Ever been harrassed taking pictures?

buddikaman · Jan 2008

So I recently got a digital camera and on the way back from Austin Tx to were I live recently, I decided to take some pics of some environment stuff in a town along the way. As i drove around this guy kept following me untill finnaly he pulled infront of me and started giving me a attitude about what i was doing. I asked him if he was a police officer cause he looked like he might be(stern face, sunglasses on a cloudy day, ect) he said no and kept bitching about me taking pictures like i was a al queda terrorists or something(im white and drive a 2007). It all happened so fast i was a little taken back but ended up telling him to not worry about what I was doing due to his attitude and than drove off. He kept tailgating me and I started to get pissed but ended up avoding him anyways. Anyone else have storys of stuff like this happen to them?

-Buddikaman-

aesir · Jan 2008

Try taking pictures of children... near a school.

never doing that again

(it was for a school assignment)

oobersli · Jan 2008

back when I lived in santa monica I was taking pics at the beach close to the pier and "somehow" some beautiful girls and their jackass bf's were in the shots. They wanted me to give them the film but what they weren't paying attention to was that I was telling them it was a digital camera... after like 10 minutes I said I'd erase them and show them, so I erased a crappy one. Dumbasses didn't realize I had 5-6 of the couples and a few more closeups of just the girls lol.

i miss la now....

East · Jan 2008

Buddikaiman, you probably had the law on your side. Just some guy being a scaredy cat suffering from post 9/11-paranoia.

oobersli, if you did that in Texas it would probably have been illegal, and if they really had pushed it you could have ended up in jail for a couple of years, in worst case scenario. Not sure what kind of state laws CA has about that, but I believe TX has one to that effect.

I just know if some creep kept taking pictures of my girlfriend on the beach when she was in her bikini I might have a bit of a problem with it, if it made her feel uncomfortable.

indian_boy · Jan 2008

the only 2 times i got in trouble for taking pics were:
1) we were skateboarding on marble... i dont think the cam was the problem in tat case
2) i was taking pics at Lutyen's delhi for ref. its the place in india where parliament, presidents house, supreme court etc etc are located [beautiful architecture]
i guess they had reason for #2 cuz we mainly about terrorsits from just west of the border -cough-... and we all look alike....

no not strikin pakis, just sayin the truth.. im good with pakis.

but yea... u shoulda given that guy hell, unless if hes more buff than u...

dunno what the laws are though... in the states and all

Illusions · Jan 2008

[ QUOTE ]
back when I lived in santa monica I was taking pics at the beach close to the pier and "somehow" some beautiful girls and their jackass bf's were in the shots. They wanted me to give them the film but what they weren't paying attention to was that I was telling them it was a digital camera... after like 10 minutes I said I'd erase them and show them, so I erased a crappy one. Dumbasses didn't realize I had 5-6 of the couples and a few more closeups of just the girls lol.

i miss la now....

[/ QUOTE ]

Ermmm...what? You do know its impolite and possibly illegal to be taking someone's picture without their permission, especially if they've stated that they don't want it done.

oobersli · Jan 2008

santa monica peir, venice beach area... I seriously doubt that was the worst crime committed. most people in the area could care less... its the redneck conservative tourist who come to visit that get all uptight

.

I've taken tons of shots all over la with plenty of people, and even taken closeups of girls, guys and most smile and welcome it.

I really don't see whats impolite about taking someones pic as long as its not taken in a way that could embarass or hurt someone, especially if they aren't the main focus. I say if your outside the privacy of your home, or private property... your fair game for getting your picture taken XD.

greenj2 · Jan 2008

oobersli> Keep away from me man, I don't want you stealing my soul with your voodoo picture box!

I was shooting a short film for a school assignment around 2002-2003, the scenes included Melbourne's Crown Casino and Melbourne Airport.

I was approached by security at both venues and asked about what I was filming for, if I had permission, press clearance, whatever... Funnily enough I was allowed to shoot at the Airport but I got told to leave the Casino, which just meant I had to shoot from across the street instead.

I'm still surprised I was able to shoot so much footage of the different areas of Melbourne Airport post 9/11. Guess I didn't fit the terrorist profile, I should have blown up a vending machine or something just to make a point.

Rick Stirling · Jan 2008

Oh yeah, In NYC I was asked if I was a terrorist. I said no and they were happy with that and walked away. NYC will be safe with those vigilant people.

In Harlem a man threatened me with an axe. My friend got taken in for questioning by some policemen. We had permits, but no police escort that day.

In Edinburgh a frothy mouthed street entertainer demanded money for taking his picture. He screamed and shouted until I asked to see his performance licence and pointed out that not only as I legally allowed to take his picture since he was in a public place, but that I was perfectly entitled to sell that picture if I so wished.

