I know, it's the same for me too. Although usually I have a visible erection at the time. Go figure.

do you look like a crack dealing bum? That might be the issue.

>>852830

Have been taken to the station multiple times - They cant do anything.

>>852830
What do they usually say?

>>852833
What rationale do they use?

Just curious on both posts. I don't usually lug a tripod around, so I haven't really had any experiences like that. I get eyed weird by cops all the time, but they never say anything.

Nope... and they always start with the same question:

"What'cha doin'?"

Like anybody would have a camera set up on a tripod for any other reason than taking pictures. The dickhead today asked why I was taking pictures. I said "oh, its just a hobby" and he laughed and said "psh... yea, some hobby!"

>>852833
>>852833
>>852833

Also as a good idea - you should print out your rights.. thats what I did. - They hate it - They give you a face like they had just been penetrated in the ass. Now they know they cant fuck with you.

Many municipalities (and really, any officialdom that can) like to charge professional photographers and film productions for a permit of some kind in order to let them shoot. And yes, a tripod is usually taken as a sign you're a professional under this bullshit.

It's seriously worse than pay parking.

>>852837
Do you have an image or pdf you can screenshit and upload? I'd imagine some cops would be deterred by that, but some are dicks and just don't give a fuck and will take you away for any random reason at all.

>>852839
That's bullshit too, is there any way to prove you aren't a pro?

>>852840
ken rockwell does it pretty well

Sounds like cops around you are cunts.
I was shooting in an industrial area one night, doing ~7-10min exposures with a 4x5. A cop comes along and just enquires what I'm up to (like a good cop should). He initially thought I'd just finished work until he saw my tripod and camera. Then he asked quite politely what I was photographing, and left after apologising if he'd ruined my shot with his headlights.

OP here... I know they can't do anything because I'm doing nothing illegal, but it seems that I get questioned every fucking time I decide to take pictures.

The worst time was once I was taking pictures on the walking path of a bridge (I was facing the skyline of the city, not even taking pictures of the bridge) and a cop walked up and told me to leave. I was very polite and asked why I was being asked to leave and the cop replied, "I just don't want you standing here." Now, I am on what is considered a public sidewalk. I know I am doing nothing wrong. So, I said "look, I am not doing anything wrong, I am just trying to take some pictures. I don't know what I did wrong, but I am just enjoying my hobby."

So, the cop said "very well" and walked away. About 15 minutes later, I turn around and see 6 cops walking up behind me. I can not believe I didn't get arrested that night because I gave them so much lip. They started talking shit saying that it was illegal to take a picture of bridges because of the US patriot act (which says no such thing). Fuckin insane... I am super pissed.

cops are dicks everywhere. fuck 'em. take pictures of their badge if they bug you.

>>852840
>>852840

Just type "photography laws (country or state)" into google.

Im in Australia - if you are too go here.
http://www.artslaw.com.au/legalinformation/StreetPhotographersRights.asp

>>852844
>>852844
>>852844

Print out your rights........ Send 6 cops away feeling butthurt.

in a free country, i dont think that people should be harassed like this when there are legit things that the cops could be doing.

>>852848
i have them printed but i wasnt about to reach into my bag, i know them pretty well, which is why i think i didnt walk off of that bridge in handcuffs. then again, if you argue with the cops (even if they are wrong), you will get slapped with obstruction of justice, then when the cop says "put your hands behind your back" there is nothing you can really do unless you want to get slapped with resisting arrest.

It sucks when I say it, but I would almost rather just leave then spend the night in a jail cell.

The security guards at the Transamerica building yelled at me for taking photos with a tripod. I had my headphones on when he started yelling too so I guess he was getting really aggravated because he thought I was ignoring him. They told me I couldn't use a tripod but didn't seem to mind me taking photos at all. Weirdos.

Pic related, the photo I took as they were yelling at me

In certain places, they don't allow commercial photography without paying for a permit because of the upkeep and maintenance of the area. And the only way they discern between commercial and hobby is the equipment.

