brought up - what's wrong with people taking pictures of other nude people ?

If we don't get worked up of people taking pictures of us clothed, as true nudists why should we get worked up of people taking pictures of use naked?

When I take pictures of places if there are people in shot (wearing clothes) I don't wait until the shot is clear (providing they are not blocking the subject), the other people are not of interest to be and often in certain places / shots there will always be others in shot - so what's the problem if you happen to be naked in shot of someone else's picture.

I say this as a discussion topic only - nudist beaches are public spaces just as high streets are.

P.S. don't get me wrong, if I want to take a picture of a person for what ever reason i.e. they are the subject - I ask them (but I don't ask all the other people passing by).

It's a bit naive to think that having ones photo taken without ones permission  naked, is no different to the same thing happening clothed.  Forgetting for the moment about being in a public place and all that, it is what I said before just good manners. 
If a person is naked on a public beach with other naked people around them they can assume that everyone is of a same mind set and they don't mind being seen by other naked people. But if some snapper takes that persons photo without Their permission, or included  them in the background,  then that image can be exported from the environment that the person feels comfortable to be naked in, to who knows where?. W#$%€^g fodder for some  saddo or posted on an inappropriate website.
We take naked photos of ourselves on beaches but we always make sure that there is no one in the shot that can be recognised.
What  reason would a person take a photo of a naked stranger without their permission other then for nefarious purposes.

Why is it a problem if a complete stranger, somewhere in the digital world, looks at a picture of thee or me and gets his rocks off? I'll never know he/she is doing it, the act won't have any repercussions on me, I won't gain or lose anything by it.

I'm not out to argue the point, I genuinely would like someone to come up with an answer. This viewpoint is frequently put forward, that some perv somewhere will get off on a picture of someone naked and so the naked picture should not be taken.

But what happens if they do?

This is not to be confused with the 'my boss might see it and sack me' argument, which I think we've agreed has validity.

The second part of that sentence was 'or posted on an inappropriate website ' 

I've had my mug shots seen on here and in naturist magazines. I do understand that some people will not want their pictures taken whilst naked. Life could become difficult for teachers if pupils get hold of of their naked image and put it all over social media with the intent to cause embarrassment.

I've accidentally had images of naked people included in pictures when I've been photographing at Abbey Hose Gardens. I edit them out of the picture. Why would I want a picture of an unknown, probably late middle aged man?  I suspect I've been caught by mistake too. (and if deliberate they must be hard up.)

Davie  8)

The second part of that sentence was 'or posted on an inappropriate website '

How will you ever know if your photo has appeared on an "inappropriate website" (whatever that is) -there are billions of websites out there with trillions of pictures on. How are you going to find it, if it's even there. And then, what?

As said, this is not about the employer issue, this is about the 'perv looking at me' question.

The second part of that sentence was 'or posted on an inappropriate website '

How will you ever know if your photo has appeared on an "inappropriate website" (whatever that is) -there are billions of websites out there with trillions of pictures on. How are you going to find it, if it's even there. And then, what?

As said, this is not about the employer issue, this is about the 'perv looking at me' question.

You are correct, it would be very unlikely to come across an image that was taken without ones permission and then posted online.
But let me get this right. What you are saying is .'So what, what does it matter if, and this is your words, someone gets their rocks off over a photo of you, you won't know anything about it.
So going on your analogy,  there is no problem with a person looking at an image of a ten year old, and 'getting their rocks off' because the ten year old doesn't know anything about it.  A disturbing thought processes if you don't mind me saying.

Who said anything about ten year olds? You're now expanding the conversation into new areas. I am happy to continue it with you, but I don't think this the place for it. And I'm not sure the original question has elicited an answer yet.

Who said anything about ten year olds? You're now expanding the conversation into new areas. I am happy to continue it with you, but I don't think this the place for it. And I'm not sure the original question has elicited an answer yet.

I haven't got the vocabulary to properly answer you question. Just don't ever come near to me or mine with a camera.

[admin]And I think that given the distance that this topic has drifted, we'll call it a day, gentlemen.[/admin]