Where Can I Take Photos?

[NicoleScraps]

So my kids go back to school tomorrow. Doing the happy dance here!! Yeah, I love 'em and stuff, but I am ready for them to go back to school. You know that old cliche "absense make the heart grow fonder?" It is TRUE!!
Anyways, I plan to spend at least one whole day a week going around to different locations and taking photos. I have been waiting for the free time so that I could get out there and practice.
So I am wondering, are there places that I cannot take photos? As long as I am not trespassing, am I cool? Feel free to go into as much detail on the subject as you like or to link me up with reference articles. I would very much appreciate any input.

Edited to be more specific: what I mean is, as long as my feet are not trespassing, can I photograph whatever I want, even if the subject is located on a private property. I am talking about landscape, cityscape, and wildlife type stuff, not standing at the edge of the fence outside of an elementary school or a federal facility. KWIM?

[RichardTaylor]

I don't live in the USA however I think you a are basically right. Keep in mind shopping malls may be private property. I would think twice about photographing some government buildings & children etc. Use common sense.

[jsherp]

I used to love the old Staples commercial that showed the kids sad about going back to school while Dad is dancing to "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

As to your question: Stay away from military installations! Those guys have no sense of humor!

Seriously, I try to stay on public roads/sidewalks as much as possible. There are several threads elsewhere on DPS dealing with overzealous security/police telling photographers they can't take pictures in various public places. I'll see if I can find them.

For me, if confronted by anybody about what I'm doing, I explain I am an amateur photographer and I happened to like whatever it was I was shooting. I recently had a gentleman follow me down the street after his wife saw me taking pictures in front of their house. I told him I was impressed with the stroller for SIX in the front yard. Turns out Mom ran a daycare (explains the stroller) and had a set of parents in the midst of a nasty divorce. She thought I might have been hired by one side or the other to take pics. I explained, and he was satisfied.

When I was in high school (a long time ago), I would walk around the housing area with my camera and snap pics of the children playing in their yards. I'd go home, process and print the pics in by bathroom darkroom, and then go and knock on their front door. Most parents would give me a couple bucks for pics of their kids. Today, as a post-middle-aged man, I avoid taking pictures of people, especially children! I will, on occasion, ask a parent if I might take a picture of their child, but only with their permission and knowledge.

A long-winded answer, I'm afraid. Hope it helps.

[cindy.marnell]

I like gardens. Lots of cities have public botanical gardens and the ones i've been to have been free to enter. Also, there's tons of oportunity in a small space.

Legally, you can't shoot federal buildings in any aspect and i'd stay away from private property.

[mad editor]

You can shoot govt buuildings in the US.
Unfortunately, some of the police and security guards like to take the law into their own hands.
Having worked in news all my life, I will always stand up to someone trying to take away my right to inform and to take photos.
Here is a PDF detailing your rights as a photog to carry around with you.
Bert P. Krages Attorney at Law Photographer's Rights Page

And here is a recent piece on the topic from the Washington Post.

Freedom of photography: Police, security often clamp down despite public right

Know your rights and do not allow ANYONE to confiscare your camera or delete your photos.

[Meadster]

Good advice here so far. my $.02 would be to add any local zoos as they are a treasure trove of photos ops if you have an interest in "shooting" animals. I also second the botanical garden idea - I have a membership to the Dallas Arboretum for just that reason.

As a teacher myself I'm now about to lose all my "free" time so I'm envious of you! Good luck in your shooting!

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by cindy.marnell

Legally, you can't shoot federal buildings in any aspect . . .

Sorry, but that is incorrect.

[NicoleScraps]

Thanks for all of the information guys! I don't plan on taking photos of anything questionable anyways, whether it is legal or not. The scenario I had in mind when I asked this question is say I run across a field of horses, as long as I am standing on a state owned road, am I okay to take photos of them? Or I see an interesting private building like a barn or a house, am I okay to photograph it as long as I do not trespass on their property?
I am going to look into finding a nice public garden. That sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, the nearest zoo is in DC and I doubt that my kids would forgive me if I went there without them.
I am super excited for October to come. I cannot wait to get some colorful fall landscape photos. We a lot of nice mountain views around here!

[lputman]

Sometimes, when seeing interesting private barns and houses, try to approach the owner. Many will be excited that you found interest in their property and might even give you free access.

I've done walks with friends in interesting parts of town and have photographed peoples' houses and yards from the sidewalk. I've only been asked by one property owner why was I taking pictures of his house. What makes it so bad is that I wasn't targeting his house because it was an awesome old house photograph or anything, I had just changed a setting on my camera and it happened to be in front of his house so I used his house to check the setting change.

[cindy.marnell]

Is it okay? The only reason I said that is because my best friend took a photography class as part of her art degree and they took them out to shoot downtown. When they dropped them off, they pointed to the federal building and said do not under any circumstances even look like you're shooting this building. It could have just been a misinformed teacher. I'm sorry for passing on incorrect information.