Me and some other Fili/p/inos were shooting at this old fort built hundreds of years ago in the Spanish colony era and we were asked to stop a bunch of times but the place is so big, we just moved to another part of the place and continued there each time. It was only at the end of the day that they really came down on us mostly because we had a light set up but we were done anyway.
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>>852854
Right, because putting a lightstand down ruins their precious lawn.

It's a moneygrab. Upkeep is a con job.

>>852854
>>852853
yea, I am not on private property when I am doing this... I am on public land/sidewalks. When in private areas, they can set whatever the fuck crazy photography rules they want. Some places don't want you to use a tripod due to a tripping hazard, but a lot of them are cool with a monopod... which kind of makes sense.

But if you are on public property and something is in plain view... fuck you, I can take a picture of it. Things can change when you attempt to sell that picture, but it still doesn't restrict you from taking the photo.

I don't understand why cops always treat you like you are suspicious because you own a nice camera.

In the same place, they allowed me to photograph all I want because I was alone and without models so I came off more as a tourist than a pro.

>>852853
Tripods tend to get in the way of people walking around. And to them, it's considered "setting up". They also don't allow tripods at zoos but monopods are okay.
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NYC law:

(2) The following activities do not require that a permit be obtained pursuant to this
chapter:
(i) Filming or photography occurring on City property, as described in subdivision (a) of this section, involving the use of hand-held devices as defined in paragraph three of subdivision (a) of § 9-02, provided that such activity neither involves the obstruction of one or more lanes of a street or walkway of a bridge, nor results in less than eight feet or one half of the width of a sidewalk or other public pedestrian passageway, whichever is greater, for unobstructed sidewalk use by pedestrian traffic.
3
(ii) Filming or photography of a parade, rally, protest, or demonstration except
when using vehicles or equipment.

What about a news reporter taking a picture? IMO, that is a professional, although the term "professional" is a pretty loose one in my mind. I've sold a picture or two to friends and family members, but I still consider it a hobby. So, does a news reporter need a permit to report the news? Fuck you constitution.

American cops sound like dicks.

>>852862
what about philly law? do you have anything about that?

>>852856
The Fort I shot in is public property but there is a maintaining organization. The idea is that if it's commercial photography, they think that you're earning off what you're doing while they don't get a cent for making the landscape pretty for you but they allow tourists who just want souvenirs.
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>>852865
kill yourself post-haste... press are still subject to the same bullshit regular photographers are subject to

>print up a bunch of copies of photographers' rights
Seriously are you all like 11 years old? Just know them. If a cop starts harassing you, cite the relevant part of the rights. Handing him a printed sheet of paper isn't going to make a jerk cop leave you alone.

OP, be polite. Tell him that you're just doing this as a hobby. Play innocent up until he pulls out handcuffs. Then inform him that you're aware of your rights as a photographer and on public grounds (whatever they are in your country/state/county/city).

Conscious, intelligent application of knowledge (of your rights) is a thousand times more effective than just printing a whole PDF out and tossing it in every cop's face.

say you're an art student needing to do this for a final/project

this worked for me all 20 times i've been confronted, just don't look shifty, and be cooperative/nice.

>>852861

There were literally like 3 other people on the street

>>852875

hmm... art student. i need to go get a beret, but i think that will work

>>852874
op here... that is what i normally try to do... the one night i was just so pissed off, i started giving them all kinds of lip. It just makes me not want to go out and take pictures anymore, which is something I truly enjoy. I shouldn't get a stomach ache every time I go out to take some pictures because I am afraid of getting arrested. Fucking fuck!

>>852875
This works great too. Since I shoot my city a lot, whenever I get questioned, like, right after I took this photo, I just say I'm an engineering student. You just have to be polite and come up with a convincing answer.
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>>852887
yea, i just dont think i should have to lie if i am not doing anything wrong.

being caught in a lie makes you look guilty.

>>852884
i get asked that a lot even by park police when i'm on a shoot with friends...
just say its for school, 95% of the time they'll leave you alone, 4% they'll let you take your last shot then leave, 1% dickheads

>>852884
Protips:
1) the cop has a fucking gun. If you can't be a little respectful then stay home.
2) cops deal with people who talk back at them all the time. Guess who tends to talk back. Criminals. So when you startmocking and bitching out the cop, he will invariably assume you're probably one of those criminals.
3) people in general won't know what you're doing and will ask. If answering those questions doesn't excite tiy, then stay home.

