Today at a local park, my 10 year old daughter, a friend of hers and I were walking around, me with my cam and a 70-200f2.8 - her with a small digital video cam, taking pics. She and friend were scouting locations and developing scenes for a class movie. I noticed some boys playing roller hockey in the rink, so I took a few shots of them in action and went about my business taking shots of pinecones, thistles, rotting trees. Attempted to get a shot of an unfriendly dog, but he declined to pose. Walking towards the parking lot I see a police car driving into the field stopping near the rink. One of the skater boys goes to the car an dpoints to me. As the police car is between me and the parking lot, I intersect with the officer and he asks me to stop. He says that two complaints were called in about someone taking pictures of kids at the park. He goes on to describe me and my gear. I said "Well, that must be me." He tells me that taking pictures is not illegal, but that people are concerned. Wants my ID and phone number. OK, since I live in the jurisdiction, know a good number of the members of the police force, I just go with the flow and give up my ID.
I even offer to show him my shots, but he declines and shows surprise that it is digital. He then pretty much tells me it isn't a good idea to be in public with gear like that unless I want trouble.
So, it isn't illegal but we will make you miserable everytime you come out must be what he meant.
WTF? If I were a predator, would I be that obvious? No, I would have a little point and shoot or a cellphone cam.
Now as I look back on it, I get more and more irate. Why can't the police tell the complainants that it is not a crime and get a grip? If it isn't a crime, why did they need my ID and phone number?
My next feeling is to petition the local government to prohibit photography in public. Why not, I argue. If people are that concerned, it should be proscibed. Not constitutional, you say? Under the patriot act I bet they could get by with it.
Anyone else run into situations like this and how did you handle it?
Thanks for letting me vent.
Yea then once you show him the flyer he gets and attitude. I have a badge and you don't. Cops don't like it when you tell them the law. Times today just plan suck. If you take pictures you must be up to something. You take pictures of a building or a subway you must be wanting to do something to that place. Its not like you couldn't get a book on subways or on that building. People need to lighten up on things.
Taking pictures today is always going to cause a problem.
Thanks, I have that and should carry copies with me. The problem is not the police officer, he knew it was not illegal, it is the paraoniod, television drama traumatized public. If I called the cops on them every time I see one of them (John Q. Public, not a cop) with a P&S at the park, would they get it? No, I don't think so.
I am very much leaning towards going to the next city meeting and calling for a photo ban just to raise some hackles, but am afraid they may actually do it.
Most real police officers know the law. It's usually the security guard types that don't. I shoot all around the big town I live just outside of and I've never had a Chicago officer hassle me. If they approach me, I smile and give them a business card. Problem averted.
I should add, however, that I never point the camera at children I don't know, unless I'm doing a rare assignment for our local paper (like today) and I have a press pass. Then I get names. Most people are excited about the chance of being in the paper.
I should also add, that even when on assignment, I only photograph children who are accompanied by a parent and get their permission. I think you are asking for trouble otherwise.
Yep, if you have a professional looking camera you get noticed. Recently I was outside of a mall shooting in the parking lot away from the mall at a row of palm trees. They sent two security guards out to send me away.
Then a week later I was shooting a picture of some stuffed animals above a booth from a distance on the Santa Monica pier and they sent a security guard out to hassle me. There were a lot of tourists with point and shoots that were being ignored, but I got singled out.
Soon after that I had an assignment to shoot the Vincent Thomas bridge in San Pedro which is surrounded by the Port of Los Angeles. With all the news lately about ports and terrorists I was just waiting for the police to show up and cart me away even though I was on a public sidewalk.
Oh I used to get cretins in Britain coming up to me asking if I had a photography licence among other nonsense. I used to ignore them and eventually they'd go away.
I think shooting kids without their knowledge or permission is just looking for trouble. There are too many crazies out there and taking the cautious route is probably not a bad thing. If they were my kids, I would thank the person who reported this strange man photographing them.
chez wrote:
I think shooting kids without their knowledge or permission is just looking for trouble. There are too many crazies out there and taking the cautious route is probably not a bad thing. If they were my kids, I would thank the person who reported this strange man photographing them.
they were playing street hockey...
I have nothing against anybody photographing my stepson playing. I would, however, take a different view if they were trying to entice him by giving him sweets or persuading him to come with them. To me, it's just children at play. Too many people with too little to do come up with crazy ideas that paedophiles want pictures of clothed childern. They can get those anywhere - off virtually any highschool website. Paedophiles want to see naked children and children semi-dressed.
This is a big thing in the UK at the moment. Stupid paranoia fed by even more stupid politicians. I agree that photographing kids in public is asking for trouble, but it shouldn't be - paedophiles don't want to start attracting attention by taking pictures in public and it's a fact that the vast majority of them don't act on impulse but take time to groom and/or stalk their victims. A guy called me a pervert a few weeks ago when I was on a job in my city - working for the police! My response was to ask him why child pornography was the first thing that he thinks of of when he sees someone with a camera. That shut him up.
It's a coincidence that that I should find this post today as I was about to post a similar topic.
I don't understand why everyone think that photographer must be crooks. I live in a small country in the Caribbean. It seems that everyone thinks that a photographer is either a terrotist or a pornographer.
This morning me and two friend were prevented from shooting water lilies and alligators as they raise their heads to the surface of the water.
Anyone in a uniform who wants to impress or exercise some authority over you makes up impromtu laws why you should not take pictures some even threaten to damage and confiscate your equipment.
I can understand the anger expressed here However, the world can be a dark place and as a father of 2 little boys If I see you photographing them you should expect a confrontation of some sort. If it is a sanctioned sport and you are a parent of an athlete thats one thing but how could I possibly seperate you from John Q. Pervert? Remember we teach our children to be leary of strangers and I think the boys did what was safe. we should not be upset by the inconvience of childrens safety.
coarphoto wrote:
we should not be upset by the inconvience of childrens safety.
We most certainly should be upset. I can halfway see your point Victor being a father myself, but what has it come to when you can no longer appreciate the innocence of children at play. The issue speaks more of the thoughts by those who consider this to be bad for their children than those who truly appreciate their freedom and choose to put it on film.
How many people do you know that have pictures of their children in the bath-tub at a young age? Are they to be considered perverts as well? Besides these kids are playing street hockey in public! The parents have absolutely no right to complain and the officer had no right to confiscate the equipment. Shame on both of them for their self-righteous "morals".
I'm sorry if I have offended anyone with my post I'm just pointing out that the childrens safety is most important. If your child came home and said that there was a man at the park taking their picture you would'nt wonder about that? You don't think you deserve to asked beforehand? No equipment was confiscated and there is no reason not to cooperate for the sake of the kids.The idea that someone would petition the local government to stop public photography because of this Is ridiculous. I am not calling anyone a pervert I am saying that I don't know what a pervert looks like and therefore will not take any chances when it comes to my children.
My comment isn't so much about paranoia but familiarity....I've spent so much time photographing at the local college campus at very early and late hours that now when the campus security security sees me they frequently stop to chat and even ask me if I have seen anything unusual.....and like someone else mentioned, I'm quick to give them one of my cards.
