If you have a camera, you might be a terrorist....
- Thread starter Hoser
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Neither do I, really. I have a friend at work who keeps trying to convince me that all Americans don't own guns, but every time we turn around someone else is bragging about theirs. 
It's a gross generalization, but fun. And I tell him it's funny because they say more Canadians own guns per capita, but I never really hear about it from them.
I've only had the DSLR for a year, and already have had as many incidents as some professional photographers I know.
It's a gross generalization, but fun. And I tell him it's funny because they say more Canadians own guns per capita, but I never really hear about it from them. I've only had the DSLR for a year, and already have had as many incidents as some professional photographers I know.
Remember that the operators of commercial properties have considerable leeway to establish rules as long as they don't result in discrimination between races (and in some cases religion, gender, sexual orientation or age). Sometimes a shopping center's tenants object to their merchandise and/or displays being photographed because a competitor might use the information against them. Even if you haven't broken any of their rules, as long as they are careful not to establish a pattern or acknowledgement of legally prohibited discrimination they can tell any customer/visitor to to get out any time they want to.
Some even have curfews for unaccompanied minors that pretty much rule out their patronizing the center during the week.
I suspect the areas near indoor playgrounds, carousels and similar attractions for young children are carefully watched for anyone that remotely looks like they have too much interest in children. If photographs of the kids are found in some molester's home the victim's attorney would probably launch an expensive lawsuit.
Some even have curfews for unaccompanied minors that pretty much rule out their patronizing the center during the week.
I suspect the areas near indoor playgrounds, carousels and similar attractions for young children are carefully watched for anyone that remotely looks like they have too much interest in children. If photographs of the kids are found in some molester's home the victim's attorney would probably launch an expensive lawsuit.
I was once doing some night photography with the Hasselblad and the tripod in my previous home town in the Netherlands when a motorcycle cop appeared and demanded to see my ID. I showed my passport and explained to him that I was working on a photo project and he also demanded to see the photos. Well, that was a problem since the Hassy is 30 years old and uses film.. Anyhow, after a chat he calmed down and left me to continue. He said "Nowadays we have this thing called terrorism! I can't know what you're up to!"
It was an empty road in a small small town in South Holland.
And I'm a 4'11" tiny woman. A strange situation, to say the least.
It was an empty road in a small small town in South Holland.
And I'm a 4'11" tiny woman. A strange situation, to say the least.
Oh please, it was not at all offensive.
Just being pedantic, but how do you "give the world" something that only applies to Europe? And the UDHR preceeded the ECHR.
Aaaaand here's the reverse.
2003. I was working in Sydney, right in the city, and travelling though Town Hall Station to Central after a short walk either way. We're talking middle of the city, folks. Next to Town Hall is the Queen Victoria Building, a shopping mecca that's 3 storeys high and extends a long way underground, it's big and it's busy, and I'm cutting through it on a Friday afternoon at peak hour. I come up the stairs, and a guy is filming. Not unusual in itself. But his very appearance screams "not local" - odd clothes in a dusty grey colour, and not local design. Looks like a foreign devil. He's filming the busy crowds, all the while muttering into the camera's microphone - couldn't tell you the language, but it wasn't English. And he had a lookout, a woman... in a hijab. She saw me watching them, and gave me a stony glare. I carried on, casually walked past, found the security guards and let them know, but by the time I strolled back, they'd gone. About 2-3 weeks later, a French guy with a Muslim wife, Willy Brigitte, was deported from the country. Yeah, that was him.
So, if you saw some foreign guy filming rush hour in Sydney, actively scanning the busy crowds, muttering into a mic, while his hijab clad friend was looking around watching everybody... what would you think? Seriously?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Brigitte
And a photo:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...told-fbi-bunkum/2006/04/27/1145861466242.html
2003. I was working in Sydney, right in the city, and travelling though Town Hall Station to Central after a short walk either way. We're talking middle of the city, folks. Next to Town Hall is the Queen Victoria Building, a shopping mecca that's 3 storeys high and extends a long way underground, it's big and it's busy, and I'm cutting through it on a Friday afternoon at peak hour. I come up the stairs, and a guy is filming. Not unusual in itself. But his very appearance screams "not local" - odd clothes in a dusty grey colour, and not local design. Looks like a foreign devil. He's filming the busy crowds, all the while muttering into the camera's microphone - couldn't tell you the language, but it wasn't English. And he had a lookout, a woman... in a hijab. She saw me watching them, and gave me a stony glare. I carried on, casually walked past, found the security guards and let them know, but by the time I strolled back, they'd gone. About 2-3 weeks later, a French guy with a Muslim wife, Willy Brigitte, was deported from the country. Yeah, that was him.
So, if you saw some foreign guy filming rush hour in Sydney, actively scanning the busy crowds, muttering into a mic, while his hijab clad friend was looking around watching everybody... what would you think? Seriously?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Brigitte
And a photo:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...told-fbi-bunkum/2006/04/27/1145861466242.html
The closest I've ever come to having a problem while taking pictures was on my trip to France a few years ago.
My wife and I were in a small village near Bordeaux and there was an old house I thought looked very interesting so I started taking pictures of it. The owner of the house came out and asked what I was doing. In my less than perfect French I explained to him that we were visiting from Canada and that I thought his house was very nice so I just wanted to take a picture of it. I showed him the pictures I had taken and asked him if it was ok with him. After that he was very pleasant and told me to go ahead.
Here's a picture of the house in question. It's not as fantastic as I remember for some reason.
My wife and I were in a small village near Bordeaux and there was an old house I thought looked very interesting so I started taking pictures of it. The owner of the house came out and asked what I was doing. In my less than perfect French I explained to him that we were visiting from Canada and that I thought his house was very nice so I just wanted to take a picture of it. I showed him the pictures I had taken and asked him if it was ok with him. After that he was very pleasant and told me to go ahead.
Here's a picture of the house in question. It's not as fantastic as I remember for some reason.
There has been a lot of misconceived ideas about the legalities of photos in public here. A number of cops and PCSOs have ended up in trouble over it. To be fair, there is a lot of misinformation about it in the media - 'now you can't photograph a cop!!' etc. but that isn't an excuse for cops to get it wrong.
I have a DSLR and have taken 100.000's of photos, I have yet to be told to stop shooting. I think it might be a regional thing, or maybe an isolated incodent.
E
Elmer
Guest
Hi Hoser,
Strange what happened with you but I always ask guides before taking pictures to avoid any discomfort. How about taking pictures from mobile camera?
Strange what happened with you but I always ask guides before taking pictures to avoid any discomfort. How about taking pictures from mobile camera?
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