>>852884
just get a snooty goatee and have like 5 vente starbucks cups in your lenses utility belt rather than 5 lenses.

>>852889
>being caught in a lie makes you look guilty.
This.

On the opposite side of the coin, anyone meet any cool cops, security, or staff?
I talked to a janitor who also works a hall monitor guy for the local school and he let me into the school after hours to photograph the auditorium that was slated for demolition later that month. I brought in a tripod, two bodies, and a bag of lenses. He didn't give a shit - he told me to take as much time as I needed, and he even told me where to climb up to the catwalks above the auditorium. It made me happy to know that there are still sane people in the world.

>take pictures of their badge if they bug you.

It is illegal in 12 states to photograph a police officer on duty, even in a public space with no expectation of privacy.
Depending on the state this little piece of advice you just gave will result in a felony conviction and between 4-15 years in prison.

>>852899
You wanna come by tonight and photograph a cool auditorium tonight? Make sure you bring some friends.

>>852902
fucking really? that law is total bullshit

>>852893
>1) the cop has a fucking gun. If you can't be a little respectful then stay home.
I don't see what the hell that has to do with anything. Cops don't even draw their guns after running after a suspect. Pepper spray and a taser, maybe. A real gun? I doubt it.

Having the police force come under fire from the public due to a shooting involving a photographer is not worth it.

I was set up taking pictures looking down a street one day and a cop pulled up and started giving me shit. When I asked if I was breaking any laws, he said "nope, you can go about your business." and proceeded to pull up and parked right in front of my camera, which was a ridiculous position to park in. I said "excuse me, do you mind moving back a few feet?" and he said "oh, am I in your way, I didn't realize" and walked away, leaving his car there and laughing.

>>852912
yea, people are just afraid of people without guns... i dont fucking get it. if you shoot me for taking pictures, you have other problems on your hands.

>>852906

there have been about a million articles about it in the press journals over the past year or so, but it is starting to get out in the mainstream. I saw this article yesterday, but there are lots more out there;
http://gizmodo.com/5553765/are-cameras-the-new-guns

>>852899
op here... never ran into a cool cop... the best I can say is that I started talking to a meter maid one night. she was pretty cool. When I asked if I still had to feed the meters that late at night (because I hadn't), she said "everybody else does, but let me know what car is yours and don't worry about it.

When I got back to my car, there was a ticket envelope on my windshild... I was super pissed. I opened it up and it had a note in it that said "haha, gotcha!" There was no ticket.

>>852922
she wanted your cock. you missed out

>>852925
yea, i know... it was valentines day and we were having a conversation about being single. hate to say it because she was cool, but she was pretty ugly

>>852930
who cares? you can always pretend she is hot. vag is vag

>>852935
lol i can also pretend my hand is a hot girl... but i dig ya

I had a cop drive by and saw me and another photog taking pictures of an old building in the fucking historical district. a couple minutes later four cops responded, and they were really trying to be intimidating and threatening violence. They wanted to know why the two of us had cameras "like some creep".
They really tried to get us to leave, and threatened to arrest us for trespassing. When I pointed out it was a public sidewalk on a public street, they said it wasn't public, it was city property, that I was trespassing, and that they hadn't given me permission to shoot there. I said if that was what they thought then they should arrest me and state that reason in their report. That got them to leave pretty quickly.

>>852936
damn bro, my imagination is not THAT good

The only time I've ever been hassled by the man was when I was on railroad property, and they asked me to leave. I obviously wasn't fucking with anything, I was just looking for graffiti.

I've never been hassled. I've had a tripod set up downtown/around campus/various other places. I guess the cops around here are more interested in nabbing kids for dimebags and underage drinking than hassling some schmuck with a camera.

If you're young, or asian, just say school project.
Works every time for me.

>>852938
yea, you hate to be a dickhead, but sometimes officer friendly makes it really hard on you.

