rules about taking pic in public

[palmtree429]

I'd like to start taking my camera with me everywhere I go and take more candid shots of things out in public, but I have no idea if there are any rules to this. For example, if I was in a store, would I be allowed to take a pic inside or do I have to get permission? And how does one take pics of people on the street without getting in trouble?
I'd rather get the skinny on this before I go out and get in trouble for something stupid!

Thanks!
Sam

[jdepould]

For the U.S.

Public = free to shoot anything except military installations and dept. of energy sites.

Stores and shopping malls are private property, and they never let anyone shoot because they're facists. Don't bother trying.

GENERALLY, it's OK to assume you're allowed to shoot on private property unless otherwise instructed. If someone asks you to stop, you're obligated to comply, or it's trespassing, but you're not obligated to delete what you've already shot (though you may feel ethically obligated to do so). If signs are posted prohibiting photography ... well, as in all things try to exercise reasonable judgement.

If all else fails, act like you're stupid. People will get sick of you and just tell you to get lost--worked for me when a customs agent in Sierra Leone wanted a bribe I wasn't interested in giving her.

Most images probably aren't worth the effort of arguing, but at the same time, you don't want people to think they can dictate your actions.

Ethically, if someone asks not to be photographed it's best to just find another subject. If they're a public figure, then it may be a different argument, but I don't think we're talking about news photography here.