Tenn Guy

On a short trip to LA with my wife - she is here for business - so get to play. I walked around the downtown area today with my camera and shot photos of people but mostly buildings, artwork, parks, etc. I was stopped and challenged several times - very politely - by private security (around hotels mostly) for taking photos with a "professional camera". I never felt threatened and they did not ask me to delete what I had taken, they just asked me to stop and move along. This even happened at the hotel we are staying in. Is this now the norm in very large cities? Also my camera Canon T5i is a long way from I would call a 'professional camera'. So in summation - I had a nice walk with interesting experiences to tell about!

Tenn Guy

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Well this *is* LA.
We've had a lot of celeb stalking by bad guys.
A lot of ahole paparazzi.
A lot of celebrities doing shows, awards, appearances, etc.
Ignorant, rude inbreds looking todo "selfies" with celebs.
A lot of breakins.
A lot of setups. Somebody bumps into a suspicious character- the flash fires- and the news and twitterverse folk all want to know what's going on.
A lot of "branding". A person's likeness, pictures, etc can be owned by a Corps. If you use any picture in any commercial context your lawyer will take all your money before you get a chance.
And almost always, a couple innocuous somebodies acting as lookouts.
Or just casing the place. Just in case.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Wierd. But I didn’t need another reason to not go there...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I have never had that happen. I frequently go downtown with my Olympus OM-D or my Nikon N80.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

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

After 911 it is a common occurrence in most larger cities. It happens.
Be glad, if you did take shots of people, that they did not approach you with indignation for intruding upon their PERSONAL PRIVACY. Which by the way, IS protected in courts of law,and folks here just do not still understand the concept of personal privacy in public places. Yes, even in public spaces folks have a right to expect privacy.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Which is one of the reasons the Fuji X100 series and various Oly cameras are preferred for street photography...

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Interesting comment. What legislation prevents photography of people (other than highly secure areas) in public spaces?

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

You evidently dress the part of a sightseer or tourist. Try dressing in some gaudy, tacky clothing so you look the part of the tasteless tourist. People will think you are harmless and leave you alone.

Stan

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Really? I've never heard this before nor read this in anything. It's my belief, based on reading up on the subject, that there is no "personal privacy" in a public space. If one is in an area that is fairly private but can be reached via a public space using extraordinary means to get the shot, i.e., climb into a tree, then their personal privacy has been invaded as the "normal person" would not have access to their private space. If someone is on the street in a public place a photo can be taken. The use of it may be a different story, depending on the subject.

User ID

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Even your "non-pro" Rebel is very intentionally
styled to "look pro". It's simple marketing. You
can't expect security folks to be experts as to
which is serious gear and which is just styled.

So, given the above context, another thing that
gets their attention is behavior. Or lack of same.
"Doin nuthin" is also noticeable behavior in an
environment where everyone is "on a mission".

============================

IOW your behavior isn't especially threatening,
but is apparently noticeable, and so they notice
you. "Stalking images" like a photo enthusiast
is an example of a noticeable behavior ... thaz
a person who works out their framing with their
camera to their eye, showing real concentration
on the task at hand. Just an example there, not
necessarily you. But one's appearance, including
mannerisms and behaviors, needs to "fly below
radar". And acoarst their radar is LA Radar.

The security folks are just "covering their asses"
and that is "Job One" in their bidnez ... usually
jobs 2, 3, and 4 as well !

.

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

People in the US have an EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY which is a protected right. YOU should look it up.
It is called Reasonable expectation of privacy or the right to "be left alone". In public places it is a real gray area. Enough of a gray area that if I want to photograph someone, I ask first. If you do not ask, you are sort of out on a limb. Like I said, it is a very gray area and the law is WHAT THE JUDGE SAYS IT IS. So much so that every street photographer should be aware of a person's right to privacy. Elected officials, movie stars, do not enjoy this RIGHT to be left alone, but Joe sack of potatoes does have a reasonable expectation to privacy.

The reasonable expectation of privacy is an element of privacy law that determines in which places and in which activities a person has a legal right to privacy. Sometimes referred to as the "right to be left alone," a person's reasonable expectation of privacy means that someone who unreasonably and seriously compromises another's interest in keeping her affairs from being known can be held liable for that exposure or intrusion.

Keep in mind that an expectation of privacy isn't absolute -- it must also be "reasonable." This means that the disclosure or discovery of a private matter must have happened when the plaintiff was in a place or situation in which the average person would be offended at being intruded upon.

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

One gives up one's "reasonable expectation of privacy" when one ventures into the public square - period. Granted, a celebrity whose photo is taken on a city street retains the commercial rights to the use of that image, but there is NO law that states that a person may not be photographed on a public street. The subsequent USE of that image is the subject of much legislation and litigation, but the taking of the image itself is not illegal or subject to any cause of action for "invasion of privacy." Maybe that's why they have laws mandating you use a restroom instead of the privacy of the street.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not in the US. If they are in a public place and plainly visible from a public vantage point then you are dead wrong....they have no expectation of privacy.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Nope...wrong again

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Was this on hotel or other private property? If so, they have that right. If it was public property, like the sidewalk, they have no right to ask you to move on.