>>852940
yep... you'd think they would be more interested in responding to actual crimes. i had a radio stolen from my car and i called them 7 times because i needed a police report for my insurance company. I finally left 4 hours later because I knew nobody was going to show up. That is most likely because they are fucking with photographers on the other side of town.

>>852837

Where can I find there rights
I want to print them as well :P

>>852953
>>852953
photographers right:
http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

a pretty nice pdf... study them and keep them with you but dont go reaching into your bag when you are getting harassed, the cops doesnt know what you are reaching for and will laugh in your face if you are reading a pdf

>>852830
1.) Know your rights
2.) If questioned answer honestly "I'm taking pictures for a class/hobby/etc"
3.) Be respectful, many people don't want their picture taken. So even though it is completely legal to take their picture, you might piss them off. If someone says they don't want their picture taken, just don't. I would rather keep my gear/body intact.
4.) If the police ask you to stop taking pictures, just stop. It doesn't matter what your rights are, he can/will arrest you if you mouth off. You can always come back another time

Jesus christ people its not that hard. Be respectful of other people/the police.

>>852956
>>852956
>4.) If the police ask you to stop taking pictures, just stop. It doesn't matter what your rights are, he can/will arrest you if you mouth off. You can always come back another time

If you aren't doing anything illegal, why should you leave? I know you are "just taking pictures", but there is quite a slippery slope there.

>>852956

What's the point of #1 if you're just gonna do #4?

I'm not going to mouth off to a cop, but I'm not going to just stop if I'm not doing anything wrong.

>>852956
I don't know about number 4. You should always be polite to police (and not the douche-y sarcastic-y polite, I mean be sincere) but you shouldn't ever have to yield your rights because some officer has no idea what he's talking about.

>>852959
I like to not get arrested... idk but thats me. You can mouth off to a cop and cite your rights all you fucking want, I have no desire to be a martyr

>>852969
I don't really know what I would do if a cop started getting confrontational. I don't know, a lot of the guys who have problems just sound like dickheads when you hear them in interviews or behind their camera. If I was arrested for something that isn't a crime, I'd probably just tell the local paper and they would go batshit crazy over it since they eat that shit up.

I talked to another local photographer when this first happened to me and he said it happens to him all the time. He told me to keep the phone number to the local tv station in my cellphone and told me that a few cops were trying to intimidate him into leaving a place one night, and he said he called the news tipline and said "hello, fox? i am at such and such a place taking photographs from the sidewalk and i am being asked to leave by the police, my civil rights are being violated, can you send a news van out here?" He said he didn't even get the entire sentence out before the cops said "have a nice day" and left him alone.

I don't know if I would want to try that, because the cops may not take so kindly to it, but it it pretty creative. I've since kept the phone numbers to 3 news stations tiplines in my phone.

>>852969
Yea, but if a cop wants to arrest you, he is going to find a reason to arrest you. So, why should you bow to their every demand if you are doing nothing wrong?

>>852975
you are aware of how much of a faggot u sound like, no?

Police Cop here, saw this thread didn't read everything but as a fellow photog allow me to give ya'll some pointer when dealing with 5-0.

Be polite but firm, you are not breaking nay laws simply by photographing in public. There is no REASONABLE suspicion, the cops have no real reason to detain you.

Without a warrant they have no legal authority to search your property. This includes the image files in your camera. Be polite and firm as you refuse to consent to a search without a warrant.

You are not required to carry ID unless you are activly driving a motor vehicle (IN CALIFORNIA ANYWAY). Don't simply hand over your Id because the cops asks for it. Instead ask him "Am I legally required to provide you with my identification?"

Just a few pointers, use at your own discretion, beware most cops are honest and it's most likely you'll never talk to them if you don't break the law. Some cops are dickholes, and these guys are the ones running around asking everyone what they are doing.

I hate those guys, they give us all a bad name.

If you in San Diego an a cop comes up and wants to talk shop, be friendly, it's most likely me.

