Cameras at Nudist Locations — Conduct and Etiquette on True Nudists

DesertRatOriginal Poster

May 19, 2011

Cameras have always been banned at nudist locations, but with the changing technology of photography, I believe that it is time to set a more realistic set of rules for the use of cameras. Personally, I am not opposed to taking photos at nudist locations. From the many photos posted in members profiles it is apparent that I am not the only one who believes this. Actually I sort of resent not being able to take pictures at various resorts, but that is their rules so I follow them. This is one of the reasons I am writing this post; to update the rules. Another reason is that we have had many activities and great times with some great people and have nothing tangible to remember them by. Photos would be most appreciated so we could remember all the great times. So here's my suggested set of rules for taking photos.
1. Always have permission of the subject before taking any photo.
2. Be sure of your background. Do not take photos with others in the background. (This is probably the most important rule and the main reason camers are routinely banned.)
3. Do not take candid shots unless the subjects know and agree in advance that it is acceptable.
4. Avoid taking shots from unflattering angles.
5. Never post any photo on line or in any publication with out the consent of the photo subject.
6. Do not share your photos on line with anyone other that the subject of the photos.
It seems simple enough. It's simply a matter of showing common courtesy to your fellow nudist. I would hope that others would comment on this and maybe suggest their own rules. The main goal here is to create a new, updated set of rules for camera use at nudist locations.

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Steve
Apr 20, 2013
Speaking not of resorts but of public beaches - Desert Rat's rules are the only sensible ones. I've taken my own camera down to Beach 67, tripod and all, to document the place. I let people know I was taking pictures to be posted on a nudist website, and chose angles to include only those who didn't mind being in the photo. I didn't get written permissions, but then the pictures I used don't render anyone's faces but my own in a recognizable way. At Lands End, San Francisco, I've been asked - and have granted - permission for my picture to be taken. At that beach, and here at Kehena, I've seen evidently professional portrait / art photoshoots in progress. I'msurethere are lots of cameras at these public locations, and always have been. It's good to expect the courtesy Desert Rat suggests, but, really: If an at-a-distance, innocent, anonymous photo gets out there somewhere, the likelihood of harm is miniscule.

The more serious problem is the socially dampening effect when someone is obviously lurking at the fringes for the specific purpose of sneaking photos: that's when the Rules should be proclaimed, loud and long.
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renebbare
May 4, 2013
[quote]Nudists who are worried about being seen because they are ashamed of their lifestyle should stay away from public places. They are pereventing nudism from being accepted as a normal and natural way of life.[/quote]Sorry but I can't agree!
Nudists arenotashamed of their lifestyle, yes some are circumspect and respectful of the feelings of others. And if more nudists were respectful of 'others' then perhaps we would have more nude venues but sadly there will always be nude people who bring sex into the lifestyle.
How can any nudist who is not seen in public be preventing nudism? Yes they may not be actively helping the lifestyle by showing themselves in public but that hardly equals prevention.
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mc1988
Oct 17, 2013
I think it is a good policy not to have them at nudist locations because it keeps the privacy of the members and visitors. However, I have seen cell phones more at the club I visit. These also have cameras. Not sure how to address this since people do need there cell phones more. How does ones privacy get protected. I always leave mine in my car and turn it off. I check it periodically in the car to make sure I respect the rules.
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Tom === Thomas S. Tierney
Oct 17, 2013
I remember one time when I wasn't always able to be reached by phone. That lasted for ....... oh.... eighty years. How did I survive????

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Dave
Feb 20, 2014
more clothing optional beaches????

Probably fewer must wear clothing beaches!
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Dave
Feb 21, 2014
Now the younger generation has to be available second by second by texting!

I too grew up before electronic phones, answering machines etc. As a youngster, the telephone was not an important communication device for me. I simply got on my bike and rode over to a friends place to ask if he could play. If he couldn't, well I rode back, and played outside doing something else, or what the heck, I'm all ready on my bike, i'm going riding around! The excercise we kids got back then simply from going from one place to another in order to communicate is nothing comparable to what kids do these days. They are missing out on so much more than exercise and socializing. How about the simple joy of being outside to feel the wind blowing through your hair, or the sun on your back, etc.
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sunnmaxx
Mar 12, 2014

