Can You Even Snap Off that Picture?
Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 11:41
What do you do if someone in authority (in a suit and tie, or in uniform) tells you that you cannot take photos in a certain locale, and you know he is wrong? You're between a rock and a hard place here. Sure, you can argue with the authority, and maybe eventually win your point, but not before you perhaps spend a night or so in jail, and maybe have your camera equipment confiscated.
The best way to handle altercations between authorities in public areas where you wish to shoot photos is to maintain an attitude of co-operation and friendliness. The old adage that you can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar was never truer than in this case.
It is also a good idea to get clarification in advance, from someone higher up than the on-site authorities. If you helpfully show a security officer on the scene a signed statement from the director of the park authority saying that you can take photos in a certain area of the park, that security officer is likely to immediately stop his harassment of you and let you go on about your business.
The actual truth of the matter is that the vast majority of private amateur photography needs no permits in any location. However, where the problem lies is in your intentions for the photographs you are taking. Maybe you are strictly an amateur photographer, but would have no hesitation selling some of your prints to a willing customer, such as the local newspaper.
The unfortunate thing is that most public venues do not even know what their own photography regulations require. And, a real unfair practice is that many of them do not post photography regulations in an area where you can see them before you possibly pay for an admission ticket to get in. Many ball fields engage in this practice. You will go into the stadium intending to take some shots for personal use only to find out after you have paid for your ticket and gone inside that there is no photography whatsoever allowed.
Another problem is that some venues have special "deals" with certain professional or semi-professional photographers for royalties on their photos. In order to protect these sometimes lucrative financial arrangements, the venues will not allow anyone else, even strictly amateur photographers to take photos at their venues. And the sad thing is that this sort of confusion is probably likely to continue, especially as more and more family type venues (such as ball parks, stadiums, national parks, etc.) adopt restrictive photography policies. The amateur can walk into one of these places and unknowingly "break the rules" by taking photos, and find their camera equipment being confiscated so that the film or the memory card can be removed. There is little we can do in this case other than to wait and pray our equipment is returned in working order, minus the film or the photos stored on the memory stick. So, to protect ourselves, it is always best to check the web or call the venue before heading out, to find out what their requirements regarding personal photography may be.