>>852980
Not in San Diego, but thanks for the protips. I have a crazy aunt who ive met only once who lives there. She leeches off the gov't (been doing it for years) and sells baloon animals to children waiting in line for shows or some shit... so if you ever come across this crazy bitch, i dont fuckin know... taze her or something

This whole "you have rights" talk made me laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH9k8L3oDa4

>>852985

How bout I pop her balloon animals, with my tazer?

>>852996


do ittttttt

>>852899
>>852899
>>852899

I talked to a cop and it was his first night on the job. He let me take pictures while he arrested a drunk girl that had just been tackled by bouncers and her face got cut open. After she was in cuffs they politely let me take their portraits.

Was cool.

>Jesus christ people its not that hard. Be respectful of other people/the police.

The difficulty is getting the police to be respectful of their subjects, in what they now generally consider to be basically a large open-air prison. 'To Protect and Serve' is so last century.

>>852996
That sounded oddly sexual

The state courts are fairly regularly upholding prosecutions and convictions now based on laws that clearly are not relevant to photography, or that sometime aren't even actual laws.
The writing on the wall is pretty clear that our rights don't exist when it comes to the police.

Deal with it or move to a free country. Almost every first world country and many third world ones are much more free than this one, it isn't like its hard to find one.

>>852830

ONLY TERRORISTS TAKE PHOTOS

Seriously, in the past people would just assume you're taking a photo for some innocent reason (maybe he's a photog?) but now if you're taking photos in public you're either a pedo/stalker or terrorist scouting locations.

Have some cheap business cards made, saying you're a photographer, if people stop and ask pull one out and say here I'm a photographer now go away kthxbai

>>852980
>> Don't simply hand over your Id because the cops asks for it. I

ha ha lol whut

welcome to Amurica, land of the not free:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0622/p01s01-usju.html

I wonder if you'd have less incidents if you wear those khaki vest things. Maybe I should invest in one.

>>852830
I don't have this problem, but don't get me wrong - the cops around here are dickheads, just for other reasons.

HELLO

I'm from Norway and only once have I been in trouble for shooting pics and that was when I took some pictures of a friend that jumped off a 60 meter (200 feet) building with a parashoot. And then they only wanted to know his name and if he was OK.

I've only been confronted once, by a beloved african immigrant who got pissed because I took his picture. He was selling CD's on the street and was probably and illegal so it kinda makes sense, I'd probably freak out if I was him too. He didn't even speak spanish so he starting yelling weird things, I apologised and walked away.

>>852837
Ha ha, yeah I do this.

I get this too, taking pictures of trains.

>>853132

but you're from norway, and it's awesome in norway

troll post
9/10
you forgot to bash cops in OP post

move along everyone

Theyve only ever told me to leave a premesis because i was on someones land which they werent using so i figured i could take photos on it. Made sense to me.

I got asked by some security guard at the AVE train station to stop taking pictures not long after buying my dslr.

Yeah yeah, taking pictures of highspeed train stations, terrorism, bombs, whatever. But he only asked me to stop and no one else. It's times like those I hate being black.

>>853454

Bought a DSLR? Must have been a good week on the corner.

>>854196
Must be. Since i´m buying a 5Dmkii.
Moar stories!

>>854271
stealing a mark2...oh wait.. i did that. disregard this

I was shooting by some train tracks (easily 20+ feet away) under a bridge when a construction worker walked by and told me to leave or "the railway cops will throw [my] ass in jail". I wasn't getting anything good anyway, so I just left.

I'm from a small town with one train railway that goes through it and I walk on these tracks all the time, so I didn't really get it. I didn't even know there was such a thing as "railway cops".

>>852869
In philly,the law isn't even considered. They have the say so law. No matter what the hell you ask them.... it's "because I say so." They are the most fucking corrupt assholes on the east coast. They are hardly even literate much less ready to cite legal precedent. Taking pictures almost anywhere AROUND philly is usually problem free. Try montgomery or bucks county. Most all philly cops ARE cops just because they're just too stupid to do anything else.

Basically, when a cop tells you to do something, you have two options

1) Do as he says
2) Assert your rights and hope that your arrest will lead to a change in law enforcement across the country/around the state.

Option 1 means bending over for the cops. Option 2 involves such naive idealism that it might be prohibitive.