Do I need Permission?

[PeterColli]

There I was photographing one of the local power stations - you know the sort of thing, huge concrete cooling towers belching smoke against a clear blue sky.
Suddenly I was confronted by a security guard who demanded "Have you got permission?"

Bearing in mind that I had set up my camera and tripod on the footpath running alongside the public road that passes the power station (i.e. I was in a public place) and was not interfering with either traffic (it wasn't the main access to the site) or pedestrians (there weren't any), surely I don't need permission to take photographs unless there is some form of exclusion in place (e.g. a military base).

This isn't the first time I've been challenged over 'privacy' issues. Last time it was an angry householder who accosted me when I was photographing a street scene for a project I am doing. Again, I was on the public footpath outside their property and didn't trespass. They accused me of 'taking pictures of their house' - I wasn't and was eventually able to demonstrate that by replaying the images (thank goodness it wasn't film).

In both cases I politely stood my ground, but what are the rights and wrongs of photographing from and in public places?

Perhaps some coverage in the magazine would be useful.

[donoreo]

I think I saw one of the magazines is going to be covering this soon (or may have by now).

[samcliffe]

donoreo is right – in our latest issue we included a booklet on what you can and can't shoot –*although this is only for the UK.

[beatnik69]

Originally Posted by PeterColli

There I was photographing one of the local power stations - you know the sort of thing, huge concrete cooling towers belching smoke against a clear blue sky.
Suddenly I was confronted by a security guard who demanded "Have you got permission?"

Bearing in mind that I had set up my camera and tripod on the footpath running alongside the public road that passes the power station (i.e. I was in a public place) and was not interfering with either traffic (it wasn't the main access to the site) or pedestrians (there weren't any), surely I don't need permission to take photographs unless there is some form of exclusion in place (e.g. a military base).

This isn't the first time I've been challenged over 'privacy' issues. Last time it was an angry householder who accosted me when I was photographing a street scene for a project I am doing. Again, I was on the public footpath outside their property and didn't trespass. They accused me of 'taking pictures of their house' - I wasn't and was eventually able to demonstrate that by replaying the images (thank goodness it wasn't film).
In both cases I politely stood my ground, but what are the rights and wrongs of photographing from and in public places?

Perhaps some coverage in the magazine would be useful.

They might want to have a word with Google and their Streetview cars...

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by samcliffe

donoreo is right – in our latest issue we included a booklet on what you can and can't shoot –*although this is only for the UK.

What about people that use Zinio?

[jet_kit]

Let me start by saying that I'm not a lawyer and I can't be certain that this is absolutely correct. But, my understanding is that you can photograph whatever (and whoever) you like as long as you are on public property. The moment you step onto private property the rules change. The exceptions are any military establishment or a crime scene and 'Possible Terrorist Targets'. It's the latter that gets difficult for all parties. Technically, the Houses of Parliament are a prime Terrorist target, but I'd hate to be a policemen tasked with trying to stop every tourist from snapping away at this iconic structure.
As far as the householder you quote is concerned, as long as you're on the pavement, you're in the clear.

[greenwing]

The Metropolitan Police line.

London Festival of Photography.

These give you a card without requiring you to buy the mag... Just sayin'.

[DigiDiva]

Yes, I read the booklet in Aprils DC mag. Made things a lot clearer. The only problem with that is, do the people challenging you know the rules? Im going to keep the booklet in my camera bag so that if I am challenged, I can challenge right back!

[wave01]

the law seems clear to me but it is not to some people if you are in a public place you can take a picture. I think this link is posted already but it does help clear things up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJH9F7Hcluo

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

Yes, I read the booklet in Aprils DC mag. Made things a lot clearer. The only problem with that is, do the people challenging you know the rules? Im going to keep the booklet in my camera bag so that if I am challenged, I can challenge right back!

That is always the problem. You hear stories of the police pulling people over for a traffic violation and they are not sure of the rules. Then again, they are human and cannot be expected to know them all!

One thing about challenging them on the rules is often police are of the personality type that "are never wrong" and they will find someone wrong. Test it out, it is fun, if you know anyone on a personal level that is in the police. See if you can ever get them to admit they are wrong.