Comments on: Pacific Park Must Clarify Their Photography Policy http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/ Miscellaneous Affronts To Your Assumptions Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:39:30 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Anthony Citrano http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-7115 Anthony Citrano Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:18:11 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-7115 As I mentioned in my email to you, I think I probably would have respectfully declined the ID request to see where we went from there. As I mentioned in my email to you, I think I probably would have respectfully declined the ID request to see where we went from there.

]]> By: Joel Fletcher http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-7114 Joel Fletcher Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:07:47 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-7114 I do a lot of time-lapse photography, and was getting some shots on the Santa Monica pier yesterday. These require a tripod of course. Anyway, there is a great overhead view of the beach from the pier, and I was lining up a shot. Two Santa monica police officers came up and said someone reported me for "suspicious activity", and started questioning me. They wanted ID and wrote up some sort of report, yet said I was not in trouble. Of course anyone with common sense could see I was just a photographer practicing his art. After getting my info, I asked them why they were stopping me, and the reply was I was free to go. I think I handled the situation just fine, but after reading up on the experiences of others in this situation there is one thing I would recommend. As soon as possible, politely ask the officer "are you being detained, or are you free to go?" It's possible that they have no real grounds to detain you, and be able to leave and spare yourself some aggravation. I'm not sure it would have worked in my situation, but it might have. I do a lot of time-lapse photography, and was getting some shots on the Santa Monica pier yesterday. These require a tripod of course. Anyway, there is a great overhead view of the beach from the pier, and I was lining up a shot. Two Santa monica police officers came up and said someone reported me for “suspicious activity”, and started questioning me. They wanted ID and wrote up some sort of report, yet said I was not in trouble. Of course anyone with common sense could see I was just a photographer practicing his art. After getting my info, I asked them why they were stopping me, and the reply was I was free to go. I think I handled the situation just fine, but after reading up on the experiences of others in this situation there is one thing I would recommend. As soon as possible, politely ask the officer “are you being detained, or are you free to go?” It's possible that they have no real grounds to detain you, and be able to leave and spare yourself some aggravation. I'm not sure it would have worked in my situation, but it might have.

]]> By: Anthony Citrano http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-7085 Anthony Citrano Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:18:11 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-7085 As I mentioned in my email to you, I think I probably would have respectfully declined the ID request to see where we went from there. As I mentioned in my email to you, I think I probably would have respectfully declined the ID request to see where we went from there.

]]> By: Joel Fletcher http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-7084 Joel Fletcher Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:07:47 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-7084 I do a lot of time-lapse photography, and was getting some shots on the Santa Monica pier yesterday. These require a tripod of course. Anyway, there is a great overhead view of the beach from the pier, and I was lining up a shot. Two Santa monica police officers came up and said someone reported me for "suspicious activity", and started questioning me. They wanted ID and wrote up some sort of report, yet said I was not in trouble. Of course anyone with common sense could see I was just a photographer practicing his art. After getting my info, I asked them why they were stopping me, and the reply was I was free to go. I think I handled the situation just fine, but after reading up on the experiences of others in this situation there is one thing I would recommend. As soon as possible, politely ask the officer "are you being detained, or are you free to go?" It's possible that they have no real grounds to detain you, and be able to leave and spare yourself some aggravation. I'm not sure it would have worked in my situation, but it might have. I do a lot of time-lapse photography, and was getting some shots on the Santa Monica pier yesterday. These require a tripod of course. Anyway, there is a great overhead view of the beach from the pier, and I was lining up a shot. Two Santa monica police officers came up and said someone reported me for “suspicious activity”, and started questioning me. They wanted ID and wrote up some sort of report, yet said I was not in trouble. Of course anyone with common sense could see I was just a photographer practicing his art. After getting my info, I asked them why they were stopping me, and the reply was I was free to go. I think I handled the situation just fine, but after reading up on the experiences of others in this situation there is one thing I would recommend. As soon as possible, politely ask the officer “are you being detained, or are you free to go?” It's possible that they have no real grounds to detain you, and be able to leave and spare yourself some aggravation. I'm not sure it would have worked in my situation, but it might have.

]]> By: Why the LAPD Stopped me From Taking Public Photos | KWWphoto http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6834 Why the LAPD Stopped me From Taking Public Photos | KWWphoto Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:17:01 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6834 [...] Pacific Park Must Clarify Their Photography Policy (Cosmic Tap, 1/18/09) [...] [...] Pacific Park Must Clarify Their Photography Policy (Cosmic Tap, 1/18/09) [...]

]]> By: US Bank Tower challenges photographers on a public sidewalk | Los Angeles Metblogs http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6832 US Bank Tower challenges photographers on a public sidewalk | Los Angeles Metblogs Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:26:14 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6832 [...] a similar note, Anthony Citrano grumbles that security at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier told him to stop shooting as his camera [...] [...] a similar note, Anthony Citrano grumbles that security at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier told him to stop shooting as his camera [...]

