Ban on DSLRs in Kuwait (but phone cameras OK)

http://www.kuwaittimes​.net …s.php?newsid=Mz​AwMTg4ODg1

That's heavy handed.

I guess that puts them on the do not travel to list...

Maybe it's just a ban on Nikons and Sonys, etc.

This reflects badly on the Kuwaiti government

jesus christ!

how extremely weeeeird

Pretty outrageous. A camera is a camera.

FourStrings wrote in post #11344254
Pretty outrageous. A camera is a camera.

...as long as its a Canon...

Wierd to us but I bet somehow the people do not like their picture taken in public.

I think it's fine to say that you're not allowed to take pictures of strangers (I suppose) in public. They have different cultural norms than we do, but to say that you can't have a DSLR?

What's next: No CD players, Ipods, radios, etc.?

God gave us freewill. Taking away all the gadgets will not stop sin.

That said, in Islam you aren't supposed to draw people or animals, only plants. That's why when you look at artwork in Muslim countries you see plant designs in everything, but not people or animals. It's to prevent idol worship. I suppose photography could be looked at, the same way.

But even still there's nothing wrong (even in Islam) of taking pictures of mountains, sunsets, flowers, etc.

Just more paranoia, but it's not reserved for the Middle East:

It should be realised that different countries have different cultures. If the government of Kuwait have decided that they don't want people to be photographed in public, that's their business and not ours.

I recall a few years' ago a group of British plane spotters getting into a lot of trouble in Greece for photographing planes. The lesson is to respect the law of the country you happen to be in.

If you come to the UK, do not photograph children unless they are your own and then you need to be careful. A gentleman near to the city in which I live was refused admittance to his own son's school sports day which was held in private.

David

I spend a lot of time in the Mid East (Not Ohio...) and it keeps getting wierder and wierder. Most of the time is in Dubai, but we go lots of other places. Surprisingly many people there actually like to have their photo taken if you involve them. One advantage of a large viewing screen is they get a chance to see what you are doing and often a mini shoot can result.

Many countries have strange to Americans, views of photography. I also spend a lot of time in Australia which having no constitutional rights of either privacy or freedom of speech can lead to strange and confrontational situations should you be say at the beach. The city of Randwick attempted to pass laws against photography some time ago and local photographers tell me they would not even be seen with a camera near the beach now. To be accosted at 8:30 in the morning (nice light) and have the police called, yelled at as a pervert with nary a shelia in sight strikes me as something not quite right.

Perhaps the internet and easy worldwide distribution of photos is somewhat responsible. Back in the film days photos were probably not traveling far.

T

If it's to protect people from being photographed in the streets I can respect that, but to just ban DSLRs doesn't make any sense. It's much easier to take sneak shots of people with a P&S or mobile phone cameras. With a DSLR at least people can see that you are taking photos, so it'd make more sense to ban small cameras then.

what about film cameras?