War on Photographers

Bike Tourist

Bike Tourist

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Like most of you, I have been subject to questioning by quasi-officials, even when in public spaces when they spot my camera. Such was the case late last year when I was clicking off some images of interesting shapes at a gas plant on the other side of a chain-link fence. A rent-a-cop came charging up on a motorbike, apparently frothing at the mouth with barely suppressed rage.

He informed me, rudely, that I was on a private road (didn't know that). I told him politely that I would leave. He asked that I hand over my camera to him on the other side of the fence. Ha, like that was going to happen. As I walked back to my car he shouted that he had my license number and was going to inform the FBI. That was the end of it . . . for about two months.

Then, one afternoon, my wife and I were treated to a visit by two FBI agents. They were polite, even cordial, and we had a good discussion about free speech and all that kind of thing. They were said they were required to follow up on any complaint but would report that there had been no harm.

My wife and I joked about how lucky I was to escape rendition.

She could have always contacted this lawyer, I suppose:

http://press.org/news-multimedia/news/attorney-details-backlash-against-photojournalists
 
The hysterical rent a cop did the wrong thing but obviously thought he was doing the right thing.

The FBI boys did their job as they were trained to do in following up a complaint and made their own judgement about what the real situation was ... that works for me!
 
Well, let's see what went wrong. A gas plant? Probably not the best choice of subjects in these times. Or power plants. Or a lot of things that could be added to a list.

You did great! I, on the other hand, would not have thought about photographing the site mostly because it is of no interest to me. I have, however, been approached by a security guard at an open retail center and warned not to photograph anything without people in it. Idiots.😛

I, for one, am happy to know that I will not be around in relatively few years. The changes have been too much in the last 10-15 and I am tired of being boiled like a frog even while I know what they are doing. I can't imagine this country, let alone the world, in 2050. But, not my problem. Only my grandkids and their own children.The upshot (or is it another downshot?) is they will not have the experiential base to make their own judgments and decisions that I have had...only what they read in some digital form on a future wikipedia propaganda resource.🙁
 
Rent-a-cops are worse than regular police when it comes to cameras. I always feel that a R-O-C is trying to prove something in order to climb the ladder. I never get harrassed by real police... only rent-a-cops. I just tell them to f-off and get on my way.
 
jsrockit said:
Rent-a-cops are worse than regular police when it comes to cameras. I always feel that a R-O-C is trying to prove something in order to climb the ladder. I never get harrassed by real police... only rent-a-cops. I just tell them to f-off and get on my way.
Click to expand...

Only once have I been questioned by real law enforcement. After an exchange of business cards and a short chat, no problem. They don't want the paperwork either.

ROCs... you get what you get.🙄

BTW, Dick, you are now a file folder in a file drawer and on the Homeland Security/FBI systems. Big brother is watching like never before.
 
Happened to my professor. He was photographimg a bridge. Like 2 months later they show up at his house and in my professors words "asking questions they already knew the answers to."

I understand sometimes these guys just think they are doing their job but there are worse actual crimes out there. When I was working full time at least once a week I was threatened with being thrown in jail.
 
Last year I was stopped by a puffed-up guard in a shopping mall as I was taking shots - of the interesting design of the roof! Meanwhile I was surrounded by people with iPhones who could have been recording video for all the idiot knew.

Chemical and utility plants often have fascinating industrial designs. I have a retired colleague (PhD chemist) who actually "collects" shots of chemical plants and has some framed prints on the wall!

Randy
 
Fortunately I live in a place where I can photograph practically everywhere and everyone and get away with a friendly nod or smile. Even police and military don't seem to mind being photographed here. In shopping malls, guards approach me only after excessive shooting, and even then, I can still take a couple of extra shots before I apologize and put the camera in the bag.
 
While in the hospital emergency room visiting my mother, I took out my cellphone camera, took a bunch of photos to send to my siblings to assure them she was okay. The nurse smiled in the background. Took out my M2 and snapped off a few more shots. The nurse darts out of the room, and suddenly I have her supervisor, a security guard and a couple of others in my face, telling me "no photos!" I got a bit angry, told them this was my own mother, and they can't stop me from taking photos of her. Luckily I didn't get thrown out or arrested.
 
Welcome to the better newer kinder fascist police state.

Please leave your cameras and your rights at the door
so the friendly officers can complete full body cavity searches or scans on you and your children.

Have a nice day.
 
Jack Conrad said:
Welcome to the better newer kinder fascist police state.

Please leave your cameras and your rights at the door
so the friendly officers can complete full body cavity searches or scans on you and your children.

Have a nice day.
Click to expand...

Fascist? I'd have said it was capitalist myself, mostly to do with shopping and business as far as I can see
 
I've heard horror stories from other photographers here in Ottawa about how the police trample their rights, but I have to be honest, my one encounter was completely amiable. I was shooting street downtown and a street rat asked me for a smoke, I said no and he got pissed. A few minutes later a cop waves me over, points to the street rat and says that the little hood called in a suspicious photographer taking pics of girls asses. After a brief chat the police officer quickly realized what was going on and even complimented some of my shots. He even informed the little thug that even if I was walking around taking pics of people's asses (which I wasn't) as long as I wasn't being disruptive or harassing people, everything in public is fair game, including the asses (I had to laugh at that)
 
I got stopped once by a city cop. He seemed dissapointed that he couldn't find drugs or anything else to arrest me for. I've been walking everyday to fight this vertigo I've been experiencing, so when I walk I stagger like i'm drunk. I walked past a cop parked along the road & I was sure he was going to check me out but to my suprise he didn't.

I'd like to have a job with the FBI to go around meeting photographers. Get to see some cool gear.🙂
 
dave lackey said:
Well, let's see what went wrong. A gas plant? Probably not the best choice of subjects in these times. Or power plants. Or a lot of things that could be added to a list.

You did great! I, on the other hand, would not have thought about photographing the site mostly because it is of no interest to me. I have, however, been approached by a security guard at an open retail center and warned not to photograph anything without people in it. Idiots.😛

I, for one, am happy to know that I will not be around in relatively few years. The changes have been too much in the last 10-15 and I am tired of being boiled like a frog even while I know what they are doing. I can't imagine this country, let alone the world, in 2050. But, not my problem. Only my grandkids and their own children.The upshot (or is it another downshot?) is they will not have the experiential base to make their own judgments and decisions that I have had...only what they read in some digital form on a future wikipedia propaganda resource.🙁
Click to expand...

Take your punishment like a man, Dave — Live a long time!
 
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