Got harassed while taking pictures today

I recall the incident from a year or so back, but I cannot remember the town. A dude was stopped and taken off property for shooting Amtrak trains. Why was he doing this? Well, it seems that Amtrak had a photo contest...
 
robklurfield said:
To show how ridiculous this country is becoming, I understand that the local authorities in Tampa, FL are establishing rules for the area surrounding this summer's Republican National Convention. Allegedly, they are banning items like squirt guns and pieces of string more than 13 inches in length, BUT THEY ARE NOT banning real guns. Perhaps we should be more afraid of ourselves.
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LOL. Guns in the hands of citizens are the very thing that keeps the government from doing things like banning photography in public all together. Written into the constitution etc etc. The people must have the right to protect themselves from their own government.

Don't mean to spark a massive argument, but we're talking about paranoia and liberties/freedom at stake, and then promoting that we take away the peoples right to defend themselves in the same sentence. Guess the scare tactics are working then...
 
jsrockit said:
I'm with you Dan. There is nothing I hate more than Average Joe #1, in detective mode, trying to find out what I am doing like it is any of their f-ing business. Whenever someone asks why I'm photographing, I just tell them "Because I like photography." They usually are caught off guard by that response believe it or not. As for the cops, that is what the 7" book in our bag is for... to show that we are just into photography and not photographing targets.
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100% !

I can't stand the 'citizen police' either. I'm usually very polite and passive to people, but that attitude boils my blood big time.
 
Public spaces

Public spaces

... read the laws and by-laws, be informed - for non-commercial purposes you can take pictures.

Ignore the idiots, citizen police, and just move along ;)
 
Get one of those wireless remotes for a dSLR. You can get one out of Hong Kong for $20. When somebody harasses you, pull the transmitter out of your shirt pocket, extend the antenna and say "If you don't leave me alone, I'll detonate this camera." Then smile.

For those who can't read between the lines.....J/K :)
 
GWT said:
... and secondly if someone isn't happy about people with cameras it's possibly best just to move on - I'm not sure if it's worth getting into a fight.
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If it is a law enforcement office, I might agree. For anybody else, I disagree. As long as you aren't breaking the law or doing something amoral, then it's their problem not yours. Whether photography or something else, if I was worried about people being unhappy with me, I'd never leave the house.

There are always people who are misinformed or jerks. You can't satisfy everybody so just get out there and take some photos.
 
jychoe said:
so...... terrorist planning a surprise fireworks attack???

I guess its gonna need a lot of planning to surprise people to death with the beauty of fireworks.......
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I think the fifth of November just went by...
 
One strategy of dealing with rent-a-cops, so long as you are sure you are in the right (not on private property, etc.), is to offer to call the police, before they do. This might rather take the wind out of their sails.
 
... even better is to start dialing the phone. I'll bet all one needs to dial is "9, 1" and before the last "1" is dialed they come to their senses.
 
In every occupation and in all walks of life there are good people and there are jerks. Here in Boston, it's illegal to take photos on MBTA (public transportation) property, whether it be on a train, on a train platform, in a station, etc. It's not often enforced, but every once in a while some T employee with a chip on his shoulder will see someone with a camera and start to lecture that person. I once had a camera around my neck, that's it, and I still was told by an overzealous driver not to take pictures.

We live in a post 9-11 world where everyone is hyper-vigilant about these sorts of things. On top of that, you have the George Zimmermans out there who take their psuedo-authoritative roles to the extreme. Generally speaking, though, most people, cops included, are decent folks just trying to do their job.

I actually think your average person on the street is more likely to freak out on you for taking his picture than a police officer or other law enforcement officer. It's a strange world out there. I can't see how someone like Garry Winogrand would ever get away with half the stuff he did back in his day.
 
PKR said:
I once did some work for a local city. Having to photograph from a high point, over looking the city - I needed clearence from the feds as a big (secret) construction project was giong on in the area. I had a meeting with them and waited for permission. Weeks went by. The spot I wanted to use was in constant photographic use by tourists - almost daily. I checked with the feds - again, I was asked to wait. A month had gone by and I was loosing the winter light I wanted.

