Photography and terrorism fears

[Mutley]

I was sitting in traffic and watching a photographer take a picture of an office building when a security guard came up to him and made him stop. I couldn't hear what was said but the photographer looked pretty upset. How worried should we be when out taking pictures? Should we avoid taking pics of public buildings, or what do we say if we are approached in this way? Has anyone else encountered a situation like this?

[RetroLounge]

1. We are experiencing this in the RailFan Community

Know the laws, and don't take no shit from rent-a-cops.

and DO NOT TRESPASS!

If you are on public property, tell them to fuck off, basically, but do it in a very nice way. :D

I can't find the original article, but read the last half of this one...

http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spbiz/here/x08here.htm

RL

[Mutley]

2. lol

it just scares me a little. it would be my luck that I'm taking perfectly innocent pictures and some macho cop decides to use the patriot act to not only confiscate my camera but to throw me in jail indefinately. I just found the situation in my OP odd considering that downtown baltimore is a very touristy area and people are taking pics all the time.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. So far we are still free to take photographs of public places from

public places.
Courts have ruled that even photos of "targets" like tunnels and bridges are legitimate subjects of photographic interest as well as something less than Probable Cause for police officers.

Security guards of all stripes can hug my left nut. If a properly identifited police officer stops me and asks politely why I am taking pictures, I will respond in kind.

[RagingInMiami]

4. I take pictures of buildings all the time here in Miami

Once, I was standing beneath the Wachovia building, and a security guard told me to stop taking photos. There is no law that says I can't take photos if I'm on a public sidewalk, and I told him this, but he started getting mad.
So I simply walked across the street to take my photos.
Another time, I was on a bridge with my tripod trying to get a photo of the rainbow-colored metrorail. The woman in the bridge house got on her microphone telling me to get off. I ignored her. This is a county-owned bridge. I pay taxes.
So she called the cops and he drove up to me and asked me what I was doing. I told him. He had a bit of an attitude, but I wasn't going to back down.
I asked him if I had been doing anything illegal. He said no, but gave me the old "everything is different since 9/11". He checked my ID then sent me on my way.
Another time, off another bridge, Homeland Security officers pulled up next to me. This was near the Port of Miami where they have a US Customs office. Again, I went through the same routine. They checked my ID and sent me on my way.
I'm not doing anything illegal and I don't hesitate to show them my ID, but I wonder how they would respond if I happened to be an Arab-American.

[Princess Turandot]

5. I think they have outlawed or are thinking of outlawing photography..

in the NYC subway. It's hard to see how it will protect us against terrorism. They probably have gotten building owners crazy with those recent 'alerts' with several year old photos.

Was the guy standing on their property or on public property? I wouldn't get into a fight with a security guard unless I was certain as to what the law is. I might stop by the local police and just ask them. It's not exactly the same thing but I might be doing a leaflet 'campaign' against an organization which has harmed me, so I checked with the local precinct to find out how I should do it.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

6. It has been against the law to photograph in the subway

since WWII believe it or not... hardly ever enforced until recently, but there you go.

[Mutley]

7. sounds like i need to do some research on this

so I don't get myself into trouble.

[TahitiNut]

8. It might make a good Contest Theme: "'White Rose' Photos"

Photos that're "technically" prohibited by the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (aka "Homeland Security").

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. Here is a good one very few know about...

You have to buy a tripod permit to take pictures with a tripod on the Mall in DC.
This is to protect the sales of the NPS postcards, believe it or not.