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Dec 12, 2016 12:00:14   #
oceanarrow
 
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give and take.very informative and real.shooting over 45 years,this never happened before.Live in Lancaster,PA.I pulled way over to side of road,put my flashers on.there was a old farmhouse I wanted to photograph,Christmas lights,nice setting etc.I was not close to the house,used a small telephoto lens.So engrossed in the shoot and did not realize there was a Police officer behind me.he wanted to know if everything was alright.it was,then asked me what I was doing.told him I was a photographer,he said he can see that,then asked if I had permission to take those pictures.I said no,he kind of backed off after that.did I do anything wrong here?been doing this for years,now not so sure anymore.it took all the fun out of it.sorry I took so long,would appreciate some input.thanks for your time

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Dec 12, 2016 12:05:50   #
Marionsho Loc: Kansas
 
oceanarrow wrote:
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give and take.very informative and real.shooting over 45 years,this never happened before.Live in Lancaster,PA.I pulled way over to side of road,put my flashers on.there was a old farmhouse I wanted to photograph,Christmas lights,nice setting etc.I was not close to the house,used a small telephoto lens.So engrossed in the shoot and did not realize there was a Police officer behind me.he wanted to know if everything was alright.it was,then asked me what I was doing.told him I was a photographer,he said he can see that,then asked if I had permission to take those pictures.I said no,he kind of backed off after that.did I do anything wrong here?been doing this for years,now not so sure anymore.it took all the fun out of it.sorry I took so long,would appreciate some input.thanks for your time
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give an... (show quote)


If you're on public property you're good to go. Some things are not 'posed to be shot. Lots of info. on this on the web.

Welcome to the Hog, oceanarrow.
Marion

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Dec 12, 2016 12:09:44   #
burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC
 
oceanarrow wrote:
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give and take.very informative and real.shooting over 45 years,this never happened before.Live in Lancaster,PA.I pulled way over to side of road,put my flashers on.there was a old farmhouse I wanted to photograph,Christmas lights,nice setting etc.I was not close to the house,used a small telephoto lens.So engrossed in the shoot and did not realize there was a Police officer behind me.he wanted to know if everything was alright.it was,then asked me what I was doing.told him I was a photographer,he said he can see that,then asked if I had permission to take those pictures.I said no,he kind of backed off after that.did I do anything wrong here?been doing this for years,now not so sure anymore.it took all the fun out of it.sorry I took so long,would appreciate some input.thanks for your time
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give an... (show quote)


If you can see it and photograph it from a public roadway, you do not need permission...

Unless... there is a special posted restriction on photography. Some buildings are so famous, their images are copyrighted. Their owners usually post plenty of warnings.

Many public parks have no restrictions unless you are a professional. In that case, you must buy a permit. This is a common requirement of wedding photographers. They get to pay for some of the costs of running the venue!

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Dec 12, 2016 12:12:02   #
oceanarrow
 
Thanks,Marion.I will read all I can on this.I was there about 5 minutes.and just on the shoulder.maybe the officer just wanted to check me out and was satisfied

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Dec 12, 2016 12:12:02   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
If you are in the public right of way, you're fine. One can photograph anything they can see from the right of way.

From the other side, the officer's responsibility is to the community. He was just making sure you were not going about anything that could be a detriment to that community. Additionally, you being in the right of way may have posed a safety issue, in his opinion, to yourself.

In all cases such as this, it's always good to be polite, answer the questions you're asked, and go about taking your photographs.
--Bob


oceanarrow wrote:
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give and take.very informative and real.shooting over 45 years,this never happened before.Live in Lancaster,PA.I pulled way over to side of road,put my flashers on.there was a old farmhouse I wanted to photograph,Christmas lights,nice setting etc.I was not close to the house,used a small telephoto lens.So engrossed in the shoot and did not realize there was a Police officer behind me.he wanted to know if everything was alright.it was,then asked me what I was doing.told him I was a photographer,he said he can see that,then asked if I had permission to take those pictures.I said no,he kind of backed off after that.did I do anything wrong here?been doing this for years,now not so sure anymore.it took all the fun out of it.sorry I took so long,would appreciate some input.thanks for your time
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give an... (show quote)

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Dec 12, 2016 13:21:13   #
Marionsho Loc: Kansas
 
oceanarrow wrote:
Thanks,Marion.I will read all I can on this.I was there about 5 minutes.and just on the shoulder.maybe the officer just wanted to check me out and was satisfied


Yes, just an officer doing his job. One of the Hogs had photographers rights printed on the back of his business card for situations like this. His suggestion was for everyone to print up official looking business cards to hand to the officers. Whether you're in business or not. I've yet do do this.

