Have you ever been stopped while shooting?

Harryb

Hi Y'all,

I keep seeing threads appear every now and then about how someone got hassled while shooting. I figured maybe if we started a thread where all of
these marvelous experiences could be complied together might be fun.

I've been stopped and hassled so many times I've lost count. My favorite happend in 2004 in NYC when I was shooting with Andy. Here's the post I made about it on the old STF forum at DPR



" Just got home from shooting with my bud, Andy. I have to tell you it ain't getting easier with the lad. We were finishing up and riding the subway to Grand Central. We were standing in the subway car reviewing our pics on our cameras when we were approached by the conductor. The conductor looked out of sorts and he told us we couldn't take pictures. Now I knew this wasn't true because I had checked the MTA website and the only restriction is against tripods which we didn't have today.

I didn't want to argue with the dude so I said OK we won't take any pictures. Andy told the man we were only looking at the pics we had taken already. This seemed to annoy the man and he left us. At the next stop the doors of the car remained open and then I heard a voice asking "please get off the train". I looked up to see two cops and wondered who they were talking to. Then I saw Andy get off the train so I got off too.

The cops wanted to know what we were doing. Then they wanted to know who we worked for. When we told them we were amateurs they asked where did we work from? This was easy so I let Andy answer "NYC we live here". The cops explained that they had received a complaint and had to check on it. We said Ok. They said bye. We got back on the train which was being held in the station until our interrogation could be completed and everybody was staring at Andy (that I could understand). "

Andy

"I'm just a hobbyist officer. Just shootin' for fun."

Lots fewer questions this way

Harryb

Andy wrote:

"I'm just a hobbyist officer. Just shootin' for fun."

Lots fewer questions this way

Never, never say that you are a pro.

Andy

Harryb wrote:

and the only restriction is against tripods

tsk1979

Just once in the US
Had just shot this in Irvine

Couple of old fellas came over.
Asked for ID, I told them I was a foreigner, and passport was in hotel room.
Asked to see the pictures. Were happy to see them. Then casually asked where I was from.
I guess they came because if you are in a parking lot with a tripod it looks odd to them...?

gus

I get left alone :cry no one has ever pulled me up anywhere. Maybe things are a bit slacker over here.

tsk1979

gus wrote:

I get left alone :cry no one has ever pulled me up anywhere. Maybe things are a bit slacker over here.

Here is where?

EDIT: Oh, Oz

dragon300zx

Well I don't have as good a story as you yet Harry but I'm sure I'll get there. I do however have a cop story.

Last year while shooting some girls in bikini's I was trying to get them against the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">detroit</st1:place></st1:city> city skyline (yeah I know boring but it was a client request) and one of the locations I was trying to shoot from was on Belle Isle. Here's the catch, there is no photography allowed at all on belle isle without a permit from the city (I knew this but I do alot of things I'm not supposed to



Thanks to greaper for the proof). Not even for amateurs, if they see a camera they ask you to leave. Well apparently some one who didn't appreciate the slow down we were causing on the bridge with all the guys rubbernecking to see the girls in a bikini's called the cops. Up rolled a cop car with one of the greatest <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Detroit</st1:place></st1:city> cops I have ever met.

Cop: Hey guys what’s going on....
Me: Not much officer just taking some pictures for one of my classes (I have a variety of student id's).
Cop: That’s cool, I have to tell ya though your really not supposed to be here and I did get a complaint.
Me: I'm sorry officer I didn't know that :dragon
Cop: It's no big deal really but I was told I had to tell ya to leave, so do me a favor and just finish up soon don't be here all day but if your here for another couple hours that should be ok. I'll tell all the other guys (cops) on the island that I talked to you and to let you be for now. So just don't be here all day please.
Me: Thank you very much officer I'll make sure we finish up soon.
Cop: Have a nice day.
(dialogue paraphrased)

Moral of the story.... Always have girls in bikini's with you on your shoots. The cops may still stop, but if your lucky enough to get a male cop your odds of not getting hassled improve.

Photog

I was shooting a documentary in Vietnam.

We had the usual government "minder" with us. I was using my broadcast gear (bigass camera).

So we show up at the location of what was a former US base. Plenty of US vets and tourists there with their cameras and camcorders. I get out of our hired van and start to head towards the tourists. Government official stops me, waggles a finger at me. Can't shoot here.

I ask the minder--why is it that the American tourists are over there in droves but I'm being kept here?

The minder points to my camera and says "because they are tourists...you are media."

So I said "if I had a smaller camera could I go over there?"

He said "probably".



It was about that time that I wished I had brought a consumer camcorder with me. After that, I usually did.

I can't recall ever being tossed out of an area here in the US that I didn't anticipate being tossed out of anyway.

kdog

Harryb wrote:

Never, never say that you are a pro.

