Setting up a time-lapse camera for house construction

Hello everyone,

I have been doing time-lapse photography as a hobby for several years, mostly with a DSLR. However, for continuous use, I had only considered two other solutions:

[*]GoPro (but I really have battery problems here, since I might not have a power supply available)
[*]Raspberry Pi with camera module in an outdoor camera (dummy)

But from my point of view, neither is ideal. The Brinno bcc100 is perfect for this, as it records with an extremely wide angle and an enormous aperture (f/1.4). There is only one disadvantage: the camera does not have a RAW mode... but for amateurs, it's ideal, you don’t have to worry about anything!

My big question: how does this look legally? Grey area? Do you get written permission from the craftsmen that it is okay?

Regarding the timing: We in Europe are used to 25 frames per second, so at least 25 as the frame rate! Brinno recommends taking photos for house construction every 30 to 60 minutes. I think that is too little, I tend to 1 to 5 minutes at a frame rate of 30 or 50 fps.
Using one minute as an easy example:
One photo per minute means 60 photos per hour. At a frame rate of 30, that makes 2 seconds of finished film. If we assume a shooting time, e.g., from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., that is 22 seconds of video per day. Speeding up always works well; the other way around does not! Since the resolution is "only" 1280x720 pixels, the file size per image is not large either!

According to Brinno, you get about 30,000 photos of good quality on a 4 GB card! Back to the example... 330 photos would be taken per day. To reach about 30,000 photos with a 4 GB card, you would have to wait 90 days...

I am really enthusiastic about this task as a construction site camera (with a DSLR it is extremely time-consuming) and hope the image quality will especially convince me!

I am curious what will be said about the legal aspect here!!!

Best regards

Definitely get it in writing. If you ever put the photo series online (which is supposed to happen), the receipt can come.

In the age of Face-Book & Co, everyone is shouting for data protection. Just not when it comes to their own interests (here the house construction).

Definitely get it in writing. If you ever put the photo series online (which is supposed to happen), the receipt might come.

Unlike many, this is meant to be purely a private keepsake. My house is my privacy and it doesn’t belong on the internet... I’m more concerned about the companies working there and their employees. Let’s think back to the scandal with LIDL and Aldi regarding the cameras over the cash registers. In companies, filming offices, etc., is also a works council issue. It could be considered workplace surveillance. In photography, passersby may be photographed and published without their consent as long as they are not the main subject of the photo... For example, pictures of Cologne Cathedral, sports stadiums, etc. I find this topic somewhat divided when it comes to house construction because the companies are part of the building process, and possibly even the employees can be identified. Even if I don’t publish it and only take a photo every minute, it’s a gray area depending on perspective and sensitivity... Therefore, I hope someone here can perhaps bring some clarity to the issue! I have also considered getting written permission to take photos, but the question then is: is that enough? I don’t take the matter of personal interests personally, but that’s exactly where you hit the wrong person with that comment.

I don't think a written permission will work. A contractor cannot give that on behalf of his employees. These are personal rights that a client or employer cannot determine. So every construction worker and craftsman must be asked individually, and anyone who ever enters the construction site, even unplanned.

Edit: Ok, maybe that's going too far, but I wouldn't find it funny to be photographed without asking. And building a house is not the Cologne Cathedral.

I don't think a written permission will work. No contractor can give that on behalf of their employees. These are personal rights that a client or employer cannot decide upon. So every construction worker and craftsman must be asked individually, and anyone who ever enters the construction site, even unexpectedly.

Good point, it is hard to realize. Although on the construction site, the workers represent the company and the company is also liable for the workers. Seen this way, it is not a private affair... There must be a legal regulation for this, right?!
I personally find taking photos without asking rude, I completely agree with you! Therefore, I would at least inform the companies and leave a corresponding note with a phone number on the camera.

Another question came to my mind regarding this: how long does the camera expose, does it consider the 180° shutter, then employees are not identifiable, only inscriptions on excavators, fences, etc., which stand still. I have to ask Brinno about that. That would at least be a first approach but would argue against the fast lens.

Hello,

My big question: what does it look like legally? Gray area? Do you get written confirmation from the craftsmen that it's okay?

You have to ask everyone if they agree; because we all have the right to our own image alone. It does not matter whether you use the video exclusively for your private purposes or eventually post it online; even parts of it.

The only exception is if the camera is set up at a proper distance from the shell and it is impossible to recognize the individual faces. Even then, however, you should inform your provider that the entire construction work is going to be filmed and obtain their consent.

Edit: You need your provider's consent because they have the house rights.

Rhenish greetings