Photography is NOT a crime

[unique one]

So I came across this today. I thought it was pretty interesting and I have gotten in trouble with the cops for taking pictures too, so I know how that photographer feels. My trouble was not as bad as this guys though. This guy was going to be facing a year in jail.

Here's a sentence that best describes Carlos Miller's website.
"Carlos Miller and his blog Photography Is Not A Crime has to be the best blog I have come across to date that documents the ongoing battle that photographers and videographers are facing in increasing numbers." Hodson Report

[Chaotic Beds]

Ridiculous.

I don't know how much good it would do in a case like that, but I keep a printed out copy of photographer's rights stashed in my camera bag, just in case...

[Jim Poor]

While I support the basic premise that PINAC advocates, their methods are brutish and lacking in sophistication.

They basically go looking for trouble, cause trouble and then whine when they get trouble. There are better ways to go about it.

The particular case referenced is definitely one that was absurd, but if you watch the majority of their posts and clips, they escalate and provoke rather than advocate.

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

While I support the basic premise that PINAC advocates, their methods are brutish and lacking in sophistication.

They basically go looking for trouble, cause trouble and then whine when they get trouble. There are better ways to go about it.

Agreed, but...

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

The particular case referenced is definitely one that was absurd...

Originally Posted by Chaotic Beds

Ridiculous.

I don't know how much good it would do in a case like that, but I keep a printed out copy of photographer's rights stashed in my camera bag, just in case...

If you read the article a little closer, you will see these parts...(quoted from the article)

It all started on February 4 when Lara agreed to meet a couple of graffiti artists for a photo project he was working on.

The three men entered the yard of an abandoned building in a commercial area of South Central Los Angeles where the men began tagging the wall with Lara photographing them.

And...

At one point, a police helicopter flew overhead with a spotlight, so the three men hid. The helicopter came back minutes later and spotted them.

The photographer knew in advance that he was going to accompany two individuals that were going to break the law. By doing so, and to photograph it, he became part of the law breaking act. Being a photographer doesn't exempt you from the law no more than it does for someone calling themselves an "artist" while defacing property of which they don't own.
Otherwise, why try to hide from the police?

Sorry, but I don't think this is a good example to use in the battle for 'Photographers' Rights'.

[Chaotic Beds]

Good point - I admittedly only skimmed through some of the details.

I did pick up that the photographer could be seen as an accomplice to a crime - hence, "I don't know how how good it would do in a case like that" - but didn't realize the full extent of involvement. What I'm not clear on is whether the photographer planned this and convinced the artists to do do some graffiti to benefit the photographer, or just came along to something that was going to be done anyway. Whether he was the "mastermind" of the crime or not.

Either way, I still think the felony charge is a bit harsh, but that was ultimately reduced... and the police were definitely in the wrong to refuse giving back the equipment, they were ignoring a court order...

[J. r. Weems]

Barring every thing else--- if you are caught hunting out of season, or with a spotlight around here, they can take you car, rifle, and ANYTHING else in the vehicle, including your clothes. I would think however they would have to obey a court order. However, as we all know, they are simply above the law of normal expectance.

[navcom]

We all know that there are zealous law enforcement officers out there but there are zealous photographers as well. I do believe it is rare on both sides though. Having a brother that is a law enforcement officer and also being involved in search and rescue and EMS over the years, I have many friends and associates who serve in law enforcement as well. While abusive cops are out there, most cases I've seen or heard usually amount to someone being caught in an illegal act and not wanting to admit it...rather they cry abuse in an attempt to put the blame elsewhere.

Unfortunately I've read several of these photographer's rights cases on the internet and initially thought in favor of the photographer only to find out later that "the rest of the story" was left out and it became an obvious case of an activist trying to make the news. This is very infuriating to me as we all know that there are some legitimate cases of photographer's rights being violated and this type of grandstanding only serves to diminish the case of the legit ones.