2010.09.04
My humble take on photograpers & the Police
As a keen and semi-professional photographer I monitor with great interest the apparent rise in cases of persecution by the police in public places.
I've seen videos and read reports of some wholly disgraceful treatment of innocent photographers and it strikes me that standing up for one's rights just makes matters worse.
Though I've never been officially stopped and searched I have been engaged by PCSOs and politely asked what I'm taking photos of. I tell them and they go on their way. While I am willing to stand my ground on some subjects I don't think being militant in your defense is going do you much good so here are the simple rules I go by:
- I am happy to give my name, but only to the Police
- I am happy to give my address, but only to the Police
- I am happy to show some ID (eg. drivers license), but only to the Police
- I will even attempt to explain why I am photographing something
- If on private property and asked to stop, I will, without question
- On public property I will not stop
- I will not delete photos or allow others to delete photos
- I will not hand my camera or other equipment over to anyone
photography
Witty rejoinders
Andy Blair (thelastromantic)
2010.11.18, 12:49
Oops. Clearly I needed some [
] tags in here....
Andy Blair (thelastromantic)
2010.11.18, 12:50
Doh. Can't put <.p.> properly (without the .'s) in a post either without it obviously disappearing. Arse. I had a late night last night....
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Andy Blair (thelastromantic)
2010.11.18, 12:48
www.andyblair.co.uk
I had a similar thing happen to me in NYC. Obviously, as you'd expect in one of the most photographed cities in the world, taking a photo is verging on collusion with terrorism. My camera and I became a 'public concern' as I was photographing areas around Ground Zero as two, rather scruffy looking NYPD officers - one chewing hard on a massive pretzel - took particular interest in me whilst twiddling their thumbs and masticating. Despite the fact that at least 400 other people were also taking photos immediately around me, the fact I had a 70-300mm zoom made me out to be some kind of voyeur on the subject of extremism and they waved me on whilst my companion nipped into the loo of the shopping mall opposite the site. 'How long have you been in New York for?' asked the pretzel guzzler. 'Just flew in yesterday' I replied. 'Where are you going to put those photos?' he asked, glancing over my head and towards two girls sat gleefully hitching their skirts up to sit on the corner of some raised steps... 'Just for personal use..they're holiday snaps'. 'Well, just be careful - this is a memorial, not a tourist attraction' said the other officer. Little did he know that I was already aware that the site had been used as justification for one of the single most unlawful invasions by UN affiliated western armies and that the images taken plastered liberally across the world as a propaganda against pretty much anyone not directly trading oil with the US or buying US military hardware to 'protect the peace'. Memorial? Yes it certainly is. When it suits you. You blaggard. I hesitated momentarily, acknowledged their comments, smiled, put my camera down and walked back over to the mall. The only moment of frustration in an otherwise excellent experience on US and Canadian soil. They should have seen my pictures from Russell Brand and Helen Mirren's shoot for the new remake of Arthur outside Grand Central! By golly you could see her blouse...