So would offering your business card to the officer be a no-no?

Cheers,
-joel

Bodwick

kdog wrote:

So would offering your business card to the officer be a no-no?

Cheers,
-joel

He might just beat you to it....

TIMES

“Where are you moving to?” the officer growled. I told him. He reached under the dashboard and produced something black and heavy . . . an embossed business card with his name, badge number and mobile phone number written in a white Art Deco typeface on the front. “When you’ve moved, give me a call, I’ll introduce you to the neighbourhood,” he said. With that, Police Officer III + I Ralph Sanchez, Hollywood Division, buzzed up his window and rolled away.

System

Ironically yes, and it was outside Union Station here in Chicago. It was one of my first forrays in to the city with my new camera (first dSLR) last July. I was shooting the taxi's in this really wonderful post storm light and the METRA coips told me I could no loiter around the station. They wanted ID and to know why I was shooting. I happened to not have any ID but told them I live 4 blocks away which seemed to calm them down a bit. I can understand why they are nervous in the post 9/11 world and try not to spend too much time in one place around the station anyore. It's still one of my favorite locations to shoot as the architecture and human traffic is some of the ebst in the city.



I still really love this shot and just wish I had the eye at the time to not get half a man in the frame.

dogwood

kdog wrote:

So would offering your business card to the officer be a no-no?

You try handing a business card to guys dressed like this!

Seefutlung

28693897-M.jpg
During my tenure as a news photog not only have I been harassed for photography ... but I've also been arrested.

This is not a photo of me. This is a shot of an AP guy under arrest. The cops arrested me for taking a photo of them arresting him.

Across four continents I've been harassed, threatened, detained, shot at, attacked, chased and followed for taking snaps. But this was the only time I was arrested. And it was at a sporting event in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Orange</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> ... lol.

The Anaheim Angels finally made penant consideration (play offs) for their first time. The locals went crazy, ran onto the field and started running around, stealing the bases and generally just going nuts. The <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anaheim</st1:place></st1:city> Police hit the field and started macing all the kids running the bases.

The cops restored order and I was heading out to catch my deadline ... when I spotted the police hauling off this AP photog. Instinctively, I snapped a few of my fellow colleague for the record showing the police shoving his face and cameras into the concrete corridor. When George spotted me he barked out some telephone instructions and I proceeded to follow his arrest ... when the long hand of the law attempted to block the camera and apprehend me at the same time (photo above).

Interestingly, the Anaheim Police were so completely anti-media, that the matter went to trial where I was found innocent. The DA then dropped all charges against the AP Photog.

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Gary</st1:city></st1:place>

wxwax

Geez, bunches of times, but never the high drama you guys enjoy.

Harryb

Seefutlung wrote:

28693897-M.jpg
During my tenor as a news photog not only have I been harassed for photography ... but I've also been arrested.

This is not a photo of me. This is a shot of an AP guy under arrest. The cops arrested me for taking a photo of them arresting him.

Across four continents I've been harassed, threatened, detained, shot at, attacked, chased and followed for taking snaps. But this was the only time I was arrested. And it was at a sporting event in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Orange</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> ... lol.

The Anaheim Angels finally made penant consideration (play offs) for their first time. The locals went crazy, ran onto the field and started running around, stealing the bases and generally just going nuts. The <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Anaheim</st1:place></st1:city> Police hit the field and started macing all the kids running the bases.

The cops restored order and I was heading out to catch my deadline ... when I spotted the police hauling off this AP photog. Instinctively, I snapped a few of my fellow colleague for the record showing the police shoving his face and cameras into the concrete corridor. When George spotted me he barked out some telephone instructions and I proceeded to follow his arrest ... when the long hand of the law attempted to block the camera and apprehend me at the same time (photo above).

Interestingly, the Anaheim Police were so completely anti-media, that the matter went to trial where I was found innocent. The DA then dropped all charges against the AP Photog.

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Gary</st1:city></st1:place>

Police don't like having some of their activities chronicled. The first time I got beat on by he police was way back in 1970. I had just returned home from 2 years in Vietnam when Kent State happened and the ensuing demonstrations. I decided to go out and take some shots of our local demonstrations.

It was pretty tense. I caught a good bit of flack from the demonstrators because they thought I was an undercover person for the city's Red Squad. My hair was much shorter (I was only out of the army a couple of weeks at that point) than any of the demonstrators so I kind of stood out.

At some point the cops decided to kick some butt and tore into the demonstrators. I was taking shots of the mele when a cop came up behind me and started beating on me his night stick. I saw that he was trying to hit my camera so I curled up and covered it with my body. He beat on me for a bit and then went on to his next target.

It was kind of sobering to realize that i had just taken my damage in my home "town" than I had in two years in Vietnam.