]]> By: Rose Skegg http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6830 Rose Skegg Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:50:24 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6830 I'm a college student studying photography and I have been similarly eyed down by security personnel while carrying around a large DSLR. I believe that I have never been bothered because I look like a young, harmless girl. They know nothing about my commercial sales or intentions. I have also seen many men shooting at tourist spots but when they are with family the security pays them no notice even if they have a large SLR with a huge lens and even a fanny pack filled with more supplies. It's completely biased. It's social profiling, being with family or being a woman makes it seem appear that you are no threat. Do you know of any family men or women being harassed in this same manner? I'm a college student studying photography and I have been similarly eyed down by security personnel while carrying around a large DSLR. I believe that I have never been bothered because I look like a young, harmless girl. They know nothing about my commercial sales or intentions. I have also seen many men shooting at tourist spots but when they are with family the security pays them no notice even if they have a large SLR with a huge lens and even a fanny pack filled with more supplies. It's completely biased. It's social profiling, being with family or being a woman makes it seem appear that you are no threat. Do you know of any family men or women being harassed in this same manner?

]]> By: Mitch http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6829 Mitch Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:44:55 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6829 Most any business establishment--even "public service" places like restaurants, hotels--- has the "right to refuse service" to anyone, and that includes informing you that you are on private property and that you can be asked to leave for any reason that does not violate some basic federal laws against discrimination (ie. you were asked to leave because you belong to some protected minority group). They should inform you that if you don't leave, they will consider it a trespass and call a law enforcement authority. I don't think professional or even amateur photographers are part of a protected group.<br><br>Combine this with the new times of living in fear and loathing brought on by politicians who attempt to win and justify their power by telling you that they must do everything possible to ensure your security. Especially if that means you happen to be photographing/videoing a public or private place/building, since it is clear to them your behavior is suspicious and intended to help terrorists (or you may have an innocent purpose, but the terrorists who acquire your video/images will not have such a purpose). And yes, I am being rather facetious in this paragraph.<br><br>To minimize the hassle, I probably would have signed their silly waiver or consent form, if my purpose was strictly pleasure and not professional. I don't know how much they have the right to their visual image as a business entity, as captured with photographic equipment. I doubt they will even pay the high-priced lawyers they need to take this to the upper levels of the court system to assert that "right." Most any business establishment–even “public service” places like restaurants, hotels— has the “right to refuse service” to anyone, and that includes informing you that you are on private property and that you can be asked to leave for any reason that does not violate some basic federal laws against discrimination (ie. you were asked to leave because you belong to some protected minority group). They should inform you that if you don't leave, they will consider it a trespass and call a law enforcement authority. I don't think professional or even amateur photographers are part of a protected group.

Combine this with the new times of living in fear and loathing brought on by politicians who attempt to win and justify their power by telling you that they must do everything possible to ensure your security. Especially if that means you happen to be photographing/videoing a public or private place/building, since it is clear to them your behavior is suspicious and intended to help terrorists (or you may have an innocent purpose, but the terrorists who acquire your video/images will not have such a purpose). And yes, I am being rather facetious in this paragraph.

To minimize the hassle, I probably would have signed their silly waiver or consent form, if my purpose was strictly pleasure and not professional. I don't know how much they have the right to their visual image as a business entity, as captured with photographic equipment. I doubt they will even pay the high-priced lawyers they need to take this to the upper levels of the court system to assert that “right.”

]]> By: Carlos Miller http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6828 Carlos Miller Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:49:27 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6828 Paul,<br><br>Seriously, dude, I think that is horrible advice. Especially considering you signed the document without reading it.<br><br>What if you ended up with such a cool photo that people wanted to buy it? And then you learn that Pacific Park owns the rights to your photo? Paul,

Seriously, dude, I think that is horrible advice. Especially considering you signed the document without reading it.

What if you ended up with such a cool photo that people wanted to buy it? And then you learn that Pacific Park owns the rights to your photo?

]]> By: Paul http://www.cosmictap.com/pacific-park-must-clarify-their-photography-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-6827 Paul Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:10:31 +0000 http://www.cosmictap.com/?p=1665#comment-6827 Hi Anthony - I have photographed at the pier many times with my Canon 20D using a short lens. Most times, the security guards said nothing. But one time, the fellow was nice but insisted I had to sign a form. I mildly protested, then went to the security office, showed my ID and signed the document ( I didn't bother to read it) and went on my way and shot for another hour. I've found that you must pick your spots in these battles with red tape. It was worth my while to sign the piece of paper and get back to my job/fun of shooting pictures. It is frustrating that such policies seem to be hit and miss depending on the mood of that paticular day's security staff. Hi Anthony – I have photographed at the pier many times with my Canon 20D using a short lens. Most times, the security guards said nothing. But one time, the fellow was nice but insisted I had to sign a form. I mildly protested, then went to the security office, showed my ID and signed the document ( I didn't bother to read it) and went on my way and shot for another hour. I've found that you must pick your spots in these battles with red tape. It was worth my while to sign the piece of paper and get back to my job/fun of shooting pictures. It is frustrating that such policies seem to be hit and miss depending on the mood of that paticular day's security staff.

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