Comments on: On Street Photographers, Spies, Perverts and Pedophiles

By: Lazzy Tom

Lazzy Tom — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:12:41 +0000

Hi,
i m amateur photographer from Zagreb/Croatia. Great story, and sad story same time. There is no more "freedom", just everlasting fear. But. That makes a challenge for all photographers, to take better photos, capture the moments in this new tough world.

Here in Zagreb situation is just a bit better. You can still take photo in public places.

By: Low Budget Dave

Low Budget Dave — Wed, 18 May 2011 22:07:16 +0000

Yep. In Arizona you can walk around a school carrying a gun, but not a Nikon.

By: Edik

Edik — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:41:13 +0000

this privacy thing makes people very paranoid. the more people are made aware of this, the more things get complicated.

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:59:31 +0000

looks like thats a tough job for photographers though

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 12:52:46 +0000

I've been seeking out articles on this subject. I'm new to photography and recently experienced my first bit of harrasment while shooting street scenes, store fronts, doors, windows, etc. in Albuquerque, NM USA. A man came towards me from a block away hurling profanities and demanding I "wait right there". He was not in uniform nor did he identify himself as security or police. I walked the other way to my car parked on a side street and took off. Was he a shopkeeper who'd been recently burglarized and thought I was casing his shop? Alternatively perhaps he was a thug intent upon getting close to me and taking my camera. I realize I'm walking city streets seeking subject matter with thousands of dollars worth of equipment in plain view. How safe am I? The possibilities for adverse reactions to photography are myriad. A person in the background may be a fugitive or involved in an extra-marital affair and think he's being surveilled. Sound far fetched? Maybe but who knows? I now take measures such as wearing a light jacket to help conceal my DSLR while I'm walking about. But what now if someone perceives that I'm concealing? Will that provoke an even more aggressive reaction? This is an important topic.

By: Soo

Soo — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:15:33 +0000

Buy a Leica

By: Karin Schroeder

Karin Schroeder — Wed, 19 May 2010 19:26:06 +0000

I ran into this problem just yesterday when I was taking pictures at an "Open to Public" tennis court that at the time, since it is city endorsed, I did not realize was private property in spite of the signs. A tennis instructor came over and demanded that I leave because he was worried I would offend parents by taking photographs of their children.

Later today, I went to the local City Hall to see what my rights are in this case. The Police Chief kindly confirmed for me that I'm legally in my rights to take pictures of people, even children, in public, and he suggested that in the future if I want to take pictures at a tennis court that I try the local and very public one down the street, and then he wished me good luck with my photography.

Mind you, I'm an abuse survivor myself, and I find it very ironic that instead of teaching our children to trust themselves and empowering them, we're teaching them to fear instead. And when people are so busy seeing the enemy in every stranger, how close are they paying attention things closer to home, with family and friends who statistically are much more likely to abuse their children than a stranger is?

Great article, and highlights a lot of what is worrying me since this happened. When the public starts letting fears consume them this way, it's not healthy for society as a whole.

By: David Saxe

David Saxe — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:13:19 +0000

Its not any better in America—Home of the Free

http://saxephoto.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/climate-of-fear/

By: Claimsman

Claimsman — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:56:57 +0000

This problem has been growing since before 9-11. It used to be that if you put a camera on a tripod a security guard would appear out of nowhere and insist you stop. Now, I can shoot almost anything with my 10.1 mp P&S, but if I pull out my DSLR then there is a chance (in an urban setting)that I will be stopped by somebody for some reason or another (often highly protective parents who think I am taking shots of their children.. when I am not -- I have learned to ASK FIRST before shooting minors). Thankfully, P&S cameras are getting better and better.... and cheaper.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:57:15 +0000

I have had trouble in nearly every capital city in Australia.. I've been stopped from taking photos of the harbor bridge in Sydney, even interrupted by a security guard and told off while taking wedding photos at the Sydney Opera House.

It's just getting out of hand, classic photographers like Ken Duncan are even coming up against the same thing.

By: Denver Engagement Photographer

Denver Engagement Photographer — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:33:02 +0000

So many people are scared of photographers now a days. It's such an odd thing for me to try and understand. At least here in the US there are laws protected what you can and can't take pictures of. I guess hong kong is different.

By: David McIntyre

David McIntyre — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:21:07 +0000

I speak to them in Mandarin and tell them that I am their big boss from Beijing

By: Alex Hofford

Alex Hofford — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:46:16 +0000

You need to be quicker.

In and out in a flash, stealth is key.

Wave to the security guards on your way out.

Laugh as their jaws drop, fumbling with walkie-talkies on their belts.

By: Shane

Shane — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:59:03 +0000

Interesting topic. I still go by the rule - if it is in a public space than it is legal to take a picture. Of course there are exceptions and I do not push the boaundairies of personal privacy; however, the fact that owning a DLSR gets one in trouble (in some places) for taking pictures is ludicrous. I suspect there is not much we can do about that. Although, I find it ironic that you were more free to take photos in Iran than in London, UK.

As for taking photos of people - wherever possible - I do ask permission of people in my shots (within reason) and if someone asks what I am doing I politely tell them exactly what it is for and even provide my website address (where my photos are generally posted) and my contact information. The majority of the time most people don't care and often get excited when you tell them about your photography projects. Sometimes I offer to take their picture and email it to them so they have a professional photo as a memento.

Thanks for talking about this issue,
Shane

By: DrGkill

DrGkill — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:52:11 +0000

I did took a thousand of picture when I went to HKG this year. I didn't know all of this and I guess I'm lucky not having trouble with people.
It's a pity that people act like this in front of a camera and they say nothing when they see a man dressed as a condom or when they watch some crappy video clip...

By: B Menzies

B Menzies — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:04:44 +0000

Well done for highlighting this. I suspect it won't be long before it becomes almost impossible in London. My partner and I have been stopped numerous times. In London it seems to be having a tripod that marks you out as a possible terrorist.

By: Andrew Gould

Andrew Gould — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:22:22 +0000

Hi Michael. This is certainly a topic that needs continual airing. I myself have been harassed here in Sydney on quite a few occasions for simply raising a DSLR to my eye in public places. I still photograph where I please, although I'm very cautious these days, often shooting from waist level.

By: Katie Kay Holmes

Katie Kay Holmes — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:16:21 +0000

Hello Michael, great story. How ridiculous things have become. I recently heard of a man having a prosthetic eye fitted which had a tiny video camera inside it. He was able to record everything as he walked around. That eye did not give him sight, he still had monocular vision from his good eye, but what a great spy he would be. An incredibly stealthy spy but with no depth perception.
Seriously though, you are so right: the world appears to have gone mad. Nice post.