Wow! I'm new to the site and still exploring. Great discussion, aside from the occasional snitty comments.
Posting from New Zealand, and having come from the UK, I can't comment on the American issues being thrown up. All I can say that I know of friends in both countries who have been advised that photographing children in public places wasn't welcome. It wasn't enshrined in law that photographs couldn't be taken, it was requested that they weren't. In one instant it was the childs grandfather at the boys first swimming lesson. Entirely innocent, but you know what? He respected that other parents might not feel comfortable with their children in bathing gear winding up on a strangers video camera. Whilst you can discuss for eternity your right to photgraph children in public places, the sad fact remains that the next photographer happening along may have some really unsavoury intentions. I'd kick my rights to the kerb in an instant if sticking to my guns meant some mother was left with a nagging doubt that her child had been compromised somewhow.
That said, the reaction of the police officers was outrageous, extreme and would surely have abused the rights of the photographer full stop. That's not law enforcement, that's getting carried away.
Harassed by Police for photography on playground. (Memory card confiscated and harassed by police)
in Street & Documentary
Posted
Wow! I'm new to the site and still exploring. Great discussion, aside from the occasional snitty comments.
Posting from New Zealand, and having come from the UK, I can't comment on the American issues being thrown up. All I can say that I know of friends in both countries who have been advised that photographing children in public places wasn't welcome. It wasn't enshrined in law that photographs couldn't be taken, it was requested that they weren't. In one instant it was the childs grandfather at the boys first swimming lesson. Entirely innocent, but you know what? He respected that other parents might not feel comfortable with their children in bathing gear winding up on a strangers video camera. Whilst you can discuss for eternity your right to photgraph children in public places, the sad fact remains that the next photographer happening along may have some really unsavoury intentions. I'd kick my rights to the kerb in an instant if sticking to my guns meant some mother was left with a nagging doubt that her child had been compromised somewhow.
That said, the reaction of the police officers was outrageous, extreme and would surely have abused the rights of the photographer full stop. That's not law enforcement, that's getting carried away.