War on Photographers
- Thread starter Bike Tourist
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btgc
Veteran
Isn't this annoying - people buy expensive photo gear to only take pictures of flowers (and even they shouldn't be in someones private property!) not to be seen as terr0rists. World is going wrong wrong route....
peterm1
Veteran
Sadly most rent a cops are poorly educated, poorly trained and poorly paid. While there are no doubt exceptions the job does not attract the Einsteins in the room. But mostly friendliness and politeness toward them helps at least here in Australia where things tend to be more laid back. If things really get sticky in the face of an agressive R A C the best strategem I find is to go on the front foot and threaten the offending R A C that you will call the police over his behaviour then tot ake out your phone and begin to do so. Usually makes them think twice about your intentions and their job.
Teuthida
Well-known
Welcome to the "Land of the Free!"
Now, lets all go back to waving our flags and talking about "Liberty."
Now, lets all go back to waving our flags and talking about "Liberty."
Prest_400
Multiformat
I am rather amused of how the US is being called the land of freedom; being very strict with their security. If I recall correctly, the UK is too very strict.
These kind of stories don't seem to be so usual here (Spain). Though, I don't have experience in this (haven't been in UK or US).
These kind of stories don't seem to be so usual here (Spain). Though, I don't have experience in this (haven't been in UK or US).
21-135 Apo All Good
Established
Forgive me, but wasn't it in Spain that the Terrorists blew the **** outta that train?? With as much BS as we have to put up with, by comparison in miles traveled, the NY subway system is safer with it's rats than one is riding on your trains!
O-K, I'm off of my soapbox for now. Bottom line is use your noggon. If you think that someone may "call you in", do what I do and call it in yourself. Give them your name & cell number and tell them where & when you'll be there. If it's slow enough they visit you. If they're too busy, I've just gotten "be careful". Sometimes a little common sense and a phone call saves a lot of hassle later......
Dave
zauhar
Veteran
Fascism is the union of capitalism and state power (or so it was defined by Mussolini and his cohorts).
By this measure the US is far down the road to being a fascist state. The small freedoms that are currently permitted (e.g. protesting in a specially allocated holding pen) will evaporate if there is a major catastrophe.
Randy
Teuthida
Well-known
"Those who trade liberty for security will have neither." One of those Founding Fathers we're always deifying. Maybe we should start listening to them as well as simply paying lip service to how great they were yada yada.
Riverman
Well-known
The UK is nuts on this stuff. I've been stopped a few times by London cops and 'community support officers' when out shooting photos. When they ask for my details I politely tell them to stick it, reminding them that while they are obliged to identify themselves to me, i am under no obligation to identify myself to them unless they think they have grounds to nick me for an arrestable offence.
When I was living in Spain in 2007 I remember my first day in the office, the security guard was astounded that as a foreign national I wasn't carrying passport ID. "but how would you identify yourself to a police officer?" he asked.
It had never even occurred to me. I know that cops are there to protect and serve and all that crap but really, the way they approach photographers makes me wonder if some of them ain't exactly the sharpest tools.
al1966
Feed Your Head
TY I have been telling people that we are moving towards or are in the state of neo fascism. Ill say no more as I will get too political except for one thing you can be prosecuted in the UK for photographing or videoing a police officer.
mh2000
Well-known
My article on the subject 🙂
My article on the subject 🙂
posted this to the Micro 4/3 section so you might no have seen it here:
Please see my new article on art, photography, homeland security and freedom:
http://souciant.com/2012/01/artist-or-terrorist/
All photos taken with E-P1 and Oly 40-150.
My article on the subject 🙂
posted this to the Micro 4/3 section so you might no have seen it here:
Please see my new article on art, photography, homeland security and freedom:
http://souciant.com/2012/01/artist-or-terrorist/
All photos taken with E-P1 and Oly 40-150.
agour
Established
High profile sites like that will always draw a lot of attention, for good reason really!
A similar thing happened to me quite a while ago. I was out taking photos of a large oil refinery at night. When I got back to my car I was confronted by the fire wardens from the site, who informed us the police had visited, seen our cars, and were on their way to make a visit to our houses (at 2:30am no less).
