Innocent photographer or terrorist?

I agree.

It's an interesting point that the Police cannot take possession of your film/images without a warrant from the courts. Something that few of them seem to know. Let alone the simple matter of where you are allowed to photograph.
 
This trend is truly growing. Fear instead of responsibility has taken hold. Its extreme reminds me of the Internment of the Japanese-Americans during WWII.
I am a Chassidic Jew with a long untrimmed beard. Since 9/11 I have been mistaken for a Muslim ( not a regular Muslim but a Muslim terrorist) even though i wear a black suit. I say this not to disparage Muslims but to show the trends today of fear and confusion.
 
As read on another forum. Some people have taken to carrying a card with this printed on it...

"You are reminded that under UK law, there are no restrictions on taking photographs in a public place or on photography of individuals, whether they are adults or minors. There is no right to privacy in a public place, although photographers are of course subject to the usual libel laws in the same way as any other citizen and should observe them. Equipment or film may not be confiscated, or images deleted by any person or officer unless a warrant for such action is issued. Any attempt without a warrant is considered assault under UK law."
 
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kshapero said:
Fear instead of responsibility has taken hold.
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This is part of it, but I think fear is being used by some people as the lever by which they can control others - a control-freak mentality is everywhere and these people are using the fear of terrorism as an excuse for their increasingly draconian approach to the rest of us.
 
Always surprises me how people are perfectly at ease being monitored 24/7 by CCTV cameras, but get edgy when you take out your camera.
 
Bobfrance said:
As read on another forum. Some people have taken to carrying a card with this printed on it...

"You are reminded that under UK law, there are no restrictions on taking photographs in a public place or on photography of individuals, whether they are adults or minors. There is no right to privacy in a public place, although photographers are of course subject to the usual libel laws in the same way as any other citizen and should observe them. Equipment or film may not be confiscated, or images deleted by any person or officer unless a warrant for such action is issued. Any attempt without a warrant is considered assault under UK law."
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Does the US have a law like that as well? I could use a card like that to carry around.
 
I'm not even going to read the article and, instead, hedge my bet and say "Terrorist" - there's a 50% chance I'm correct.. and in some parts of the world.. that's a lot more than what's required to brand someone with that label... :D

Dave
 
Austerby said:
This is part of it, but I think fear is being used by some people as the lever by which they can control others - a control-freak mentality is everywhere and these people are using the fear of terrorism as an excuse for their increasingly draconian approach to the rest of us.
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That is not been my experience. Once the fear subsides the authorities or whomever are usually very polite and apologetic, at least in my experience.
of course there are those wishing to control but IMHO they calm down if you are cooperative. I have seen cops act controlling towards someone who then becomes belligerent. Then the scene escalates out of control.
Kindness goes a long way. Anyway this is still a disturbing trend in the world of photography. MAKES ME SELF CONSCIOUS AND LESS SPONTANEOUS.
 
All this does make me think twice about going out and shooting in certain areas where in the past I wouldnt have hesitated.
 
Thank goodness I live in a country where paranoia about people taking photos of you disappeared with Mao. Back in the day here anyone with a camera would have been quite wealthy (ie powerful in the gov) and if they were taking a photo of you...well....minds think up stuff on their own. But now everyone around has a p&s or dslr, and when I go to take photos outside of people on the street no one protests much, just a simple wave away and you know where you are not wanted.

Kind of makes you think about those freedoms eh? Its a different world out there now...
 
Avotius said:
Thank goodness I live in a country where paranoia about people taking photos of you disappeared with Mao. Back in the day here anyone with a camera would have been quite wealthy (ie powerful in the gov) and if they were taking a photo of you...well....minds think up stuff on their own. But now everyone around has a p&s or dslr, and when I go to take photos outside of people on the street no one protests much, just a simple wave away and you know where you are not wanted.

Kind of makes you think about those freedoms eh? Its a different world out there now...
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I'M SORRY DID YOU SAY CHINA?
 
Something like that happens here in Moscow, Russia. Rules for photographers aren't much regulated so you are on your own most of the time.
Most annoying persons are security guards (from offices/shops/anything) from my point of view.

I remember I was taking a photo of guy on stairs washing window and security guard ran out and was like "why are you taking photos of this building? I am protecting it, go somewhere else"... I said "for exhibition" (not true but I find it better than "uhh, just... because... eh") and he told me "I can call my boss and you can talk to him about it". It was easier to just apologize and leave (as in any other case). Photographer's rights aren't defined.


Never had problems with police about it, though. I don't shoot in subway and rarely go to see big events.

P.S. Offtopic: it's my first post since I registered (not so) long time ago. It's because I am yet to buy rangefinder, and as for now I'm SLR-user.
 
kmerenkov said:
Something like that happens here in Moscow, Russia. Rules for photographers aren't much regulated so you are on your own most of the time.
Most annoying persons are security guards (from offices/shops/anything) from my point of view.

I remember I was taking a photo of guy on stairs washing window and security guard ran out and was like "why are you taking photos of this building? I am protecting it, go somewhere else"... I said "for exhibition" (not true but I find it better than "uhh, just... because... eh") and he told me "I can call my boss and you can talk to him about it". It was easier to just apologize and leave (as in any other case). Photographer's rights aren't defined.


Never had problems with police about it, though. I don't shoot in subway and rarely go to see big events.

P.S. Offtopic: it's my first post since I registered (not so) long time ago. It's because I am yet to buy rangefinder, and as for now I'm SLR-user.
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Welcome aboard.
 
kshapero said:
Once the fear subsides the authorities or whomever are usually very polite and apologetic, at least in my experience.
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I certainly agree that's the case with the individuals who may be the one's enforcing the anti-photography directive at the time and place - they are human after all and often just trying to do their job: I am thinking more about those who come up with such policies in the first instance.
 
pesphoto said:
All this does make me think twice about going out and shooting in certain areas where in the past I wouldnt have hesitated.
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Not me!!!
This attitude will prompt me to go out and shoot more...
Let them try to stop me from photographing...as long as I'm not breaking any (real) laws I will defend my right to do so...
I know my rights and so should everyone else...We need to know the rules if we want to play the game...:cool:
 
kshapero said:
I'M SORRY DID YOU SAY CHINA?
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You better believe it. I was born and raised in Seattle so I grew up hearing the same horror stories and such about China, then I came here and lived here and many many years later after being here you know what I found? A lot of the people outside of China dont realize what it really is like inside of China. If you were here in my situation and saw the things I saw, you might even draw the same conclusion. Sure there are rights problems here, just as there are in America and other places, but hey, no where is perfect, especially America in this fearful new world of ours. Try it for yourself sometime, might surprise you how much crap is thrown around from thin air.
 
dcsang said:
I'm not even going to read the article and, instead, hedge my bet and say "Terrorist" - there's a 50% chance I'm correct.. and in some parts of the world.. that's a lot more than what's required to brand someone with that label... :D
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Why stop at that? There's a 50% chance he's a deviant, cult leader, axe murderer, and what's even worse, someone different from the police officer who arrested him.
 
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