where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
This was from Feb 2009 but it still makes me laugh and shake my head in total disbelief :^(
"Amtrak police arrest a man because he's taking pictures for their photography contest. Video(5:39)"
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/217341/february-02-2009/nailed--em---amtrak-photographer
At least he got a 5 figure ($$$) settlement from Amtrak for his wrongful arrest so I guess he won the contest after all!
Photography does not equal Terrorism!
it's good to see that there is another Colbert fan here. I remember this clip, hilarious! I forgot what he looked like before he got he head buzzed.
Though local laws may vary, http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm is a great read for all shooters.
Yeah, I was at Grand Central Terminal once and a Port Authority officer saw my camera flash while I was photographing from a platform. He asked me to delete the photos, and that was that. They're so uptight about these things. I mean, I guess that's what they're supposed to do, but honestly, Google Earth Streetview could be used for terrorism, and I don't see them shutting down Google Earth.
Many locations have been blocked from Google Earth - including Cheney's house. Probably didn't want the torture photos available to children.
NSXType-R, that's pathetic. I guess some Port Authority officers have nothing better to do except to bother law biding citizens. In the summer of 2002, I was in Washington DC and took pictures of the Pentagon no less until two MP's with M-16s waved me to come over. They are the ones with the M-16s so I cooperated :-). They asked me for ID, what I was doing, and why I was there, and let me go. They were exceedingly respectful, and asked that I don't post the photos on the Internet which I never did. Simple as that, they weren't on any power ego trip like glorified rent-a-cops of the Port Authority, the MP's assessed the situation, realized I was of no threat, and let me go with the pictures.
To be fair, the guy was really nice and courteous to me. He could have said I'm confiscating your camera gear- which he probably legally cannot do, but I'm no lawyer, so I couldn't argue or throw legal lingo around to get myself off the hook.
I had not choice but to listen to him.
And like other posters have said, the NYPD actively look and charge crimes for people photographing in the NYC Transit system, even though it is still completely legal.
http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2009/05/nypd-tells-nypd-that-photography-is.html
I am relieved to hear he was nice about it since I have heard some horror stories. I live close to NYC, and know many photographers who live there and some had some not so nice altercations. But what amazes me, I was at the headquarters of our military several months after a terror strike, they did not take my camera, nor my photos, how dare they do that to you in a train station.
Well you could recover your "deleted" files from your card later NSX, but still even if he was nice to you he had no authority to "make" you delete your photos!
I've had my run-ins with security too. It can make you feel horrible. People staring at you and wondering what you did to warrant a bunch of cops or security to stop and question you. And for what? For a photo?! And more then likely a bad snapshot too!
Don't most cameras have a hide image function? I think it's in the playback menu for our Nikons. However, if security is looking on, they'll see what you're doing and take your card or something like that.
They should have it so you can set the function button so that if you press the delete key while holding it down it'll run exactly as if it's deleting the image, except it will only hide it. That'll fool them!
Hide image function is only to be used for "Human Form" photography :^)
I getcha ;^)
A minor thing, but http://www.lostamerica.com/technique.html Troy Paiva has (at the bottom of the linked page) some anecdotal thoughts on similar situations. Not as valuable, IMHO, as the lawyer's post I linked above, but good simple thoughts.
Going a bit off topic here, sorry
Now there are thousands of people all over the planet doing light-painted night work in abandoned places with their DSLRs and the web is filling up with thousands of excellent images in this style that I pioneered.
I admit that I didn't read through the whole text but one thing there struck me as odd. He started his night photography in 1989 and talks about "the style that he pioneered". I wonder what he means by that. Using coloured lights at night? Or if anyone has read through the whole text, then is there anything else extraordinary?
I think it would be bold to say that night time photography with light painting might just be a bit older?
soap said:
A minor thing, but http://www.lostamerica.com/technique.html Troy Paiva has (at the bottom of the linked page) some anecdotal thoughts on similar situations. Not as valuable, IMHO, as the lawyer's post I linked above, but good simple thoughts.
Long time no see there Soap, how have you been
Pete
LOL, Pete he posted that link over a month ago!
This is more for the Canadian shooters in here, but there is some good info for everyone, especially if your coming up to visit us from the States or elsewhere. It is very good and covers a lot, with links to the specfic laws as needed.
It has great definitions of a lot of concerns in here, I hope it helps or at least steers you guys in the right direction in your own countries.
here's the link http://ambientlight.ca/laws.php
Cheers, Keith
What I don't get is that if you do the same thing with a point and shoot, people rarely ever bother you about it. But heaven help you if you are carrying a SLR. Do you really need properly exposed photos with gorgeous colors to plot a attack on a location. Wouldn't crappy photo's serve that purpose just as well?
An old trick that worked quite well - take your family on vacation and take "family" photos with sensitive structures in the background with a crappy little camera.
I don't suspect a "terrorist" would bringing along a DSLR and a tripod to conduct "survellience". Especially now with mobile phones and iphones being everywhere. Besides a "real" terrorist can just use google street view!
bmxdad said:
Sorry Niko, my eyes were not quit awake yet, I see it nowSo no Soap, but we have Exit to take his place, problem solved or re-created ;>)
Pete
No ...I'm a whole new problem.
..
I do know that at many places in Australia it is possible to visit the office of an installation be it train station or something ...they just want to know who you are, and what is the purpose of the pics. All pretty reasonable ...I think shopping centres being off limits is hilarious ...firstly have you been in one, why would you want a pic and the reason they give is to protect the shop owners stock. Well thats rubbish, I would only go to a shopping centre if I wanted to see what the Chinese are wearing these days.
Sadly the issue hasn't been resolved these 2 months later
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