Unfortuneately having cameras in every phone has had a negative effect on the spontaneous nudity we used to see at the biking and running, and canoe events we attend. It used to be common place for everyone to strip and get into the river along the bike ride on a hot summer day but now people are too scared of being photographed. Wonder how many people now don't have that opportunity to discover they like nudism because of too many idiots with cameras?
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DesertRatOriginal Poster
Mar 17, 2014
Authorities are not concerned with the pervs. They are only concerned with the nudists the pervs are watching.
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mako09
Apr 11, 2014
I was reading yesterday about Google Glass and from what I read a lot of the sun glass manufacturers are getting onto the Google Glass band wagon, and if anyone watched "the Crazy Ones" with Robin Williams they were showing how someone could be taking a picture while you just thought the were looking at you. So I see this as a point of concern for people who are worried about having their picture taken. I for one years ago when they first added camera's to phones gave up the idea that I would never have a photo taken on myself without my knowledge. I am sure it has happened, I know it has happened to my wife because I have sen her in photo's posted on line.
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DesertRatOriginal Poster
Apr 11, 2014
Nudist resorts need to adjust their policies to the modern times. They need to get into the 21st Century. Yes I liked the old rules but technology has made them obsolete. Now the only ones who don't have a camera are us old fuddy-duddies who are still obeying the rules we were brought up on. It's time for everyone to move on. Maybe we should require everyone to hang their camera or phone around their neck so everyone knows what they are doing with it.
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CabotCheese
Apr 22, 2014
[quote]I was reading yesterday about Google Glass and from what I read a lot of the sun glass manufacturers are getting onto the Google Glass band wagon, and if anyone watched "the Crazy Ones" with Robin Williams they were showing how someone could be taking a picture while you just thought the were looking at you. So I see this as a point of concern for people who are worried about having their picture taken. I for one years ago when they first added camera's to phones gave up the idea that I would never have a photo taken on myself without my knowledge. I am sure it has happened, I know it has happened to my wife because I have sen her in photo's posted on line.
[/quote]I think there would be quite a bit of resistance to Google Glass ata nudist resort. Just recently several people have been accosted in the streets of San Francisco for wearing Google Glass in public.
http://mashable.com/2014/04/13/google-glass-wearer-attacked/Real cameras, and phone cameras are going to stand out at a nudist resort or beach, meaning to say f the person is naked it will be clear they have something they are carrying. SO I have no problem with cameras in a nudist resort. As a photographer, if I want to take someones photo I always ask, even if they are ina public place where privacy cannot be expected.Those who want to sneak a photo will be more obviously doing so at a nudist resort than anywhere else. I say normal societal rules should apply. To post a photo of someone, one is meant to get the subject to sign a document allowing you to do so. Regular laws give plenty of protection. Of course the freaks will ignore all rules and laws anyway, so why limit the lawful and responsible adults, by definition, rules and laws don't apply to law breakers.?
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griggska61
Apr 22, 2014
[quote][quote]I was reading yesterday about Google Glass and from what I read a lot of the sun glass manufacturers are getting onto the Google Glass band wagon, and if anyone watched "the Crazy Ones" with Robin Williams they were showing how someone could be taking a picture while you just thought the were looking at you. So I see this as a point of concern for people who are worried about having their picture taken. I for one years ago when they first added camera's to phones gave up the idea that I would never have a photo taken on myself without my knowledge. I am sure it has happened, I know it has happened to my wife because I have sen her in photo's posted on line.
[/quote]I think there would be quite a bit of resistance to Google Glass ata nudist resort. Just recently several people have been accosted in the streets of San Francisco for wearing Google Glass in public.
http://mashable.com/2014/04/13/google-glass-wearer-attacked/Real cameras, and phone cameras are going to stand out at a nudist resort or beach, meaning to say f the person is naked it will be clear they have something they are carrying. SO I have no problem with cameras in a nudist resort. As a photographer, if I want to take someones photo I always ask, even if they are ina public place where privacy cannot be expected.Those who want to sneak a photo will be more obviously doing so at a nudist resort than anywhere else. I say normal societal rules should apply. To post a photo of someone, one is meant to get the subject to sign a document allowing you to do so. Regular laws give plenty of protection. Of course the freaks will ignore all rules and laws anyway, so why limit the lawful and responsible adults, by definition, rules and laws don't apply to law breakers.?[/quote]I agree. Well said.
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ManOfWicklow
Aug 29, 2014
Even if you're at a nudist resort close to home, the chance of someone you know seeing a photo of you is very slim, and if you're far away from your hometown, the odds are close to zero. I cannot understand al the fuss about photos. I am not ashamed of my nudist way of life, and don't care who sees my photos.
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CabotCheese
Dec 15, 2014
I took a trip to Cypress Cove earlier this year and was surprised that cell phones were allowed (with the exception of the pool area), although I saw plenty of folks texting near the pool, so it seemed they allowed phones pretty much anywhere.
Interestingly, it didn't bother me at all, even when a young girl was texting I realized her phone was pointing in my direction but never sensed a photo was being taken, you can tell when someone is composing a photo on a phone. Had she taken a photo, so what anyway.
Having seen Cypress Cove attract a large number of young nudists on the weekend, and knowing how married to their phones they are, I believe its time for resorts to be more lenient with regard to cell phones. Not accommodating the millennials will result in them not being social nudists. Resorts need to find ways to attract the young, not discouraging them from being themselves.

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DesertRatOriginal Poster
Dec 16, 2014
One resort has adopted a policy of requiring guests to place a small colorful patch to cover the lens. They do this on all cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Results are not yet in so I can't report on its success.
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ManOfWicklow
Dec 16, 2014
If people are worried about being seen by others, they should stay at home.
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Tom === Thomas S. Tierney
Dec 16, 2014
I pose.
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DesertRatOriginal Poster
Dec 17, 2014
Just because you are a nudist doesn't mean you want to have your picture on the internet. I have no problem with the trying to keep this from happening.
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smoothbear
May 18, 2018
Cameras on nude beaches are definitely an issue.
I would not wish to have my (and my wifes) nude photos appearing online.
On the other hand; I do like nude photos, would even allow others to take photos of me.
But how do you ensure that they arent misused?
A dilemma
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Berky
May 18, 2018
I'm not exactly sure how you can realistically enforce this with nearly everyone having smartphones with cameras built in. Very easy to take pictures discreetly without actually taking the stance of taking a photo. I can understand why they have the rules but I think they need to do some 21st century revising.
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