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Dec 12, 2016 13:36:04   #
Jim Bob
 
oceanarrow wrote:
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give and take.very informative and real.shooting over 45 years,this never happened before.Live in Lancaster,PA.I pulled way over to side of road,put my flashers on.there was a old farmhouse I wanted to photograph,Christmas lights,nice setting etc.I was not close to the house,used a small telephoto lens.So engrossed in the shoot and did not realize there was a Police officer behind me.he wanted to know if everything was alright.it was,then asked me what I was doing.told him I was a photographer,he said he can see that,then asked if I had permission to take those pictures.I said no,he kind of backed off after that.did I do anything wrong here?been doing this for years,now not so sure anymore.it took all the fun out of it.sorry I took so long,would appreciate some input.thanks for your time
Hi to all.new to this site.really like the give an... (show quote)


If you find yourself facing legal issues, make sure you tell them you acted based on legal advice received from a photography site. As an example, several posters indicated if you can photograph it from a public roadway you are OK. Try that defense once you are charged with taking and disseminating photos of someone partially or fully undressed through the window of a residence. Short answer: seek legal advice from a lawyer.

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Dec 12, 2016 14:04:41   #
TheStarvingArtist
 
A mayor in Florida lost his job because someone took a nude shot of him thru the curtains of his house. The ruling was that the person who took the photo could see so it was okay to photograph him. No peeping Tom charges or anything. This was a few years back.

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Dec 12, 2016 14:29:48   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
I once had a State Trooper ask me what I was doing as I stopped to take a picture of a tow truck pulling a vehicle out of a ditch back up on the road. I asked her if she thought I was in the way. She said no. So I told her, "Then it is none of your business." She went away.

A few minutes later the State Trooper photographer showed up. He came over to look at my camera. I was testing a new lens is why I stopped and he was admiring it. I told him about the other trooper. He said, "Yeah, a lot of them don't get that you can photograph whatever you want." We had a nice chat while the first trooper glowered our way.

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Dec 12, 2016 14:55:37   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
HEY, JB, there's a huge difference between photographing from a public right of way and public roadway.

Additionally, I've gotten my guidelines from an attorney. I'm simply passing along the same information. I do check with him from time to time to ascertain (that means to make sure) that things haven't changed.
--Bob

Jim Bob wrote:
If you find yourself facing legal issues, make sure you tell them you acted based on legal advice received from a photography site. As an example, several posters indicated if you can photograph it from a public roadway you are OK. Try that defense once you are charged with taking and disseminating photos of someone partially or fully undressed through the window of a residence. Short answer: seek legal advice from a lawyer.

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Dec 12, 2016 14:56:54   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
That is an interesting gray area. Yup, I could see it from the right of way. However, where does observing and peeping become two distinct acts?
--Bob


TheStarvingArtist wrote:
A mayor in Florida lost his job because someone took a nude shot of him thru the curtains of his house. The ruling was that the person who took the photo could see so it was okay to photograph him. No peeping Tom charges or anything. This was a few years back.

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Dec 12, 2016 15:13:25   #
Marionsho Loc: Kansas
 
TheStarvingArtist wrote:
A mayor in Florida lost his job because someone took a nude shot of him thru the curtains of his house. The ruling was that the person who took the photo could see so it was okay to photograph him. No peeping Tom charges or anything. This was a few years back.


He lost his job over that?

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Dec 12, 2016 15:34:04   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
Marionsho wrote:
He lost his job over that?


Likely if the job has a requirement for a clean record:

https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=31193

It is generally illegal to expose genitals where others in a public place can see them. Even on your own property. There are exceptions.

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Dec 12, 2016 15:39:47   #
MtnMan Loc: ID
 
rmalarz wrote:
That is an interesting gray area. Yup, I could see it from the right of way. However, where does observing and peeping become two distinct acts?
--Bob


It was the guy in the house: not the guy on the street that observed him. It is about indecent exposure, not about peeping.

But if it were about peeping those laws vary also.

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/business-career/legal/peeping-tom-laws

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Dec 12, 2016 15:40:00   #
G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK
 
As you said the policeman backed off...! Issue was that you had Hazard lights flashing !! probably stopped to see what your problem was - Then saw you photographing a persons home and wanted to know why ? Reasonable question....realised you were harmless and went on his way. Not really a problem. Yes you can photograph things from a public highway (having parked in a safe manner) and yes you will occasionally get asked 'WHY'. if you give a reasonable answer (I'm casing da joint) (I think my wife has a lover) etc most people will be satisfied that you mean no harm. I would have been more annoyed if the policeman ignored a car with hazard lights on and driver stood on kerb for safety reasons (Rear ending).....Stood in the cold THAT would P...me off.

Have fun

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