Awais Yaqub

All the times once even in jungle most of the time police say "UN office here" or "foreigners visit here " so don't take photos but nothing rude.

I am thinking to get press card which is not difficult here But i guess press is most unlucky here rofl

Once my friend displayed his College card to police man and said "FBI" and police man was like Ok Sir you can go rofl but i am slow in these things and every police man is not illiterate !

In Pakistan there are never specific rules ...

moose135

I shoot a lot of aviation subjects around the NYC airports, and you might as well have a sign saying "call 911" on you. I've been questioned numerous times by various police departments, both on and off airport. Usually they are just checking me out because they got a call, and when I explain the hobby, they let me be. Occasionally I've been asked to move, but that's rare. I still get some who pull the "since 9/11 that's illegal" routine, but after a few minutes, when they realize I know my rights, the conversation takes a friendlier track.

My favorite encounter was at JFK airport, when 3 Port Authority police cars, and their armored riot truck pulled up on a group of 5 of us.

gmonkeh

kdog wrote:

So would offering your business card to the officer be a no-no?

Cheers,
-joel

That's freaking hilarious. Anything else smart you want to say. I let the subject go, I suggest you do the same.

Photog

wxwax wrote:

Geez, bunches of times, but never the high drama you guys enjoy.

There was some local guy who considered it a badge of honor to be dragged kicking and screaming from any news event. It could be a pet adoption drive and the guy would find a way to be obnoxious and end up yelling "I TOOK A BULLET IN NICARAGUA FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS" or some such nonsense (I think he did. actually...) as he got dragged away and tossed in the back of a crown vic for being a turd in general. He was a stringer. I don't think anyone hired him fulltime. He was mondo aggressive when it wasn't needed.

I've been in a bunch of places I really shouldn't have been and I'd get a raised eyebrow and some finger pointing and I'd just slink off with a "thanks for not cuffing me, officer" look. Occasionally the "getcher butt outta here" would be a bit more stern. But my experience has been if you're gonna work in one market for a long time, you pick your battles verrrrry carefully. I've had plenty of cops let me behind the outer perimeter of crime scene tape due to having a good rapport with them. Access is everything.

When I worked outside my market, I was pretty careful not to be an ass there either--I knew it could come back to bite the locals on the butt.

kdog

gmonkeh wrote:

That's freaking hilarious. Anything else smart you want to say. I let the subject go, I suggest you do the same.

Excuse me? I'll say whatever I want. You can go soak your head.

Harryb

kdog wrote:

Excuse me? I'll say whatever I want. You can go soak your head.

:nono

Let's play nice now. I'm sure both of you could have found a more positive way to respond to each other.

Trish323

The big lug
Just 2 weeks ago I was taking some casual shots , paid of course, harmless open public park area at an outdoor mall. You can see in this shot the big lug wasn't satisfied with my reply to his asking me if i was a professional..I said come over here and take a look at these shots and you wouldn't have to even ask me....he wasn't sure how to take that and stayed there until I was finished. I mean you can see in this shot that I was taking photos to do something devious....gimme a break!

I blame you Harry..this was in your neck of the woods You've got the cops all spooked up there!

GREAPER

I have never been stopped by the police, as a matter of fact I was outside our courthouse late at night shooting pictures. They drove by me several times. I would wave at them, and they would wave back. I took it that they were making sure I didnt get mugged.



On another ocasion I did have a security guard tell me that I could not take photos of the city skyline from the public sidewalk because the building he worked at was copyrighted, and that they would not allow photographs. I told him that the copyright does not prevent me from taking photographs, just selling them. I said I could shoot anything I wanted from the public sidewalk.

He threatened to call the police.

I told him to go ahead.

I stayed in the area another half hour and finished what I was doing. No police came.

evoryware

I was stopped once when I didn't know any better. I was at work and we had a new GM, GM in training, an experienced Sales Mgr, a Tech Manager, and an Operations manager. The store normally opens at 7AM for employees and 9 AM for shoppers. Well it was 9:30 and none of the 5 managers had keys to open the store. As this wasn't the first time, just new managers, I pulled out my camera to snap a pic of all the employees outside to the dismay of the the new GM who pulled me aside and asked me if I took a pic. When I told him "no", he said, "Good, I didn't think you would be that stupid, what were you thinking it would be a good idea? etc etc". To which I responded, "stupid is having 5 managers here at 9:30 and none with keys".

When he walked away, I snapped the pic and got him fired. It was a joke at first and other employees had asked me to take the pic so we could joke about it later. But don't insult my intelligence.


Around here I've found that post 9-11 many police are moving from dinky Point and shoot to SLR's and want to ask me about my lenses and camera modes. I will be seeking a press pass for Manhattan and Westchester. I shot pictures for Dgrin challenge waiting in the subway with police around and no one said anything to me. I've been in Grand Central Station with machine gun toting troops and other police and no word.

