Self-appointed Authority Figures

Bill Pierce

Bill Pierce

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Rangefinder photographers are often "street" photographers, folks wandering around with cameras pointing them at things they find interesting, revealing... And more and more these days having someone assuming the authority to tell them that they can't take that photograph. And it's not always a rent a cop.

For example, I once had a friend who was photographing a cheerleader contest at a state fair for his book on state fairs. He was credentialed by the fair. Someone in the stands, which were filled with photographers, reported him to a guard because he was "taking too many pictures of those girls."

Check out

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/02/on-authoritarianism.html

Mike Johnston's thoughts on the Colbert piece.

How do you deal with these self-appointed authority figures?
 
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Bill, I guess I have been lucky, or maybe where I live there are more anti-authoritarians than elsewhere. But just in case, I carry a "photographer's rights" card and my cell phone to deal with the d**che-bag rent-a-cop, er... excuse me... hired security professional... who is protecting the local mall from terrorists.

Posing the more remote hypothetical, I think if ma or pa law-and-order decided to give me grief the first thing I would do is laugh in their face, then I would tell them that violating my civil rights is a federal crime and threaten them with a citizens arrest. Then I would call the cops and then my lawyer, who loves this stuff.
 
there is such a fine line between being polite, non-confrontational and avoiding problems AND the reality of your rights as a photographer. working primarily on the streets i run into these "types" a lot... and i mean A LOT. it is always in everyones best interest to measure the situation well and act accordingly. that being said i quite regularly tell security guards to stuff it up their... well you get the drift.
 
Two things that work if you can pull them off is keep the local police (NOT 911) on your cell phone speed dial. Tell the guard or whatever "Here, just push send and tell the police dispatcher to send somebody here to arrest me!" or try "Keep your hands where I can see them and don't make any sudden moves! You'll need to show me your driver's license, your carry permit (if they have a weapon), and at least one other piece of I.D." For the most part private security guards don't know squat about their own rights.
 
that is a great bit of advice al, thank god up here in canada we don't have to worry about them packin'.
i weigh in at 225, work out every single day and have tattoo's from my neck to my waist... usually a "take a hike" suffices.
 
Al Kaplan said:
or try "Keep your hands where I can see them and don't make any sudden moves! You'll need to show me your driver's license, your carry permit (if they have a weapon), and at least one other piece of I.D."
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LOL! I love it, Al. I'm going to try that sometime. Now I just need to practice sounding authoritive. :p
 
I was confronted by a transit employee. She said I couldn't take pictures unless I was a tourist. So I told her I was a tourist but she didn't believe me.
 
Bill Pierce said:
For example, I once had a friend who was photographing a cheerleader contest at a state fair for his book on state fairs. He was credentialed by the fair. Someone in the stands, which were filled with photographers, reported him to a guard because he was "taking too many pictures of those girls."
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would that friend happen to be arthur grace?
 
Actually my experience is that when I'm in Europe, I get zero hassle from anyone in Germany, Italy or France. I live in So. California and if I ride Amtrack into LA. The employees and security are constantly telling me what I can or can't do. In Frankfurt Main Station, I have my Leica around my neck in plan sight..I see a security person, I say "Hi or Hello" they almost automaticly ask if I am enjoying my visit. I tell them how great the station and trains are and so far everyone reminds me to take lots of photos to show everyone back in california how great it is. Also because they know Leica, Zeiss or Nikon they are really impressed...you are shooting real film. In california the "anti-photo" zelots are out in mass. I always remind people that it is the digital phone photos that are normally used by those with suspecious intentions.

I think that if people are out of line..I ask oh are you a member of real law enforcement ?? Or I remind the rental cop that under federal and Cal state law a "no Photo" signs must be posted. Also one time they tried to take my camera I explained that I would file a felony grand theft warrant. Not to mention assult charges. And then Sue. But even better is to remind them that they must take away ever cell phone with a camera, and all cameras on site by all customers, no exception... regardless of if it is in use or not !! or they are not engaging in discrmination under Cal. Civil Code.

That also includes any one taking video of a game even if it is his children. So be polite and also happy to inform them of your rights. Also carry a copy of the code for your area regarding photograpy. Keep a couple of xerox copies on you at all times and hand them out and then photograph the "assulting" or threatening person...just for the record. just in case you need to file charges.
All the best....Laurance
 
An old curmudgeon like me stiffens in resistance when told he can't photograph somewhere he knows is in legally secure territory.

But, the resistance usually takes the form of calm, reasoned and charming argument so that the would-be enforcer ends up showing me the best places to get my shot.

OKay, well maybe not EVERY time!
 
Be careful of the Amtrak police. "Some railroad police officers are certified law enforcement officers and may carry full police and arrest powers." (Wiki) They are more than rent-a-cops and mouthing off to them will probably get you in trouble.

The issue of security guards and street photographers seems to revolve around private property, who owns what and where the photographer is standing.

If you are standing on public property, security guards should be handled like aggressive dogs, either stand your ground with your camera/tripod at the ready in your dominant hand, or back away slowly while loudly spewing invectives.
 
