Photographers' rights post 9-11

[AlbertP]

We've all seen an erosion of the rights of photographers around the world after the 9-11 attacks in New York.

The NPAA (National Press Photographers Association) has recently released a memo entitled "Photographers' Rights To Take Pictures In Public Places."

Here it is:

http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/...08/rights.html

An excerpt:

"Photojournalists clearly have a Constitutional right guaranteed by the First Amendment to make photographs in public places. But often law enforcement officials and security agencies believe – wrongly so – that in the name of homeland defense there are new federal laws that somehow give them additional rights to restrict photography. This is just not the case."

[BigB]

Originally Posted by th0t

Hi Albert,

It's a tough call. What do you do when a group of people take something that is normally legal and good and begin to use it for terror and murder? It is so common for people to overreact or react to the wrong thing that it's become a cliché. In the case of photo journalists, it is complicated by a general dislike and distrust by the public, due in large part to the behavior of paparazzi.

Well then, let's start outlawing knives, forks, sporks, guns, fireworks, cars, feet, hands, batteries, doorknobs, bricks, 2x4s, pipes, etc., etc., etc.

[AlbertP]

All I know is that I now feel self-conscious raising my camera in public, almost anywhere. I feel self-conscious because I assume that at any moment I will be reported as "suspcious" or tapped on the shoulder by a "law enforcement" officer.

And I don't like that one bit. And I don't feel that I'm any safer because I have to feel self-conscious.

Where I live, there are now signs above the highway that read "report suspicious activity," followed by a 1-800 number. I hate those signs because they encourage the worst kind of behavior in people, IMO.

[bavanor]

Photography probably had nothing to do with the 9-11 attacks. Now Structural drawings, that had everything to do with it. Photography is just easier to attack.

As a photographer my rights being taken away wrongly just really pisses me off. I have it happen to me all the time.

I finally lost my temper with one security gaurd/student on campus. Put him right in his place. And it felt so good.

[bavanor]

Nah, he was trying to impress a girl by throwing authority out at me. "You can take a picture of my station!" said it twice even. Then I let him have it with "Yes, I can, because I work for the University Architects and we are designing another booth!" Felt great.

If the kid would of gone farther I would of told him to get down the head of security, who I know and that would of gone bad for the kid.

But, I am with Albert. It just makes you feel more self concious. And at that point you loose all joy out of doing photography.

I like your saying Pavel. And you know those people are just tattling away now. B@st@rd5.

[caribou]

people are nervous

I was stopped outside the NY stock exchange by a large butch female cop

she said "what you doing"....."I'm a tourist" I said, whipped out my ID and was on my way. no point arguing, photogrpahers are getting questioned down cop shops for 4/5 hours all the time

[JDArt]

Originally Posted by Pavel

What happened to the sixties?* Don't tell me they are over ?

Ha. Most of the hippies turned into hypocrites.

At least they left us that opportunity for alliteration.

[caribou]

the funny thing was she had this grin on her face like

"you're going to have to work me boy to get away with this one...."

[BigB]

Originally Posted by caribou

the funny thing was she had this grin on her face like

"you're going to have to work me boy to get away with this one...."

::shudder::

[paulhodson]

Try walking round within 100 yards of children carrying your camera and feel the stares from the paedophile fearing paranoids!

[caribou]

pedo hysteria is huge in the UK

its weird how people think photographers are pedos

we had pedo riots in portsmouth

the funny thing is the thick people who were involved in these riots attacked the work place of a pediatrician,

real trailor park mentality

[paulhodson]

Originally Posted by Pavel

Paul said "Try walking round within 100 yards of children carrying your camera and feel the stares from the paedophile fearing paranoids!"

PS - Paul, at first I misread your post. I thought you were saying ..."try walking around within 100 yards of Chickens! "
For a moment I thought it had gotten really bad over there on the other side of the pond

Give it time!

[BigB]

Originally Posted by th0t

I don't know if you're being funny (there weren't any emoticons in your message and it is sometimes difficult to discern)—I hope so. Because this kind of reaction is just as extreme as those who are overprotective.

Yes, I was being sarcastic. I figured the mention of sporks alone would have been alright.

I just think the context that we're all talking in is the photography of a place that anyone can access, at any time, for free, in public. To take a tour of a nuclear plant, it would only be reasonable that security measures would take place. Knife on a plane, can't do it, but they still give you one for your meal, as well as metal forks. They took my lighter away which I received as a gift, but they didn't take away the hair spray or aresol can of anyone that could blind someone on the plane itself if wanted.

I'm sure we all agree there are going to be regulations on private property or certain scenarios. But I shouldn't have to feel self-conscious of where I'm shooting and take on the stares of people if I think a jungle gym set looks neat or graffiti is well done.

[BigB]

Even Google now provides spectacular satellite images.

[bavanor]

Here is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, that sums some of this up
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[Alice Morrison]

I think we've got our own version of Laurel and Hardy on this site.

[Mr. Pickles]

Some things are worth fighting for, and some things that are fought over, are just plain stupid. But I think disallowing photography of buildings, or bridges, or parks, or people, or a cigarette camel or a PhotoCamel is just wrong. Stand up and fight for the right to shoot...digitally.

Does the Du-fuss running this land think that we are takiing pictures to plan our terrorist attack? I hate to tell the stupid sap (or his crow-nies), but if I wanted to see the area before I went in, I'd be using Google Earth for crying out loud.

[badpickev]

woo hoo we get to run around nekkid. love to.....