Anyway they rang the police, who came down and questioned us at the roadside. They were alright about it all, were happy to find out we were just taking photos not up to mischeif. They also said if we ever got caught on a refinery again, we could expect a visit from mi5 (unlikely, but you never know!).
A similar thing happened to me quite a while ago. I was out taking photos of a large oil refinery at night. When I got back to my car I was confronted by the fire wardens from the site, who informed us the police had visited, seen our cars, and were on their way to make a visit to our houses (at 2:30am no less).
Anyway they rang the police, who came down and questioned us at the roadside. They were alright about it all, were happy to find out we were just taking photos not up to mischeif. They also said if we ever got caught on a refinery again, we could expect a visit from mi5 (unlikely, but you never know!).
mh2000
Well-known
with googlemaps streetview and satelite view I doubt terrorists need anything else.
sanmich
Veteran
Can't remember where I saw that T-shirt saying:
"I'm not a photographer, just a terrorist"
"I'm not a photographer, just a terrorist"
Muller
Established
This subject is always amusing to me when it comes up, as are some of the comments, having been on both sides of the fence.
I've been approached by police and private security in the US and Germany for little more than having a camera. In both countries the police were professional and courteous, and let me continue shooting after a few questions and/or noticing what I was shooting with. The private security asked me to stop photographing, stop photographing and leave the premises, or escorted me off the property.
Having been a security guard has given me a decent education of what private security can or cannot do and why, if only in the US. And yes, I had to work with knucklehead guards from time to time. They were either quickly educated, or posted out of the way. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid.
One thing we as photographers need to understand is that places that are closed to the public, factories or refineries for example, and those open to the public such as shopping areas, galleries, hotels, and even empty parking lots and abandoned businesses, unless otherwise indicated are all private property. Think of it as other people being in your home or place of work; do you want complete strangers taking photos inside your home or business? Why or why not? RACs are simply acting in accordance with their employer's best interests, much as you or your family members would with regards to your home or property. How either reacts is usually a matter of personality as much as it is knowledge and understanding.
Just some food for thought, and probably about as filling as an oyster cracker.
I intentionally left out the subject of liability and breaking and entering/forceful entry, as these are separate issues and not relevant to the basic comparison.
I've been approached by police and private security in the US and Germany for little more than having a camera. In both countries the police were professional and courteous, and let me continue shooting after a few questions and/or noticing what I was shooting with. The private security asked me to stop photographing, stop photographing and leave the premises, or escorted me off the property.
Having been a security guard has given me a decent education of what private security can or cannot do and why, if only in the US. And yes, I had to work with knucklehead guards from time to time. They were either quickly educated, or posted out of the way. Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid.
One thing we as photographers need to understand is that places that are closed to the public, factories or refineries for example, and those open to the public such as shopping areas, galleries, hotels, and even empty parking lots and abandoned businesses, unless otherwise indicated are all private property. Think of it as other people being in your home or place of work; do you want complete strangers taking photos inside your home or business? Why or why not? RACs are simply acting in accordance with their employer's best interests, much as you or your family members would with regards to your home or property. How either reacts is usually a matter of personality as much as it is knowledge and understanding.
Just some food for thought, and probably about as filling as an oyster cracker.
I intentionally left out the subject of liability and breaking and entering/forceful entry, as these are separate issues and not relevant to the basic comparison.
Bike Tourist
Well-known
That's beautiful. Where can I get one?
Bike Tourist
Well-known
Yes, I was admittedly on private property and ceased taking pictures when I learned that fact. Ironically, the few images I made there I deleted, while those I took from a public access road were keepers.
dave lackey
Veteran
jsrockit
Moderator
What's a street rat?
Jack Conrad
Well-known
This is a new sheriffs vehicle I surreptitiously snapped at a gas station in my semi rural locale. I'm quite sure that if the cop had seen me taking pics with my dslr he would have hassled me.
The officers wear camo to match the machine gun turrets...
I'm certain these new military toys aren't here to protect "us."
The officers wear camo to match the machine gun turrets...
I'm certain these new military toys aren't here to protect "us."
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