Why LAPD Stopped me From Taking Public Photos
I was out last evening experimenting with some night photography, such as star trails and traffic trails. If anyone is familiar with the Santa Monica/West Los Angeles media district–or even if you aren’t–it’s full of older industrial factories from the turn of the last century. These are all converted now into production and post production companies, often rented cheaper and labeled as “creative space.” At any rate, it’s a great space to experiment with.
At around 8:30pm a police car drives slowly past me, and just past the intersection, they flipped around and pulled up the curb where I stood with my camera mounted on a tripod. I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong, but the enormous spotlight directed at me sure seemed unnecessary. The woman sidekick cop just kept saying “this doesn’t look good.” Thanks, how reassuring…
After diligently taking down my most private information, I they finally explained why they were supposed to report me. Apparently since 9/11, they are required to report any suspicious activity–like photographing a federal building–just ‘in case’. I had asked if I had done anything wrong, and they said no. But clearly my night out was over.
The LAPD ensured me that they would report any photographers or filmmakers, as long as they don’t have a permit (”anyone with a big crew and lots of equipment”). Only exception, of course, are news crews. When I pressed them to explain other circumstances or situations in which they need to report suspicious activity, they gave me this list of forbidden locations:
- federal buildings (a given)
- national monuments (a given)
- utilities buildings (like the electrical distribution area I photographed)
- schools
- large public areas, like town squares or parks
- freeways
- freeway interchanges
The last few suspicious locations seem a bit general. It seems there’s a pretty good change of getting stopped and reported anywhere in public, even though anyone with a camera “isn’t doing anything wrong.” The photo in question is above at the top of this post…traffic trails aren’t exactly a threat, are they? And I don’t like them inferring that I could be a terrorist…what ridiculous waste of time.
Apparently I’m not the only one this happens to around the country. Take a look at the National Photographers’ Rights Organization flickr group and just read some of their posts. This post from Boing Boing was from back in May ‘08, with a call to action for the same reasons. Has anyone else had any experience with getting hassled while taking photos or filming in public? Sounds like a good time to review the photographer’s legal rights…
Photographer’s Legal Guide
UPDATE: It seems my timing is perfectly in sync with other local photographers, including a similar story about Venice photographer Anthony Citrano. Read these other uneasy stories about the encouter, including an LA Weekly feature:
- Santa Monica Pacific Park’s Weird and Confusing Photography Policy (Thomas Hawk Digital Connection, 1/18/09)
- Pacific Park Must Clarify Their Photography Policy (Cosmic Tap, 1/18/09)
- Photog Feels Santa Monica Pier Pressure (LA Weekly, 1/19/09)
photo credit, kwwphoto
Similar Posts:
- No Related Posts Found
I found your run-in via NYC PhotoRights – I had an issue in Santa Monica Friday night.
I actually found it really surprising that LAPD did this – they’ve always been really cool with me (e.g. basically leaving me alone and pretending I don’t exist – just the way I like it.)
(I live in Venice.) I’ll send you my two stories via email.
take care and please, stand up and fight. not enough people will.
Thanks for sharing other stories about this. I was more surprised than anything too, and now so because I’m finding that these practices are quite common….
Wow, federal buildings and national monuments, huh? Well, they’d better shoo all those people with cameras away from the White House, the U.S. Capitol, Mount Rushmore, Mt. Vernon, and countless other locations nationwide.
This is security theater, not real security.