So, one Sunday morning I drove to the location with donuts and coffee in my car. Only one Security Guard was on duity. I showed him "my papers" and offered coffee and donuts - he looked over my gear and said okay. He drove by one time looking at a tripod mounted camera, honked and waved and all was well.
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i do read things like this with a 'knowing smile'.

every day, sometimes 10 times a day, folks are harassing me. Papers, visas, permits, bribes, threats etc etc. hell, sometimes they are shooting rockets at photographers.

How much time you invest in this has been part of the 'pro' gig for a long time. PKR has provided us with the Yoda input. At some point you step to the left or the right and go about getting what you need or in his case, what was required.

If you have the support (NPPA, agency, NPAC etc.) or $, sick the legal on em as that's their job. Otherwise, step to the left... Step to the right baby.
 
semilog said:
In any case the best policy is generally to threaten to call the police yourself, and if needed, to actually call them.
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My newest tactic when pestered while shooting in public places is to pull out my phone and offer to call the police, and suggest to my antagonist that we wait together for their arrival. It's worked twice already, meaning the guys walked away mumbley-grumbley. The fact that I'm kinda large and unsightly might have had something to do with it.
 
PKR said:
One thing I will add, that You and I both practice - I do my best to NOT look like a "Photographer". I use both film and digital cameras. Film cameras help, as most folks seeing a film camera these days think the photographer is some kind of photo clown. I only bring out the big digital gear when necessary. I try to use smaller digital gear (no big body + big zoom) like GX1 or X100 cameras. They look, thanks to the photo marketing folks, like NON Pro cameras. Non Pro looking cameras = Non Pro Photographer = you get your work done with less hastle.

Also, I use a small backpack or a non photo looking camera bag. A tripod is a must for me for many things, it's old (gitzo) and looks funky. I dress in work cloths - jeans + T-shirt & jacket. Sometimes in public, when using a road meadian, or street corner, I'll ware a reflective vest + hard hat and have a clip board with me. The cops rarely stop. If they do - I show "my papers".. Don't attract attention. Most who see me think I'm doing a photo for the city or highway Dept. - just some guy doing his job - nothing of interest. If the people waking by (usually one of the local photo students) ask if I'm a "Photographer", I reply that I'm just another guy with a camera and they are on their way. If I have a lot of camera gear and portable lights going, I have to hire an extra assiatant for crowd control. It's photo chaos. Everyone on this planet is a "Photographer" these days but emraphoto, most working pros, and me.

I see so many threads on here about camera bags, rare leather camera straps and photo vests, etc. It's fine if you want to look like a "pro" or a target for a camera thief. If you want to work un-harassed, go stelth.. and smile a lot - looking dumb helps too.. easy for me..
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i remember meeting up with a good friend of mine once while working, quite a well known/respected photographer, and he looked like a Balkan Jim Belushi. a point and shoot, some cigarettes and huge smile. just like the pictures you find on forums where photographers poke fun at tourists with cameras at arms length and lcd screens.

like i always say, best camera bag is a local plastic shopping one.
 
gb hill said:
Standing on the platform at any train station but especially Amtrak, expect to be questioned by security.
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I heard the TSA will be operating at Amtrak stations soon.

I'm traveling to Chicago in May to cover the NATO summit and the crowd of protesters it will draw out, and I'm taking Amtrak from Michigan to cut costs... $64 round trip vs. ~$115 of gasoline in my gas-guzzling coupe, not to mention parking fees in Chicago.

Taking the D700, two pro zooms, maybe a second film body in the other bag. That'll be fun!
 
We have one of these "Little Hitlers" on trial right now down here in Fla. There always seems to be some self-appointed knuckle-head around wanting to tell anyone who will listen,what others may or may-not do.Down here the poor sole was a skittles -toting - ice tea carrying (GASP) teenager. We all know how THEY are.
 
Red Robin said:
We have one of these "Little Hitlers" on trial right now down here in Fla. There always seems to be some self-appointed knuckle-head around wanting to tell anyone who will listen,what others may or may-not do.Down here the poor sole was a skittles -toting - ice tea carrying (GASP) teenager. We all know how THEY are.
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I don't worry about individual "little hitlers", I worry about a centralized, all inclusive system that licenses, encourages and protects them.
 
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