The Photographers Rights

[x635 4,066]

Interesting. And could be useful. It's getting ridiculous trying to get photos nowadays-some people are getting so overzealous, to the point where the terrorists are oppressing some of our rights and freedoms under the guise of "Homeland Security".

http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

[Guest WolfEMT]

I'm sorry, but if you're caught taking pictures in or of a sensitive area like a bridge, then you deserve to be detained. There is a difference between taking so-called "tourist" photos, like from the roof of the Empire State Building, and taking pictures that don't have any personal value, like that of the underpinings of the Verrazano Bridge. And as far as what the ACLU says, I'm sure a majority of the people here don't mind giving up some small personal rights in an effort to protect the lives, and ultimately, the rights, of the population at large.

[x635 4,066]

Considering the proliferation of Digital Cameras and Cellphone cameras, it's easeir then ever to get a photo of anything- especially covertly.

Taking a photo of a fire truck, train or a plane, of which there's millions of photos on the internet- if I'm not allowed to do that to "protect" ourselves, then that to me is outright ridiculous. I've known and heard of numerous people who've been harrased because of their legitimate interest- and it's only getting worse.

It just seems like the regular person with the interest ends up suffering, when, I hate to say it, no matter what we photograph the terrorist are going to manage to find a way to do something if their determined, and therefore the needless harrasment is therefore that.

Please note that I do understand sensitive areas, but not in the overzealous definition.

[ex-commish 490]

I'm sorry, but if you're caught taking pictures in or of a sensitive area like a bridge, then you deserve to be detained. There is a difference between taking so-called "tourist" photos, like from the roof of the Empire State Building, and taking pictures that don't have any personal value, like that of the underpinings of the Verrazano Bridge. And as far as what the ACLU says, I'm sure a majority of the people here don't mind giving up some small personal rights in an effort to protect the lives, and ultimately, the rights, of the population at large.

I fail to see the differecne between taking photos of a bridge or from the Empire State building. Anything today can be considered sensitive or a target. I would not mind being questioned by authorities but to actually be detained?

[Guest Photounit]

This has been around for quite a while now and is an excellent refference.....I actually used to carry a copy of the photographers rights in my camera bag......Actually several........ I think they're sill there...I had intended to hand them out when ever I get harrased..... It doesn't happen often anymore but once in a while it does...... Generally if you get stopped and you're not doing anything wrong , if you tactfully explain that you know what your rights are they will back off..... I've been there before.....The key is that you are not doing anything wrong ....

The 9-11 paranoia syndrome certainly has added another facet to the situation....... Today it sometime seems like everything is off limits..... When you get challenged in NYC it's as if the rules are made up as they go....... I had a Federal court officer threaten me with arrest for taking a "tourist shot" of the Federal Court Building in Manhattan ..... He was 1500 ft from me when I snapped a shot and he began yelling Stop! Stop! and ran over to me...... He was all out of breath and threatened to arrest me saying I was not allowed to take photo's of the building..... I'm thinking to myself that wait a minute, some terrorist can go on the Internet from the comfort of his cave in Afghanistan and bring up the building on Goggle Earth and your worried about me taking a post card shot? Then there's the time I was challenged at the tree in Rockefeller Center.....I hope that this mentality changes and to some extent it has but it's still there.......

I have a friend that's a Trooper and he said they actually go over photographers rights in the academy and I think this is why I have been challenged less over the past five years or so.... If you get a P.O. that isn't familiar with the laws in this area it can be a problem. I had an incident when I was Chief where one of my FF's (a ~75 yr old WW II Infantry Vet) was taking a few pictures at an AA and a Trooper asked him who he was and told him no more pictures. My FF responded that he's not doing anything wrong (He wasn't in my opinion) and that he has the right to take pictures. The Trooper responded I said no more and then the two of them got into it . I had to intervene as the Trooper was ready to arrest him - Not good! My FF didn't have any gear on to identify himself with us as he just stopped by to take a few shots for the local newspaper he was the editor of..... I told the Trooper that he was with me and I pulled the two a part ........... I don't know why the Trooper challenged him but I couldn't see any reason for it and if I was one the receiving end, I would have been pissed too....... I don't know if he was having a bad day or what..... I always wondered if he was arrested, if the charges would have stuck...... Somehow I doubt it.......