Almost Arrested Last Week, Chased Down Tonight

D

DeanSilliman

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Last week I accompanied my daughter's class on a field trip that included taking the MetroLink train. As the train approached I pulled my D-Lux 4 out of my pocket and took a theme picture of the kids standing on the station platform with the train approaching in the background. Next thing I know, I have a station officer in my face telling me that pictures of the train or near the train are completely disallowed and that I WILL put the camera away. I hesitated and almost asked for his authority on that point but as I was with the class, teachers, and other parents I let it slide and put the camera away. Grumble. And this is not NY or London, this is the %^@$ MetroLink station in San Bernardino, California.

So this evening I stopped by the local Farmer's Market night to see the sights and do a little street photography with the M6 TTL. All was great - pics of the band and some interesting merchants and characters. My very last shot of the night was a throw-away of a lady food worker cleaning her grill as the booth was being packed up. Just as I'm bringing the camera down from my face, I hear a snippy/craggly sounding woman 45 degrees off my right side, at an adjacent booth, ask someone near her in a desperate voice "That guy took a picture! What's he doing with a camera?!? Someone ask him! Get him!!" Because I did not take a picture of her, did not even have eye contact, and this had nothing to do with her, I simply put the camera down to my side and walked on my way. The night was over anyway, so I walked the block down, block over, and another block down to where my car was parked. As I'm turning the key and putting it in drive, I see a guy in my mirror run up behind my car, whip out a cell phone, and take a picture of my license plate as evidenced by the flash coming from his cell. As I was deciding wether to get out of the car to put the guy at ease, he runs away back down the dark street. So I pulled away and drove home.

We've come to the point where people are so paranoid and uptight that any public photography, even at an advertised public event or a public transit station, sends people into a frantic tizzy. I'm very conservative in the scheme of street photography. I don't take pics of kids, officers, or lovers. And yet in two weeks I've had two incidents. HCB should be turning in his grave.

Sigh.

Dean
 
Sounds as if you need to switch to a camera that looks like a cell phone?

If I have a camera bag, I try to keep a few postcard size samples of B&W prints tucked in, so people can see, if necessary, I have intents other than something weird, but have seen signs that warn people to "turn in" people who are suspiciously photographing, especially if they are crouching down and wearing say a hoodie, as illustrated by the public information video in Seattle at the Island Ferry.

Regards, John
 
Crazy. Don't let the freaks intimidate you. If they point an accusing finger just smile politely and help them regain their balance. Just make sure you know your rights and carry the phone number of your lawyer.
Oh. And stay out of Arizona. :eek:
 
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Put enough rats in a box and they all start getting combative. That's why I like living in Montana - more space than people. Besides it's a tourist mecca - we're used to folks taking pictures of everything and anything. The only thing that upsets folks here is a moving van with a California license plate :D
 
"That guy took a picture! What's he doing with a camera?!? Someone ask him! Get him!!"

LOL.

I experienced the same situation in my country. Train station too, I understand that the security guards are just doing their jobs but abusing their authority and the attitude of "Im-in-authority-I-need-to-apprehend-someone" is pure BS.
 
remember...all of this behavior is a product of California's tolerance towards creative freedom. You know liberal, tolerant California. For starters..you just lucky you were not in Hollywood or you would be in Jail now. You could have violated some "star's" privacy. In reality...California is at the fore of killing street photography. This has been a an on going process that started with back in the 60's in Hollywood.

Now as far as you situation, unless posted with actual signs...saying NO Photography. You do have the right to photograph. No Metrolink trains have a standing policy related to photography as part of homeland security. But remember the "pin heads" that enforce these rules are not picked for superior test scores for college placement. Everyone in the California seems to have the idea that everything is no a sacred cow...but unless posted there is not actual legal ruling. So if some self appointed "john Law" decides to give you a hard time. Step up and ask for a badge number. If they do not have that then explain you are a fine art photographer and are they the "ART POLICE"?

If you really think you at risk call your local police and as if you need a special permit to photograph as part of your fine art project. They may actually tell you that you can by a permit. this is true now in many tolerant california cities. As wedding photographers in many cities require such crap.

SO...it is all about where and how you shoot. I know it stinks but "Big Brother" is now more a reality than ever!
 
Big brother is growing more arms than an octapus.

The only way this will stop is if someone with deep pockets gets arrested and files a suit for unlawful detainment or false arrest or whatever they need to do. After a big payouts. one of two will happen, it all stops or it become written law.

Believe me see how fast word spreads when a suit is file against a municipality or the rent a cop community.
 
denmark.yuzon said:
"That guy took a picture! What's he doing with a camera?!? Someone ask him! Get him!!"