Zanotti

Not really the same, but one morning in Tampa on the way to work I was stopped and somebody rear ended me. The cops came and I hit a quick pic with the camera phone:



The cop got really harsh, read me the riot act for taking his photo, said he was going to confiscate my phone and give me a ticket, yada, yada, yada.

I basically ignored him, he filled out the accident report, and gave this guy who hit me a ticket.

This guys car:



I was a little sore for a few weeks.

Anyway: It seems he was on a public street, on duty, and in process of investigating an accident that I was involved in. I dont see how he had a prayer in holding me to it, but you nver know much hassle they can give you before they let you go.....


Z

anwmn1

Does it count if I was actually in the wrong?

Before I got my dslr a friend on mine and I wanted to get shots from underneath some of the freeways that cross the salt river in the Phx area. Well they are on Indian Reservation and I just so happened to park right in front of the LARGE sign that said No Trespassing- keep out of riverbed- hazzards such as flash floodes, etc. etc.
After about an hour of shooting we head up to my truck and wouldn't you know it. Indian Reservation Police truck parked right behind me. He ran my plate, license, threatened to tow my truck, and fine me $1000. I pulled the 'college student taking pictures for class' even though I was not in school at the time and have never taking a photo class. I got off with a stern warning and have a great story with those b&w prints.

Second time I had just purchased my dslr and was taking some night photos in the Scottsdale area. Had the tripod out, long exposure, and all the sudden I am bathed in a very bright light as a squad car rolls up behind me. They said they saw the tripod and needed to see what was attached to it. We laughed and they continued on.

richtersl

I got in trouble last year for taking this pic:



It was at a local flower garden that sold bulbs for tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, etc.

There was a sign at the gate stating that photographers needed to ask permission for taking pictures. Since I had a dSLR with me I figured I'd better get permission and just let them know I was not a professional photographer. The woman in the office said it was OK to take all the pictures I wanted as long as I didn't use a tripod and that I didn't mangle their plantings to get a shot. I figured I was all set.

WRONG.

OK, so here I am sitting on my ass focusing on these tulips. I am nowhere near them physically to have mangled them. Some guy behind me is talking to another couple about how they're going to do away with their tulips next year (2007) because they were such a hassle for them to maintain. Then he corners me and wants to know what I'm doing and then proceeded to reprimand me for taking the above photograph. I told him I had gotten permission from the office to photograph here. "Well... you can photograph here, but you can't photograph individual flowers like you're doing."

So basically, this fool got his panties all up in a wad over me taking a photograph of some tulips that he's no longer selling.

gus

o o o wait i have been appproached now that i remember it.

In Harrods London. As i walked in i asked a guard at the door if i can photograph in there. It was clear that i was a tourist with my family & accent. I remember at the time he had a name badge that stated he was in charge or similar (something like security manager)

he said .."please do sir but we would ask you not to photograph where it has signs asking that you dont...ie the jewelry section"

I was inside in the food section that did not have that sign & most certainly wasnt full of diamonds when a poofy little jumped up twit with a girls voice ran up & bleeted "excuse me sir we dont allow photography in Harrods" I replied "well mate you'd better go & tell your head of security that because he said i can"

He again said that if i dont stop he will get security & i said "go for it"

Nothing ever came of it.

kdog

richtersl wrote:

"Well... you can photograph here, but you can't photograph individual flowers like you're doing."

:lol4

You couldn't make this stuff up!

Harryb

Trish323 wrote:

Just 2 weeks ago I was taking some casual shots , paid of course, harmless open public park area at an outdoor mall. You can see in this shot the big lug wasn't satisfied with my reply to his asking me if i was a professional..I said come over here and take a look at these shots and you wouldn't have to even ask me....he wasn't sure how to take that and stayed there until I was finished. I mean you can see in this shot that I was taking photos to do something devious....gimme a break!

I blame you Harry..this was in your neck of the woods You've got the cops all spooked up there!

I'm guessing you were at The Avenue. they have questioned me when I was just carrying my camera and not even shooting.

Malls usually won't let you shoot in them. Back in NYC I was sitting on a bench in the Roosevelt Field Mall.. I was waiting for Linda and I had my camera with me. This insecurity guard came up and said "Cameras aren't allowed in the mall". I said "No, you're wrong. Cameras are allowed you just can't take pictures. You have around 4 stores here that sell cameras. Do you kick the customers out once they buy a camera?".

This confused the poor gal. She said "You should leave you camera in the car and we wouldn't have this problem". I said "I would but there's no security in the parking lot. It seems that all the security is here telling me not to do what I wasn't doing in the first place instead of watching the cars."

She gave up at that point and walked away saying "You better not take any pictures". :lol4