General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm so disappointed, sad and a little angry to see so many people not only defend Northam [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,069 posts)As a college yearbook photographer 10 years earlier (74-76), I was not required to obtain consent from the individuals I photographed to include their photos in the yearbook. I did not even know the names of some of the individuals I photographed. If the editorial staff selected my photos for publication, unless those individuals bought the yearbook, they might never have known their photos were in it.
I don't know the policies of Northam's yearbook - but I do have relevant experience in that era that suggests failure to disclose a photograph might not have been a lack of judgment on anyone's part **as to the photograph**. It may simply have been an unknown. I have yet to see an article addressing whether he was aware of the photograph prior to its appearance a few days ago.
That does NOT excuse the behavior - it merely provides a potential counter to the assertions that not only was his behavior inexcusable, but that his failure to disclose the photo prior to his campaign was callous disregard for the power of imagery (and that he should have disclosed it rather than wait for it to be discovered).