Anyway, know your rights. Thomas Hawk has had a few essays on it on his digital photography site (applies to you merkins only). UK folk can get something here: http://www.sirimo.co.uk/ukpr.php - the rest of you will have to use t'interweb search.

Edit : US version: http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

Slum · Jan 2008

AFAIK, in the US if you are in public, you don't have to ask permission to take photos of people. If they are in a public place, you're allowed to take photos. I believe you only have to worry if you're using the photos for some kind of advertisement. I've seen court cases where people tried to sue for getting their pictures taken on photo/video, but the cases were always thrown out because they were in a public place.

Mark Dygert · Jan 2008

I was on government property taking ref shots of old concrete buildings, a defunct missile silo, very much trespassing. I was caught and instead of handing over my memory card I handed over the battery. I'm not sure that would work now, everyone is pretty hip to technology and would know the difference. But saved me some really nice ref shots. Had to buy a new camera as the replacement battery was really pricey hahaha oh well ya win some ya lose some.

hawken · Jan 2008

to be a good street photographer you need balls of steel. there are some amazing candid photographers out there, but also there is the paparazzi. However both have the right to shoot without permission, and no one is entitled to make you delete your pictures. Unless it's a cop, who can confiscate your equipment.

I've seen some right pervy bastards on the beach before, just shooting girls changing into bikinis or sunbathing, hoping for that elusive nipple slip and so on. Was interesting to watch the whole process and I'm not really adverse to it, just I wouldn't sink that low myself.

sprunghunt · Jan 2008

Guys at work have been harassed for taking pictures but they were on private property (a gas station) and were just asked to leave.

However check out the 'experiment' these guys did
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McB9tsabPn0

Geezus · Jan 2008

Couple of my buddies and I were skating around downtown Wilmington a couple years back. I had my camera for reference photos. After a few photos of a building a fat ass security guard came up to us, very hostile, and got in our face. He told me it was illegal to take pictures of federal buildings. I told him I must have missed the sign. He asked for my camera. We told him that wasn't going to happen and skated away. :]
All in all, the guard could have handled it a lot better. Simply telling us that it was a federal building in a nice manner would have been fine. I would have let him watch me delete the photos, and been on my way. However, he wanted to flex his peen at us.

pliang · Jan 2008

I haven't encountered similar issues yet...usually I just act natural and take irrelevant shots in between to avoid looking too suspicious - "Asian person with a digital camera..."

almighty_gir · Jan 2008

there was this chick i went home with on new years eve...

i'll link to the website when i get them up.

Eric Chadwick · Jan 2008

Thanks for the links Rick.

Rick Stirling · Jan 2008

No bother.

The basic principles for the countries I've examined seem to be that if you are on public ground taking photos of ANYTHING, you are legally within your rights.

When people object, they are usually in the wrong. If a private security person objects and you are in a public place (but not inside a building), they are usually in the wrong - in fact they can be committing the offence by harassing you.

I'm planning another US trip soon, so in the last few weeks I've been checking out my rights, and contrary to many beliefs (even by law enforcement) there are *NO* laws against photographing bridges or travel systems, and the includes the NYC underground, which I was erroneously told was illegal to photograph. Be aware of your own rights and be calm. Offer to call the police yourself if you KNOW you are correct.

East · Jan 2008

[ QUOTE ]
[...]I would have let him watch me delete the photos, and been on my way. However, he wanted to flex his peen at us.

[/ QUOTE ]
The problem is anyone can easily recover these "deleted" photos off a flash memory card with any of the dozens of free software available for download on the net. Hell, my 50 year old mum figured out how to do this all on her own after accidentally deleting a picture on her camera.

I'm not saying it's the case with you, but sometimes I get the feeling people are just being a bit immature and childish about defying authority and laws, just for the sake of some kind of misguided sense that anarchistic actions are cool.

Rick Stirling · Jan 2008

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I'm not saying it's the case with you, but sometimes I get the feeling people are just being a bit immature and childish about defying authority and laws, just for the sake of some kind of misguided sense that anarchistic actions are cool.

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What about security people who are breaking the law by trying to prevent you taking pictures? Most of the time photographers are NOT breaking any laws whatsoever. That's not anarchy, that's just an ignorant jobsworth.

Uh....prevention of terrorism. Yeah. Don't you know there are evil people?

Ryno · Jan 2008

If someone other than a cop tells you that it's illegal to take pictures of something and tries to take your camera, just tell them "Robbery is also illegal. I think I'll call the police and let them know that you are trying to rob me of my camera." Be sure other people are around, as you don't want to piss someone off if you are isolated and have no escape route.

Ever been harrassed taking pictures?

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