coj Loc: NJ, USA

You see if you use a cell phone you are just like every one else, some bonehead with an iphone. If you have a real camera, especially one with a big zoom lens, there must be a mini AR14 in there somewhere, so you are a terrorist wannabe.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

As soon as you ask "What are you doing", you ARE being confrontational. A better question would be, Hello their, my name is __________, and I am the neighborhood watch coordinator, may I assist you in your project, which is?

hcmcdole

Ain't that the truth!! Kind of hard to stop an army of cell phones.

Bob Werre

In mall situations, I've been asked by the mall managers to photograph the stores both indoors and out where a store or two have tried to stop me--seems they think the window displays are secret? I've also been asked by or with their blessing to photograph in individual stores in a mall and have had to deal with some rent-a-cop with his hands blocking my view. All this takes precious time when your dropping $$ on models, assistants and whatever!

If some terrorist/crepe needs you see my property he can just use Google earth and spot my dog in the backyard--he doesn't need to stop by the neighborhood. There are street level views too. I've been known to check on them while planning to shoot in the area. Our tax department uses satellite views to set my tax rate too.

I was on assignment last week on my first drone assisted assignment just photographing a pond for a water district. We sent the drone to the far side of the property to cover the property view back to us. I didn't realize we were just above a mobile home park. I didn't realize it but some 'overly' concerned guy could have blasted it fairly easily.

dreamon

Wrong. Any place open to the pubic is considered public, and photography is allowed. Malls included. This does not, however, include inside specific stores.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

That is not correct. Malls are private property that are open to the public.

dreamon

You need to check that fact, perhaps, with a law website that caters to photographers. I did.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Well if you did, the web site lied to you.

Ron SS Loc: Silver Spring, MD

Do be careful in generalizing to not confuse OK to photograph in public, with how the product, with identifiable individuals (and how public they are), is allowed to be used.
Get a legal opinion, which may need consider local ordinances.

dreamon

If you are on private property, such as in a store, shopping mall, sports arena or theater, then you need permission from the property owner to photograph. If you take pictures against instructions not to do so then the property owner has the right to ask you to stop and/or to leave. If you refuse, you can be arrested for trespass. However the simple act of taking a photograph there isn't illegal and you do not have to surrender your camera, your film or memory card and you do not have to show your images to any security personnel or delete your images. You can simply leave the area if told that photography isn't allowed.

As I said before, use common sense.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Here is some interesting information for you. Please make sure to read the section about what "can" be photographed from public areas.

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

Just how, pray tell, would you differentiate me, standing in the street taking a photo of a house, from the Google spy car, the results of which may be seen on the internet merely by posting your address. Go ahead, type in your address.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

This video by the ACLU is targeted primarily at protesters....but should you get questioned because because somebody objected that you took a photo of them in a public place, or you were seen taking a photo of their home, this short video does include some good legal information.

http://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/photographers-what-do-if-you-are-stopped-or-detained-taking-photographs?redirect=kyr-photo


So....Feel free to shoot anything if you're in a public place. Step onto private property, however, and there may be some restrictions.

Remember, there are cameras everywhere photographing us without permission. Why should YOUR camera be any different?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

As an Architect doing remodel work on malls they can control what you photograph.

cheineck Loc: Hobe Sound, FL

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Check the news' web pages. This area is through another round of meth and heroin addicts needing money. Currently I believe Snohomish County has the most openly-reported heroin problem. Kitsap and Pierce counties each continue to see an increasing number of meth-related incidents.