alaskan

Have you as a photographer ever been harassed by security guards or cops for no good reason? Under the disguise of fight against terrorism we are losing more of our freedoms every day,bit by bit.How far will it go?
Here is my latest encounter with terminal stupidity:
I was taking a few photos of an interesting lamppost in the main
area of Westlake Mall,downtown Seattle,Wash.A security guard approached me and told me "no photography allowed".
Me:There are no such signs posted anywhere so how am I supposed to know?
Him:Our policy is we do not allow photography here.
Me:So why do not you post it?
Him: Photography is not allowed here.
Me:Yes, I heard you the 1st time.How am I supposed to know if you do not post it?
Him:Our policy is we do not allow photography here.
Me:I feel sudden urge to sneeze,am I allowed to do so or do you have any secret regulation against it?
Him:Sir,our policy is we do not allow photography here.
Me:Why not ?
Him:Because it is our policy!
Me:Why it is your policy?
Him:Because we do not allow photography here.
That was going on for about 20 minutes and definitely did not make my day.
What is your experience? Iis this getting normal across the US?That is why I prefer Alaskan wilderness I guess.Bears may eat me at the end but at least I can take a photo first.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

If you are in a mall, it's private property. They can have a no photography policy if they want. Most retail locations do.

alaskan

Understood.But how are you supposed to know about it if they do not post it? And how far can they go with "their own laws"?
If you are on their property can they kick your butt or ask you to go topless just because they want to? Whatever happens to your rights when you enter a place open to general public? Can I harass visitors entering my house just because it is private property????

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

This has been a bigger problem obviously sine 9/11. Some of it is understandable, but some is due to overbearing authority figures overreaching.
There was a post in the last week of someone detained for over an hour by 2 officers while taking railroad photos from an overpass.

This might be of interest: (I carry a copy in my gearbag)

www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

If you were indeed on PRIVATE property, e.g. inside a mall, they have the right to prohibit photography, and to be fair, that info should be posted. If this rent-a-cop couldn't produce proof, I'd have told him to go soak his head until he could. If however, you were outside, on a public street, they have no legal leg to stand on.

My views on photography in public places are well documented here, and I stand by them.

forbescat

There is a mall in San Diego that has wonderful shapes and colors. I got there early and took a bunch of pictures before the security guard caught up with me. Some malls will allow you to take pictures if you make arrangements ahead of time. There is an upscale mall in Troy, MI that I had to ask in writing and they sent me a letter to carry and gave me specific times I could shoot. Most malls have contracts with their stores that precludes anyone coming in to take pictures - especially at Christmas.

San Diego Mall

RLPCEP Loc: Tallahassee FL

I think one of their issues is that they are afraid that 1. the photos might show people 2. the photo might get published 3. the people photographed might compain about invasion of privacy. When they start prohibiting street photography, we'll know the police state has arrived.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

You are probably exactly correct, but courts have long held that if you're in public, you do not have a 'reasonable expectation of privacy' - hence, paparazzi, and that's why it's not illegal to take pictures of Jen or Brangelina or Justin or Britney or any other of those idiots as they stroll down the street. Or come up out of the surf with their bikini top all askew.

NikonKnight Loc: Owings Mills, MD

I recently visited the Mall of America in Minneapolis and was pleased to learn that they allow photographs to be taken inside the mall. I walked around for 30 minutes before I asked at the visitor welcome station. I got some great shots almost all of which included people. However I had a similar run in with security at a local mall near my home so I guess it pays to ask or cinduct research before taking shots at malls.

Kuma

I find your understanding a bit myopic in light of current events. If you haven't read the papers, Malls are considered a high risk site for the targeting of a terror threat and people who may be planning such activity usually photograph such sites ( Malls, bridges, railway, subway systems, high rise buildings etc, etc. Perhaps it should be posted but sometimes a common sense approach is all that is considered necessary- If you bring suspicion upon yourself , expect to be questioned or stopped in this day and age.
Perhaps, seeing an interesting "lampost" in the mall you could have sought out permission first or an escort once you have explained what you wanted. The lamp was not going anywhere in the short time it would take.
Next, as a Police crime scene photographer by profession with a forensic team, yes, photographers do often get in our way, especially with flash units interfering with our pictures.
And No, the public does not have a right to see pictures of victims of violent crimes bloodied or decapitated in an accident. If your personal appetiete is for such pictures, get a telephoto lens and say outside the yellow tape. However, don't expect us to allow you to walk around a secured crime scene and try to explain to a defense attorney why we violated scene securty " in the public interest to getting the perfect picture. Sorry, I am not terribly sympathetic with your position becasue so many photographers have violated my trust or drawn suspicion upon themselves.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Kuma, I don't see any post where the photographer wanted free access to a crime scene. I think you're transposing perfectly legitimate behavior in a public place to your own personal interactions with other members of your own profession.

Taking a picture is not a terrorist act. If that were true, the government would be confiscating all cameras. Linking picture taking to terror acts because of a camera is like linking anyone who buys a cutlery set to Lizzie Borden.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

I have been asked to leave a cemetery and a well known museum in town (although, i was outside).

It was the tripod. I could shoot with the camera, but the tripod means "commercial" which means money and the need to protect their public image.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Very interesting.
Last summer my daughter and I took and out of town trip to do her "back-to-school" shopping. I took pics of her in the mall- out of the mall-- fun shots of structural details - the only place that said "you can't take pictures in here" was the "Forever 21" store -- I thought that was funny-- what other store would want to "steal" their ideas --not a high end place(lol)... yet our sales person at "Tiffanie's" LOVED that Julie had on an "Audrey Hepburn" top and wanted a pic in "Tiffanie's"

dirty dave

It all on the size camera you are shooting with If you shoot with a camera phone you can get by with it any where and even some point and shoots but if you pull out a dslr and try to compose a shot you are going to attract attention. Our mall has a Ritz camera store in it wonder if that makes a difference I would ask to speak to mall managment and iron it out but never argue with anyone and escalate the situation, (never argue with a fool people passing by might not know which one is the fool, Mark Twain ((I think)) please correct me if I miss qouted

Big Daddy Loc: Near Cleveland

I take pictures all over and have been asked to leave from many places. Yes for some reason tripods do attract attention. As for private property, here in Ohio the person who owns the property or business can ask you to leave and refuse service to anyone and does NOT have to give you a reason. Generally if you just ask and explain who you are and what the pictures will be for you will be allowed permission. I have even been asked to stop photographing with a cell phone camera.. go figure...lol