SEFSD is extremely fortunate to have Frank Sutton as a member and contributor. He has provided thousands of high quality photos and videos that are shared on our SmugMug gallery. He puts a lot of time and effort into this so please thank him next time you see him at the field.
By Frank Sutton
It is my hope that you, the Pilots, Families, and Friends of Silent Electric Flyers San Diego (SEFSD), enjoy viewing and sharing the photos I send to our SEFSD Editor, Steven Belknap, for publication on the SEFSD Website’s Gallery. Steven puts a lot of time and effort into not only the outstanding SEFSD Peak Charge Newsletter we all enjoy each month, but also posting the many photos that I send to him for the Website. I salute Steven and all of the SEFSD volunteers that unselfishly contribute so much towards making SEFSD the best Radio Control (R/C) Club in existence today! Thank you!
Steven asked if I would write an article on any tips I could share on taking photos of R/C aircraft. I told him that I am not a professional photographer (or a professional videographer for that matter), however, I would write the article because I very much enjoy taking and sharing photos and the occasional video of not only Alex’s R/C adventures, but the flying adventures of all the SEFSD Members too – and that leads me to Tip Number One!
TIP #1: IF ANYONE REQUESTS THEIR PHOTO NOT BE TAKEN, DO NOT TAKE THEIR PHOTO!
I’m certainly not a lawyer, but in a public area such as SEFSD Field, anyone may legally take photos and videos of others without their consent so long as they are not minors (less than 18 years of age). Be advised though, if anyone requests their photo (or video) not to be taken, do not take that person’s photo or include them in a video!
If anyone that requested their photo not to be taken should inadvertently be included in a photo or perhaps appear in the background of a photo, then the photo must be cropped so the person no longer appears in the photo, or that photo must be deleted entirely. Similarly, video with that person should not be kept.
You may ask the person if they’ll give permission to take photos/videos of their aircraft only (but not to include the Pilot flying the aircraft), and then respect and follow their directions.