Photography is not a crime tactics

[tuxcomputers]

It is becoming more and more common for photographers to be told they are not allowed to take photos in places that is perfectly legal to do so. Carlos Miller runs a web site dedicated to bringing to light these incidences.

I am sure 99% of people on this forum have experienced something like this in one form or another, whether it has been a security guard, a police officer or just some know nothing idiot.. although that does cover the first 2 as well.

The purpose of this post is NOT to discuss when, where or if we are allowed to take photos in certain locations. Information on that subject can be found elsewhere on this site, as well as many others. Besides that what is allowed varies from place to place, country to country.

What I am asking is what do you do to deal with someone that is telling you that you can't when you know perfectly well that you can? These tactics will should be almost universal and work almost anywhere. What have you done in the past that worked?

I always stay calm and just repeatedly ask which law they think I am breaking. If they get too worked up I stop talking to them, I pull out my phone, ring directory assistance, tell them where I am and ask for the phone number of the closest police station.

[elkidogz]

Did you have a specific event that sparked this post? General rule of thumb is to look up on websites and ticket stubs and the like to find out if your allowed to take photo's of private events, that aren't on public grounds...

[BuddhaPi]

I was approached by a "mall cop" while out in a public downtown area, with cool architecture, fountains and outdoor sculptures.. He asked what I was doing, as i stood there framing shots ( guess he never saw a camera before)...He proceeded to tell me that what i was doing was not legal, which kinda blew me away. After a moment of pondering ( I didnot want to miss this opportunity!) I politely asked him to pull out his mall cop manual and to show me the statute or to kindly have an official police officer come talk to me...he jingled the change in his pocket, turned a very deep shade of red and skulked away without another word..

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by elkidogz

Did you have a specific event that sparked this post?

Nothing specific, just would like to know what others have tried and found successful. I myself have every confidence while I am out and about taking photos. I have my own way of dealing with people that are trying to rules that don't exist.

This post was an effort to help others that don't have the confidence or knowledge to know what to do when they are confronted by an authority if and when they overstep the mark. It's all well and good to know that you are allowed to take photos but what steps are effective in getting them to recognise that the rules they are making up on the spot have no power behind them.

Hence this post.

Originally Posted by BuddhaPi

I politely asked him to pull out his mall cop manual and to show me the statute or to kindly have an official police officer come talk to me...he jingled the change in his pocket, turned a very deep shade of red and skulked away without another word..

This is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Be polite, calm, courteous and ask for the "rule" they are trying to enforce. If they refuse to then indicate that you are willing to take it to the next higher authority. If it happens to be a cop then ask to talk to their supervisor.

[Rolling Stone]

I just ignore them. They don't like it, they can call the cops and explain why they don't like me doing something legal.
I, of course, use common sense. I know where I can shoot and where I can't or probably shouldn't. I also prefer to respect the privacy of others.

[KansaiGreenie]

In Japan we don't really have this problem. I don't know of anyone who has ever been harassed for taking photos. The only instance I can think of when photography is banned is inside temples/museums that have artifacts that are sensitive to light (apparently not everyone knows how to turn off the flash, so they banned photography outright). Using a tripod is often banned inside gardens and parks because they get in the way, but you can take hand held shots.

I don't think that this would work in many places in the world, but it is well known among ex-pat community here in Japan that if you round afoul of a rule or law, you can often get out of it by claiming to not understand Japanese. I've known people who have even gotten out of traffic tickets this way. (Personally, I tried to get out a parking ticket this way and it didn't work.)

But like I said, I doubt this would work anywhere else. I doubt in the U.S. you could get away with the "I don't speak English" excuse.

[hambino]

Originally Posted by KansaiGreenie

In Japan we don't really have this problem...The only instance I can think of when photography is banned is inside temples/museums that have artifacts that are sensitive to light (apparently not everyone knows how to turn off the flash, so they banned photography outright)

They never let me take pics in Yodobashi but when I had some friends come to visit I snuck a few good ones in while they were playing in the exercise equipment section hehe

[ravncat]

It`s worth noting (as I understand it, and I need to find the source of the information, because I`ve forgotton it in the last 4 years here) that you "legally" need the permission of people you are photographing, even if in a public place, in japan. Like most things in japan, it`s pretty laissez faire so it`s not enforced, but be wary if anyone starts yelling at you for taking their photograph.

[tuxcomputers]

No no no!!!!! This thread was not to discuss whether or not you can take photos in certain locations, please stop and do that in another thread. I don't care if it is only legal to take photos up womens skirts if you are standing on your head in outer upper northern section in Southern province of inner Mongolia. There are thousands of places you can find out information for a specific activity in a specific location in specific countries.

This was to discuss how do you deal with someone that is telling you to stop when you already know that you are allowed.

Please stay on topic.

[KansaiGreenie]

Sorry tuxcomputers....

My point was that where I live, a way to deal with someone telling me I couldn't take a picture even though I'm allowed to is to simply act like I didn't understand the language and the security guard or police officer would most likely just walk away. But that tactic would not work in most other places In the world.

KG