At the Mall today - Huh?

[candidrachel]

I have set myself a new challenge! I am still doing the 365 but now I am photographing all the letters of the alphabet by finding letters or objects that look like letters in and around the environment. There is certain criteria that needs to be filled with using colour, shape, texture and lighting.

Anyway, I was in the shopping centre today photographing the golden arches of MacDonalds (that represents the letter M) when over the tannoy was "customers are reminded that photography is not permitted in the Chantry Centre". I thought since when??? I am sure the management make up the rules as they go along. Its totally ridiculous!

Here is the offending image and if someone can enlighten me why I cannot photograph this then you are one step ahead of me!

I understand No Smoking, No Skateboards, No food and drink, No scooters but photography! Give me a break!

[no.absolutes]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

I understand No Smoking, No Skateboards, No food and drink, No scooters but photography! Give me a break!

When I was in high school, before camera phones came out, I had this cute little Intel webcam that doubled as a digital camera. I took it everywhere and took pictures of everything. Well, I took it into Wal-Mart with me once and there was a makeup endcap that said something about "Bright eyes" on it. Well, Bright Eyes is/was one of my favorite bands, so of course I HAD to have a picture of it. No sooner than I took it, though, I got pounced by the managers of Wal-Mart, who wanted to ensure that I erased the picture. I've never been kicked out of anywhere in my life, and I was really scared. They made me stand around while they talked on walkie-talkies and stuff... weird.

So yeah, what IS the big deal about photography in certain places?!

[i speak in math]

I might not want you taking photos of things in and around my house.

Personal property: They can make whatever rules they want.

[kelleyrie]

I dunno, I thought pretty much anywhere you were legally allowed to be, you were allowed to take photos.

[BabetteKD]

In certain public areas you can take pictures. Places like malls are on a case by case basis. The mall near my home upstate doesn't care if you take pictures so long as you don't form a group of people. The large mall where I live now doesn't care one way or another and a mall by where I went to college only allowed photos during holidays and random promotional events.

[milosh]

I wanted to shoot in the West End mall in Budapest, but it's also not allowed. Didn't stop me though.

[candidrachel]

I bet they wouldn't have bothered with the tannoy if I had a point and shoot. I did get alot of support from fellow shoppers who all agreed that its STOOPID! Got the shots I was after so can't complain that much.

Where does it say No Photography?!

[RichardTaylor]

It's privately owned property.
Here in Australia they generally do not allow photography and you can be asked to leave if you continue to do so after being asked not to.
If you don't leave they can use "reasonable force" to remove you and you can be legally banned from entering again

The PDF here may be of help for those in the UK in the UK.
UK Photographers Rights v2 — Sirimo Photo

[OsmosisStudios]

It's private property so they can dictate what can go. I'll agree, though, that not having it on the board at the front like that makes it seem suspect. If you really want, you can always find the centres office and discuss things with the manager.

Remember, though, unless youve been served with a trespass, they cant ask you to delete images. You just cant publish it.

[Jim Poor]

1. Private property. They can make any rules they like.

2. The "Golden Arches" are a trademark which opens up a whole other can of worms.