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I know this sounds unfair, but I just tell the members of the thought police that I am shooting for "religious" reasons. They can't figure out if I am a Chassidic Jew (I am) or a Hell's Angel.
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The only thing I've experienced which was anything like this was being told by an attendant at Cannon St station that I would have to obtain a permit from the station manager if I wished to photograph on the premises. Since I just happened to be carrying my camera with the strap around my neck while heading home, rather than being on the lookout for subjects, I didn't bother to enquire further.

I guess that busybodies in the UK are more likely to complain to the Daily Mail than to me. Probably just as well - my plan is to sing the Numa Numa song at anyone who hassles me until it sticks in his head.
 
Bill Pierce said:
Check out

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/02/on-authoritarianism.html

Mike Johnston's thoughts on the Colbert piece.
Click to expand...

Nice article, thanks for the link.

How do you deal with these self-appointed authority figures?
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On a case-by-case basis. I have stood my ground and argued, I have quietly refused to comply with cease-and-desist demands, and I have complied and gone on my (un)merry way, depending upon the circumstances.

Primary deciding factors for me are how certain I am that I am in the right; how willing I am to be arrested if it comes to that; and whether or not I feel like dealing with the overall hassle at that point in time.

With regard to the topic of authoritarianism, unfortunately it does not appear out of nowhere, there is no coup d'etat in free societies like ours. It generally begins with a demand for greater protection from the people, fanned by the media. There is generally a rise in populist thought, which is less concerned with the 'right' way and more concerned with 'what is best for me today' way. Populism is currently overtaking both liberalism and conservatism in the US, and it is a game that can be played by politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Populism says that CEO's who get outrageous bonuses should be locked up, never mind that they've broken no actual laws - this from a nation that decries the continued detention of known terrorists picked up on battlefields engaged in fighting US troops and currently held without recourse to the normal protections of law in US controlled territory outside the US. The irony is not lost on me.

Populism drives authoritarianism, and although no one wants to admit it, history always shows in hindsight that when populism reaches a certain saturation point in determining the affairs of a nation, it is indistinguishable from social nationalism. Again, this is no indictment of the left or the right - populism is people-driven (hence the name) with regard to the perceived misery index, not with regard to anyone's political beliefs. Populism simply believes that things are bad, and the government ought therefore do something about it. Government responds to these demands, and thus we have authoritarianism.

The problem is, of course, that authoritarianism serves no master but itself, and always ends in violent revolt. Authoritarianism 'fixes' the problem of the overpaid CEO's, but it also 'fixes' the problem of parents who think no one ought be able to take a photograph of their kid without their permission, or of paranoid citizens who think people taking photos of trains ought not be permitted to do so. In a new world of make-um-up laws that pander (at first) to the zeitgeist, there is no give-and-take or weighing of public necessity versus individual liberties when imposing law; every authoritarian response comes to be about keeping public order, without regard to freedom, liberty, or the rule of law.
 
Bill Pierce said:
How do you deal with these self-appointed authority figures?
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It's happened to me often. I should point out that the only times this has happened, it's happened in the U.S. Never had a problem in Mexico, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria or The Netherlands. I did have a little "why does that look interesting eh?" in London, but that was it.

I treat them the same way they treat me; seems to work.

I should also point out that I've never seen a female photographer harassed the way male photographers do. Although, I did see one girl being asked by a rent-a-cop at a mall why she was taking photos. That's been the only time.

Ah, your lack of tax-dollars, not at work.
 
Melvin said:
I was confronted by a transit employee. She said I couldn't take pictures unless I was a tourist. So I told her I was a tourist but she didn't believe me.
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This reminds me of the time in my youth when I was visiting my girlfriend at college (I had graduated the year before). I came back to my car to see a campus security officer writing a parking ticket based on my being a student and not having my car registered for use on campus. When I told him I was not a student but was only visiting a friend, he looked in the side window of my car and said, "You've got books in there, so you must be a student." I politely advised him that I could read but that didn't mean I was a student. He wrote the ticket anyway.

Back to the subject at hand.... It depends. I think sometimes we take it for granted that we should be able to photograph anywhere at any time we please. It's not always the case. I've heard other photographers get their backs up over being told by a store owner that they couldn't take pictures inside his business. Well, wake up--you don't have the right to do whatever you please everywhere.

On the other hand, I've been told many times to stop taking pictures by self-appointed purveyors of the public good. Usually I say nothing and keep on taking pictures. As of yet no one has bothered to follow up on their demand.

I also like the reply Gerry Winogrand had when told, "You can't take my picture!" He said, "It's my picture!"
 
I think that one thing working in my favor is that I'm a well known "character" at this end of Miami-Dade county, having worked for a few newspapers, including being the "Token Honky" at a black paper about thirty years ago, and my clients have included a couple of major malls, some ritzy private clubs, a local university, the City of North Miami, the Jamaican Tourist Development Board, the local congressman for twenty-five years, etc., so a lot of people know me or know who I am.

I think that it helps to "get involved" in your community, work (for free sometimes) on local election campaigns, show up on a regular basis at Chamber of Commerce functions and city council meetings and the like. Don't be afraid to wear a suit and tie on occasion.

I started doing that on a tip from my editor way back when I was 27 and I'm 66 now. I try to show up at city council meetings and such, stick around just long enough to be sure that I've been seen, then leave. I always carry a camera and never seem to have a problem with taking pictures.
 
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