ABSTRACT
As responsible social scientists, it is vital to take into account the full range of ethical considerations and implications involved in making, using, and disseminating images. Regardless of any other consideration, authors have obligations to those we work with, and these must take precedence over getting the best shot or any other such choices. In the long run, however, ethical research also usually ends up being the best research. They use the term visual ethics not to differentiate these from other ethical considerations, but to show people how ethical principles apply to working with visual materials and data. Ultimately, however, ethics matter for one very simple reason: Images have consequences. Whether people are sharing images with a colleague for a conference paper or publication, posting an image online, or including them in our own work, there can be serious and significant consequences.
