Project tools

ACIAR uses photographs and video across a range of scientific, capacity-building and outreach related activities for the purposes of:

• Communicating scientific research
• Promoting impacts and value of ACIAR investment to stakeholders
• Informing stakeholders of associated events, programs and learning opportunities

Achieving these purposes involves the production and distribution of promotional material through such media as:

• External publications, such as books, technical reports, magazines and electronic mail
• Agency publications, such as annual reports, operational plans, banners, brochures, booklets
• Digital media including, internet sites and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc) along with event specific displays and public presentations.

The ACIAR Privacy Policy contains information about access to or correction of your personal information and how you may complain about a breach of your privacy.

Photographs and videos taken by ACIAR staff, commissioned organisations and affiliates should respect human dignity and ensure the rights, safety and wellbeing of the person or people being portrayed. This means:

• Complying with local traditions or restrictions in taking or reproducing images of people, objects or places
• Understanding and adhering to national laws related to photography, filming and privacy rights
• Gaining appropriate verbal or written informed consent before taking photographs or videos
• Respecting a person's right to refuse to be photographed or video. If you sense any reluctance or confusion, refrain from taking the photo or video
• Additionally, if a person objects to a photo or video after it is taken, apologise and delete the recording
• Not causing harm. Individuals or groups may be put at risk of reprisal, violence or rejection in their communities as a result of exposing their identity or personal story through the publication of their photograph or broadcast of any video
• Not misrepresenting the individual, situation, context and location of the photograph or video
• Absolutely no payments or any other form of compensation being provided to subjects in exchange for their photograph or video to be taken or for their consent or signed release for publication or broadcast

Photographs and videos of issues that are culturally sensitive, politically sensitive or socially stigmatised must protect the identity and privacy of individuals. This means:

• Do not identify individuals. Position the camera in such a way that faces, and other unique characteristics cannot be discerned.
• Obtain informed written consent to use real names and locations in situations where disclosure could result in harm. Otherwise, remove detailed personal information such as names and locations in captions or any other associated documentation.
• Identifiable images of individuals should not be used to illustrate sensitive subject matter in such a way as to indicate that the individual is connected with the issue.

Photographs or videos of people with special needs are to be taken with particular care, compassion and protection of privacy. This means:

• Photograph or videos all people with respect and dignity. Special care and compassion must be exercised with vulnerable subjects.
• Survivors of sexual exploitation, gender-based violence or abuse are not be identified as such.
• An individual's status as a person living with HIV, TB or any other serious health conditions must not be revealed without informed written consent.
• An individual's engagement in sex work or other socially marginalised or criminalised (or criminal) activities must not be identified.
• Care must be taken in photographing or filming people in times of crisis. Do not exploit an individual's vulnerability at times of trauma or grief.

Photographs or videos of children taken for work-related purposes must adhere to standards arising from the ACIAR Child Protection Policy. Before photographing or filming a child, staff or contractors must obtain informed consent from the child and a parent or guardian and explain how the image or video will be used. In group situations such as a classroom, confirmation of previous parental consent is to be obtained from a school principal or senior teacher. In addition:

• Before photographing or filming a child, assess and comply with local laws, traditions or restrictions for reproducing personal images
• Ensure resulting visual content (photographs, videos, social media content, graphic design elements etc), represent children in a dignified and respectful manner and not in a vulnerable or submissive manner
• Adequately clothed and not in poses that could be seen as suggestive
• Images must be honest representations of the context and the facts
• Photographs and videos should be captured in a way that omits or obscures school logos or branding that may indicate the child’s location.
• File labels must not reveal identifying information about a child when sending images or videos electronically.

Obtaining consent from the subjects of photographs and videos is an important consideration when recording people in the field.

As stated in the above guidelines on ethical photography, ACIAR staff and affiliates should be aware of local laws relating to photography, filming and privacy, gaining the appropriate level of consent where necessary.

If written consent is required, please download and complete a declaration form. Please ensure relevant documentation is supplied to ACIAR when submitting photographs and videos.  

Capturing a good photograph can be made easier by following simple composition rules. The ACIAR Outreach Team has created guidance for researchers and project teams to follow when taking photos in the field.