Interesting reading for someone, like me, who takes performance photos.

I understand why someone would object audio recording and performance videos – competing with the artists CD sales, distribution of the artist's music without their permission, distribution of inferior versions of the artist's music and so on. However none of this seems to apply to still photos.

Around here (Texas, USA, Western Hemisphere, Earth) there are few, if any, legal prohibitions to taking photographs in public places (photography legal issues have to do with how they are used, not how they are taken). However, I generally ask before taking performance pictures anyway, which usually means talking to someone from the venue rather than the artist, for various reasons.

I also frequently share photos with performers and/or event organizers, especially if I get a particularly good shot. I was talking to a touring singer, who used a photo of mine of a while back, about fan photos. She says she receives lots of fan photos, but most of them are not very flattering. That's not surprising since, as others have already pointed out in this thread, it's hard to take good performance photos.
- Phil