LOL.

I experienced the same situation in my country. Train station too, I understand that the security guards are just doing their jobs but abusing their authority and the attitude of "Im-in-authority-I-need-to-apprehend-someone" is pure BS.
Click to expand...

Hey, my wife is from San Pedro, Laguna. Are you near Calendola?
But you're right, your security guards there are acting very strange once they see a camera. In a mall near the Clark AFB I wasn't even allowed to enter with my camera, while all around me people were snapping away with their cellphones. In a really crummy so called duty free shop near Clark the guard took me by the side and told me that I may not take a single shot inside for security reasons. On my way out I assured the guard that all their secrets were still safe. He looked at me, nodded and seemed satisfied.
Here in Germany I haven't had any trouble at all until now.
 
I have found that in many cases even when a "rent a cop" wants to make an issue..I remind him that requires a sign and requires equal enforcement.

Several years ago I tried to get several photographers agree enlist the aid of legal group of file a class action against for repeal of several laws. No one wanted to try...as they all suggested they were getting around the problem!

I really think now photographers are endangered artistically and need to try and get a federal artistic protection law passed. You know you can not use a tripod anywhere in Washington DC.... unless your are a park service photographer!

I also have started telling any security guard that if I "CAN NOT" shoot then he MUST by LAW...take away all cell phones and detain any cell phone user seen shooting a photos !! You should see the looks on their faces. And then I ask who can I talk to about this lack of security enforcement ? You have to turn this around and remind the "Cops" that they are failing to enforce the Cell Phone "Photo Ban"

IF they say no... I Ask why? Also carry a business card that states "Fine Art Photographer" and ask a guard is there a copy of the printed policy on file...which is actually required in california !
 
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yoyo22 said:
Hey, my wife is from San Pedro, Laguna. Are you near Calendola?
But you're right, your security guards there are acting very strange once they see a camera. In a mall near the Clark AFB I wasn't even allowed to enter with my camera, while all around me people were snapping away with their cellphones. In a really crummy so called duty free shop near Clark the guard took me by the side and told me that I may not take a single shot inside for security reasons. On my way out I assured the guard that all their secrets were still safe. He looked at me, nodded and seemed satisfied.
Here in Germany I haven't had any trouble at all until now.
Click to expand...

Yes, I am near Calendola. :) are you here often? out in the streets Ive never had a problem with taking pictures of anything I want. Inside malls, I try to be very sneaky and fast.
 
Ken Smith said:
Put enough rats in a box and they all start getting combative. That's why I like living in Montana - more space than people. ....
Click to expand...

I'm currently in the most populous city on the planet, Shanghai. No-one bats an eyelid when I point my camera at their face and takes a picture. This issue has nothing to do with population density.
 
Death to all Rent a Cops!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been harass too many times by these types. I was a working photojournalist for 8 years and it happen over and over again. and if it wasn't the rent a cop types it was the real kind. I always carried visible credentials but it did not matter. A lot of these types are on power trips and they don't give a rat's ass if they are right or wrong in the laws view, they are the law in their mind and that all that matters!!!!!!!!!!! the last time was in 2001 I was pepper sprayed along with a news crew from a local TV station while photographing a protest with out provacation! That was enough I left photojournalism the next year and have never looked back. Surpisingly I have not been harass much since then from these power trip types. but that does not change my opinion of them............... Death to all rent a cops!!!!!!!!!!!!- K
 
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I can empathize about the security guards. They are idiots.

But just to play devils advocate: how did the guy who photographed your license plate act differently than you? You had a camera, he had a camera...
 
Next time, hold your Leica up to your ear and tell the cop you're on the phone with your lawyer and/or editor and that you don't see a sign prohibiting phones.
 
Prepare some blob of dirt on your shirt and after someone starts ranting about camera, scream "damn, look what he/she did to my new shirt!! it's a gift, you'll have to pay for it!!!". That should repell them away.
 
I cant even take a picture of a taco truck w/out causing undue attention!
Today after I ate my tacos, I took a couple pics of the taco truck with my Minox 35 GL (small!! inconspicuous! quiet!) and the next thing I know the lady in the taco truck runs over to me with a cell phone saying something in Spanish ....I take her cell, "Can I help you?" I ask, "This is the owner, is there a problem? What are you doing taking pictures of my taco truck?"...
jeez, ; I mean, I realize maybe they are undocumented residents in CA, or he doesnt have a business license, but I used a discrete camera, and I was AWAY from the 2 people on the other side of a freakin' taco truck.
 
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