Photographing Police

The first amendment right is specific to the United States. Not every person is guaranteed this right. While it is allowed in America, photographing the police in other countries may cost you your life.
 
Maybe so, but the phrase "Don't poke the bear" comes to mind. So, I won't be taking phots of the mall rent a cops or the real LE types any time soon...
 
Don't get your hopes up too high, and they won't get pepper-sprayed back down. The main thing to remember when dealing with the government is that when it's you vs them, the only part of the law that is allowed to work is the part that favors them; anything favoring you is automatically invalid.
 
One thing that I was always wondering, why the hell would I want to photograph the police unless i was on a paid news assignment ? As Al said don't poke the bear, there are more interesting people and things to photograph than the "blue knights" :D ...
 
I took several pictures of police last weekend at a protest rally. A group on bicycles, some of them wearing bellaclavas, which looked a bit scarey. Another group was mounted on horses which were wearing riot face shields. (the horses) I was respectful and chatted with one of them. (the police)
 
Teuthida said:
This forum is populated by pussies.
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Nah my intention wasn't to say it can't or should not be done, it was just answering in the same fashion the OP decided to take this tread into...
By the way IF we had policewomen like these I'd take a risk and photograph them, but seeing that we have only testosterone ridden 2m 100kg guys I'll pass for now ;)
 
karlori said:
Nah my intention wasn't to say it can't or should not be done, it was just answering in the same fashion the OP decided to take this tread into...
By the way IF we had policewomen like these I'd take a risk and photograph them, but seeing that we have only testosterone ridden 2m 100kg guys I'll pass for now ;)
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Oh we do? I don't consider myself a testosterone ridden 2m 100kg guy. Actually, my body does produce testosterone, I am 6'2" and 205 lbs. I also work with many other officers of varying height, weight and gender. You can take my photo anytime.
 
Never had a problem... I think cops like how they look in uniform—they have their own Flickr groups. They're fun to photograph when they're in groups or doing something dramatic.



 
karlori said:
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LOL love it.

Authority figures doing their jobs can make for charismatic images, I can see the attraction, but I also try to maintain a general level of respect for my fellow man regardless of what they wear. As it harm none, do as ye will-- but once there is protest, consider what you are doing.

Seriously, the woman that has just lost a child and is in tears.. do you really need to jump in her face snapping a shot to then publish her image all over Facebook and Flickr for your friends to see and 'like' ? So what if she is crossing the street and in public. She is a human being.

Always consider your subjects. So tired of the rights banner being used wrongly. Knowing the law and understanding your rights is important but rightness does not and never should replace human decency. It should be legal support if you are treated wrongly, not authorization for you to behave poorly.

And yes I have photographed policemen before. They knew and did not mind. A security guard said no and I respected that. I had no reason to press.
 
I photograph the police whenever possible. I try to be Winogrand quick when I do. If the told me to stop, I would. Antagonizing the police isn't clever. But so far they don't seem to care.

At least law enforcement officers are trained. They know the law and their supervisors really don't want to get sued. Rent-a-cops are the worst. They are either ignorant or they think they can intimidate you to forfeit your rights. I just tell rent-a-cops to call the police or leave me alone. If I'm in a public area on private property, that's a different story. I just put my camera away and tell them it will stay in the bag. They can ask you to leave, but they rarely do.
 
The police somewhere in oz (can't remember exactly where) recently tasered a young Brazilian student to death. Australian police generally don't carry guns and judging by the amount of taser deaths in this country of late they don't need them .... I won't be photographing them!
 
Keith said:
The police somewhere in oz (can't remember exactly where) recently tasered a young Brazilian student to death. Australian police generally don't carry guns and judging by the amount of taser deaths in this country of late they don't need them .... I won't be photographing them!
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We have extrajudicial electric death squads in the US as well. Maybe I should take up smoking as a safer alternative to photographing in public ;)
 
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