Occupy Photography!?

November 9, 2011 @ 2:37PM

Occupy Photography!?

Be Informed!!!

By John Neel

© John Neel

Occupy Photography!

I have edited this post to clarify my position.

Your camera can be used as a tool for democratic expression.

Use your camera to voice your concerns about the current state of our democracy.

Occupy Wall Street seems to have sparked a national discussion against big corporations as well as changes in government. Photography is another voice that we can all use to assess our freedoms or lack there of. In the fight for our rights as citizens, we can use our cameras to record those things which we need to correct about our world and our government. The camera can be a tool for positive change.

But be careful… know your rights.

The law according to the ACLU -

Taking photographs of things that are plainly visible from public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties. Unfortunately, there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs from public places, and harassing, detaining and arresting those who fail to comply. Know Your Rights: Photographers | American Civil Liberties Union

Filming and Photographing the Police

You Have Every Right to Photograph That Cop

Your Rights and Remedies When Stopped or Confronted for Photographyhttp://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf - Source - http://www.krages.com/

Carlos Miller -... writes many posts regarding photographers and the law. I would rely on his expertise regarding the photographing of questionable subject matter.

This past week, I experienced the following:

A fellow photographer and I were innocently photographing a beautiful building at night that was part of a local reservoir. Little did we know, that it was off limits for taking photographs. It wasn't long before the police had us pulled over for questioning. It turns out that we were taking photographs near a vital resource. Like in the movies, we were followed and surrounded by at least four flashing police cruisers. We were questioned and warned. For all we knew, it could have been much worse.

Regardless of the law, the police are not always in compliance. it is important to know what they can and cannot do to restrict your ability to photograph in public places.

There are many other ways to show your concerns about the issues. Your camera can be used as a tool for democratic expression. Use it wisely! But, know your rights!

THIS POSTING AS WELL AS ANY OR ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND GALLERY IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT - © JOHN NEEL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AND ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR ANY PUPOSE WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE WRITER, THE PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR PIXIQ.

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Comments

Michael Corbin

6 months ago

John, meet Carlos Miller. Yes, right here on Pixiq. Surely you are joking, right, John?

John, you definitely need to read Carlos's Photography Is Not A Crime blog. As Carlos would point out to you, were he here right now, there isn't a single case anywhere on this planet of terrorists photographing a potential target before attempting to attack it. Not one. Al Queda has never done it. Al Shabab has never done it. There is no evidence whatever that either of the attacks on the World Trade Center were preceeded by photographs. Timothy McVeigh didn't do it. The shoe bomber, Terry Richardson didn't do it.

John, PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF a little and read Carlos's blog. That's the tip of the iceberg.

John, the four police cruisers and multiple cops who warned you away from the local reservoir were full of bullfeathers and bluster. THEY FLAT-OUT LIED TO YOU, John. Had they arrested you, there is no crime they could have charged you with, save the catch-all "contempt of cop" . . . er . . . "disorderly conduct." PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT A CRIME. Especially if you were on public property at the time.

Michael Corbin

6 months ago

Hey, by the way, John, have you actually gone to the department of homeland security web site to which you linked? Guess what, I can't find the word "photo" anywhere on that site.

crazyredwizard

6 months ago

"Please be advised that there are places where you can be stopped and questioned or even arrested for shooting pictures or video."

This is true. Those include places where you are trespassing. If there are signs saying "No Trespassing - Reservoir Watershed Area" and you go past those signs then can get yourself in trouble. However that doesn't have anything to do with having or using a camera. If there is nothing denoting that it's an area you're not allowed to be in then you can't be held accountable for being there. If you are legally allowed to be there then you can also take pictures. If there is a fence and you stay outside the fence and take pictures through it (note- climbing so you can take pictures over it may be different) then you are within your rights.

Saint Ola

6 months ago

Dude! We are talking about photography, not trespassing.

Glyph

6 months ago

John, I have to disagree with you. Learn to stand up to cops, stand up for your rights.

Ken Bankers

6 months ago

Dude you can PHOTOGRAPH any thing that is in the public view. I do mean anything. If you are standing on PUBLIC land to take a photo and there is no exspectation of privacy GUESS WHAT? You can take a picture. Show me one LAW that says i cant and i will prove you wrong because i have the 1st 2nd and 4th amendments witch trump ANY STATE OR LOCAL LAWS. sorry man get your facts straight befor you deside to post BS like this.

Edited since last edit

I would like to thank you for editing this to reflect actual Law. I do apologize for my earlier comments
It takes a real Person to admit when they made a mistake. I would like to thank you Very much for this John Neel.