Keith It is a sorry world we live in. We have the technology to share its beauty with more people faster than ever before. Unfortunatly a few sicko's have destroyed it for many. It is a sorry state when one must fear these things(the fear is real on both sides of the pond). I do see your point. KEITH LONGMORE <keith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: Hi Steve, David, Doug, Ted Well, Doug got it right! I asked, because, (a) I didn't know what you did regarding permissions; (b) because there are very strict rules for doctors here; and (c) there's a lot of negative comment / attitude / reactions from authorities and 'interested parties' here regarding photographing children. For 'interested parties' read people with a, usually, political axe to grind. We do tend to have a rather different view of the world to people in N America, and that doesn't imply that either is right or wrong. As a parent of a now grown up daughter, I, like many other parents a couple of decades or more ago, took photographs of my daughter having a bath when she was about 2 or 3. Doing so now could get me (or other parents, of course) into a lot of trouble, if it came to the attention of the police. Putting any pictures of children into a public forum if say, the children were in a swimming bath or on a beach, could also be unwise. Many amateur photographers report being stopped and told by security guards or policemen that photography is not allowed - often in public places (as opposed to on private property.) Indeed, many apparently public places, e.g. shopping malls, are privately owned, and their security guards will come down hard on anyone taking photographs inside them. Some people have had films taken off them, memory cards erased, or even the camera confiscated under these circumstances. Ken Livingstone, Lord Mayor of London, wanted to have notices put up in parks warning people to be on the look out for, and reporting to the authorities, people taking photographs of children, 'because they may be paedophiles'. However ridiculous, this is dangerous stuff! It's asking for vigilantes to start beating up innocent photographers, isn't it? One of my friends took an old family photo of his deceased grandmother to Jessops Photographic, and asked for it to be copied. The immediate reaction was 'have you got permission from the subject?' He told the assistant that she was long dead, so permission might be a bit problematic. They wouldn't do the job. Another outfit did it without question, as it happens. In the UK, Political Correctness rules, OK? Whilst on holiday in Majorca, last year and in 2005, I took photographs of some local kids having a whale of a time on bikes. I wouldn't dare do it here nowadays! So now perhaps you understand my curiosity? Now: Leica's future. Whilst, Ted, I understand your viewpoint, I for one would be sorry to see Leica go the way of many other famous companies. Yes, people speculate; they are bound to - that's human nature, isn't it? Yes, I'm sure Leica will go their own way regardless of what anyone on this forum says; that's their prerogative. But 'worry about it'? I would postulate that those who worry are those with new or nearly new Leica kit that might go wrong in the future and Leica may not be there to fix it or supply spares. They have a right to be worried, given the scale of their investment in Leica. I guess everyone will cease to speculate when Leica gets its 'rear end' into gear, and gets new product on the market. Then, it'll either be great; well, maybe; or oh my God...! And the die will be cast, for better or worse! And, Ted, whilst you're entitled to your opinion as to the worth of this country, may I remind you, with all due respect, that you probably wouldn't be a Canadian but for this country's past history! (Unless, of course, you come from native American stock....or perhaps French stock.. ;-) ) Cheers Keith Longmore ------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/ ------ >-- Regards YXAndy