Ask Before You Photograph. This Could Happen To You! Photo Gallery by Jay Levin at pbase.com

Ask Before You Photograph. This Could Happen To You!

As part of an assignment in a short introductory photography course, we were required to find and photograph objects that looked like letters of the alphabet. This story reveals what happened to me when I went out to shoot one morning.

Please keep in mind that the photographs were shot at different times and were not posted in chronological order. However, they are meant to constitute a story that was submitted at the end of the course, and I did have to talk my way out of being arrested as part of this assignment.

Finally, as I stated below photo #5, the bottom line is this: Photograph from a sidewalk or other public property, or ask if you can photograph on private property.

comment |

Buba Jafarli		27-Nov-2009 17:16
Thank you for sharing the lesson learned, Jay! There are too many paranoics, lawyers and policemen in your country!

Dan Chusid		04-Dec-2007 05:46
Good work Jay. I usually ask people if I can take their photo and then just stick the camera in their face. Works every time! : )

Fong Lam		28-Mar-2007 00:30
I keep coming back to this gallery to read members' comments, Jay. Truly enjoyed this staged shots based on real events. Vote

Nestor		29-Jan-2007 12:58
Jay, this is a very good gallery , the informational stories your gallery has compiled is great. Vote

1moremile		19-Dec-2006 11:14
Great lesson. Michigan cops don't do much harassing.

Guest		12-Dec-2006 15:18
Did they make you sit on the Group W bench in Walled Lake? LOL. I better watch myself, and my camera, when I head down Pontiac Trail and E. West Maple Road. That is the actual name of the street! Only in Walled Lake. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the warning about our local law enforcement!

flowsnow		03-Nov-2006 01:09
Totally agree with Jim. There is no law to prevent anyone to take photographs on public ground. I was told off taking some snap shots of my little one in the shopping centre. I must admit I was very offended as there was no signage saying that I couldn't take any. He went about saying...ah.....this is a warning and sounded as though I was some sort of criminal. Yeah rite.....! I guess as much there was a little signage pasted at the side of the pillar/wall which indicated cameras not allowed. But seriously who's able to spot that! What more I felt people tend to be more intimidated with big cameras. I have seen many people with hand phone cameras and they get away with it. Is that fair?

Michael Lillis		30-Sep-2006 21:50
Just think what you could do with a 1200mm lens out on the street.

Cindi Smith		21-Sep-2006 01:19
Amen and glad you got to continue to shoot! This is a free country and as long as you aren't invading anyone's privacy like you said! Thanks for the warning and your story!

James Blix		09-Sep-2006 02:52
My story, I was outside a high rise building ready to take a photo, the security guard ran outside and told me I couldn't shoot. I was on a public sidewalk. I reminded him of this, and he told me he'd arrest me if I continued. Not sure of how the law read, I complied, with a vow I'd find out. It took me two weeks to find out after many phone calls to officials and the police. I went back to the high rise, set my camera up and started shooting again. The security guard ran outside and ordered me to stop it. I told him, "call a cop." He went back inside and a few minutes later another security guard came outside and asked me what the problem was. I told him what the other secuity guard had said, and he then profusely appologised and said "as long as you are on public property there is nothing we can do, or should do. This is a free country." A warning, private property is different. A mall can tell you to stop, the inside of a non public building can tell you to stop, or if you are on their property, and most public buildings will not allow you to take photo's. Even a public stadium or concert can have very strict rules on photography to protect the operators venue. Of course places like military installations will probably arrest you, for good reason. Also, if something is plainly visible from a public area, I.E. the inside of a store, you are free to shoot away. It is illegal when you become a peeping tom, like using a 500 mm telephoto to get shots of your neighbor in the buff. I did a lot of street photography in San Francisco, and one time a guy got pissed at me when I took a shot of him, he called a cop. I waited, when the cop showed up and the guy ordered them to arrest me and seize my camera, the cop told him they couldn't nor wouldn't as I had broken no law, because he was on a public area. And then reminded him that he could be arrested for ording my arrest and that I could also sue him. We have rights as photographers. Learn to excersize them and not be intimidated by over zealot people who are claiming to protect god knows what, except our freedom.

Dror A		07-Sep-2006 04:12
Good story! I live in NYC, there are many tourists walking around with cameras all over the city, somehow, as I walk on 7 ave and 34 st, taking some street pictures, a policeman and one national guard approach me and start asking me questions, they had no intention to arrest me, nor they ask me to stop taking pics, but they did say “be careful”!, of what? What did I do wrong? We live in a world full of camera phones, small digital cameras and video phones, I was holding a big SLR camera with 200mm lens, if I need to hide anything I would probably use my phone or some other tiny camera, also since 9/11, you can’t take pictures in most stores, as nobody stop me when I took pictures inside the new apple store on 5th ave. I only hope that it will change as we all like to take pictures of everything we see just because we enjoy doing just that! Good luck too all!

René Lortie		01-Sep-2006 15:23
Very interesting story. Paranoia is everywhere around us these days. And photographers are "usual" suspects. I laughed at #5. Sad and funny. V.

vholmes		01-Sep-2006 14:12
LOL. Great story

Guest		01-Sep-2006 11:49
Fun shots to go with your story. Vey nice. Barb

Martha Albuquerque		01-Sep-2006 11:10
Nice collection. Voted.

Tom Munson		01-Sep-2006 01:10
Terrific story Jay. It's sad but true. The world is changing. Voted

Jane		01-Sep-2006 00:55
I never really thought about this, but in this day and age I guess people have a right to be suspicious. I'll definitely heed your warning!

Jay Levin		31-Aug-2006 19:45
Picture 1 was taken by a riend. I took 2-4. #5 was taken by another police officer, who seemed to enjoy the photography experience immensely! The caption under #3 explains that these were taken at different times.

Mary Bowles		31-Aug-2006 19:40
I have just seen these 5 pictures, and read your story. Oh Dear. Thanks for the warning. But who, I wonder, took your pictures ???

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment