I realize that I am being redundant as I just posted this a moment ago in another thread. Since it was immediately bumped in that thread, and since Mackenzie feels strongly about it, I’m giving it a thread all its own.

Mac asked me to post this. She felt that some of you might find it both interesting and frightening.

Photography in the Real World by Joe Farace,
Shutterbug Magazine, November 2007

Recently the New York Times reported that New Yotk City was considering a law requiring photographers to obtain a permit and have $1 million in liability inasurance before taking pictures on city property, including sidewalks. The film office held a public hearing on the proposed rules and nobody attended. The New York Civil Liberties Union, concerned that the rules “set the stage for selective and perhaps discriminatory enforcement by police.” filed written comments.
When Silver Spring, Maryland, rent-a-cop guards began enforcing a no photography policy claiming that some public streets are “private property,” area photographers formed a Flickr group to post photos of the area in defiance of the ban and scheduled a protest
I previously published a link (http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm) to Attorney Bert P. Krages II’s PDF file explaining your rights when making photographs.
Download a copy, read it, and keep a copy in your camera bag, and if you live or visit New York City or Silver Spring, don’t leave home without one.

A link to the above url.

I realize that I am being redundant as I just posted this a moment ago in another thread. Since it was immediately bumped in that thread, and since Mackenzie feels strongly about it, I’m giving it a thread all its own.

Mac asked me to post this. She felt that some of you might find it both interesting and frightening.

Photography in the Real World by Joe Farace,
Shutterbug Magazine, November 2007

Recently the New York Times reported that New Yotk City was considering a law requiring photographers to obtain a permit and have $1 million in liability inasurance before taking pictures on city property, including sidewalks. The film office held a public hearing on the proposed rules and nobody attended. The New York Civil Liberties Union, concerned that the rules “set the stage for selective and perhaps discriminatory enforcement by police.” filed written comments.
When Silver Spring, Maryland, rent-a-cop guards began enforcing a no photography policy claiming that some public streets are “private property,” area photographers formed a Flickr group to post photos of the area in defiance of the ban and scheduled a protest
I previously published a link (http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm) to Attorney Bert P. Krages II’s PDF file explaining your rights when making photographs.
Download a copy, read it, and keep a copy in your camera bag, and if you live or visit New York City or Silver Spring, don’t leave home without one.

A link to the above url.

What next? A ban on carrying either a laptop or mobile phone in public?

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Frightening is a good way to describe it. Hopefully this law is rather like a jaywalking law...... in the books but only enforced for blatant disregard for common sense.

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So, it will be illegal to take pictures like this:


or - if they proceed it to the entire States, pictures like this:


or even this:


Have I got that right? Awful!

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Even better....If that becomes law across the States, request that ALL photo recon satellites be shut down as they will be breaking the law.

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Even better....If that becomes law across the States, request that ALL photo recon satellites be shut down as they will be breaking the law.

They are breaking the law anyway, always have done - as well as the Dragon Lady and the Blackbird

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I believe this might have originated in the post 9-11 days when a news report circulated about certain individuals that had been spotted walking the streets taking numerous photos of specific structures. I think the first reports were about the twin towers in New York, but also other structures targeted that day and of other possible targets. They were noticed because they weren't the normal "tourist" type, taking general photos of everything (general street scenes, their friends, etc.) but instead taking hundreds of photos of the specific structures from numerous angles then jumping into a vehicle and driving off.
There was even a report of a similar incident in a large city near my home where an individual (or small group, I don't recall clearly) was spotted taking hundreds of pictures of the local government buildings (courthouse etc.) which were not noteworthy in any respect outside of their use. They were not famous landmarks, didn't have outstanding architectural styles, nor any other reason for someone to be so fascinated with taking hundreds of pictures of them.

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Jim

Some people plan their life out and look back at the wealth they've had.
Others live life day by day and look back at the wealth of experiences and enjoyment they've had.

So, it will be illegal to take pictures like this:


or - if they proceed it to the entire States, pictures like this:


or even this:


Have I got that right? Awful!

Apparently, yeah, you have it right.!

I believe this might have originated in the post 9-11 days when a news report circulated about certain individuals that had been spotted walking the streets taking numerous photos of specific structures. I think the first reports were about the twin towers in New York, but also other structures targeted that day and of other possible targets. They were noticed because they weren't the normal "tourist" type, taking general photos of everything (general street scenes, their friends, etc.) but instead taking hundreds of photos of the specific structures from numerous angles then jumping into a vehicle and driving off.
There was even a report of a similar incident in a large city near my home where an individual (or small group, I don't recall clearly) was spotted taking hundreds of pictures of the local government buildings (courthouse etc.) which were not noteworthy in any respect outside of their use. They were not famous landmarks, didn't have outstanding architectural styles, nor any other reason for someone to be so fascinated with taking hundreds of pictures of them.

I don’t know the details, but I think this is a relatively recent effort on behalf of NYC.

Personally, I think it’s just another way of bleeding dollars from the unwary tourists ;-)

I believe this might have originated in the post 9-11 days when a news report circulated about certain individuals that had been spotted walking the streets taking numerous photos of specific structures. ..... SNIP ...

Can you imagine if legislation like this had been in act on 9/11 itself?

I know many of the personal and public photo's and videos taken on that day were traumatic...

... but if individuals and public had felt so scared to have carried cameras we (who were not there) would not have seen anything but a clinical or mass media view.


There is already a fear driven (non-legal) prohibition on cameras here in the UK in schools.

In the UK as a parent you can face problems if you take a photo of "YOUR CHILD" on stage in a play they are performing in....


There is a fear of some strangers who might be pedophiles taking pictures of a school play..

(Odd really as 90 or so % of child abuse is not performed by strangers.)


End product is that everyone is prohibited from capturing their children's life moments.


Personally I wonder if we are simply being sucked dry of the joy of life by those who think they will benefit from us living fearfull lives.


There are billions of photos taken around the world every year that mark joyous or important moments in people's and family's lives and bring happiness or meaning to everyone that see or share the pictures.


In New York however if such a 'by-law' or prohibition was passed then in reality the only people I would feel ashamed of are "New Yorkers" themselves...

They really need to decide whether they want their streets and public places to be places to celebrate life or live in fear.

Maybe they should start taking photo's of each other by whatever means they have, print them up and start littering their streets with images of life...

I believe this might have originated in the post 9-11 days when a news report circulated about certain individuals that had been spotted walking the streets taking numerous photos of specific structures. I think the first reports were about the twin towers in New York, but also other structures targeted that day and of other possible targets. They were noticed because they weren't the normal "tourist" type, taking general photos of everything (general street scenes, their friends, etc.) but instead taking hundreds of photos of the specific structures from numerous angles then jumping into a vehicle and driving off.
There was even a report of a similar incident in a large city near my home where an individual (or small group, I don't recall clearly) was spotted taking hundreds of pictures of the local government buildings (courthouse etc.) which were not noteworthy in any respect outside of their use. They were not famous landmarks, didn't have outstanding architectural styles, nor any other reason for someone to be so fascinated with taking hundreds of pictures of them.

Do you mean photos like this one?

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