Photography is Terrorism?

[AprilForever]

Here is a link to a news article about a man in Scotland who was banned from a mall because he took two pictures of his daughter with his cell phone camera:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/10/police-question-dad-for-taking-photos-daughter-in-scottish-shopping-center/?test=latestnews

Living here in the USA, I am glad things aren't to this point yet, at least not where I am from... but that somewhat-related post I saw earlier about possible mandatory shutter noises in cell phone cameras could be heading this sort of way, maybe?

[LuCoOc]

I neither want to get too much into politics here nor do i want to judge these incidents. However, here's a link to a post earlier this year about a group of people taking pictures on a plane - in the US.

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,907.msg11985.html#msg11985

It seem's that both occurences were misunderstandings and are less related to a political wing beeing in power than to more people beeing suspicious when seeing a person acting in a way wich they think is wrong (e.g. terrorists or pedophiles)

[JonJT]

I neither want to get too much into politics here nor do i want to judge these incidents. However, here's a link to a post earlier this year about a group of people taking pictures on a plane - in the US.

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php/topic,907.msg11985.html#msg11985

It seem's that both occurences were misunderstandings and are less related to a political wing beeing in power than to more people beeing suspicious when seeing a person acting in a way wich they think is wrong (e.g. terrorists or pedophiles)

Agreed.  I think this is more of a cultural issue than an issue with photography, specifically.  People seem to have an unwarranted distrust of men around young children when in public.  It's particularly troublesome because domestic violence against children is caused by mothers more often than men. 

Being a young male that is on the large side, I keep far away from anyone who isn't, at the least, an emancipated adult.

[Flake]

Funny reading the comments of people who don't actually live here!

Yes it's a cultural thing, but that has been developed by the last government.  There is a fear of cameras everywhere, if you carry one on the street taking photos of people you are likely to be threatened by thugs, (the level of threat does depend on where you are) but no public / private place allows photography and if they catch you it's vigorously surpressed.  Police even caught an MP taking photos in London and questioned him under the anti terrorism laws.

This incident catagorically was not a missunderstanding, it was quite deliberate on behalf of the shopping centre security, and the Police, both referred to a notice which apparantly banned photography.  The security guard did act illegally, requesting that the images were deleted, but unfortunately our police are so dim witted they are 'barely literate'* and most haven't got the first clue even about basic law let alone specialised stuff, worse they will not listen to people who know better than them and refuse to accept they are ever wrong.

In answer to JonJT there are issues with English migrants living in large communities in France & Spain, where they refuse to learn even the basics of the language, or integrate in any way.

*Tom Winsors review of Police for the Home Office

[mreco99]

Im sure most of you have seen this, but its soo good its worth another link

http://www.photoradar.com/news/story/street-photography-video-stand-your-ground

[JonJT]

Funny reading the comments of people who don't actually live here!

Yes it's a cultural thing, but that has been developed by the last government.  There is a fear of cameras everywhere, if you carry one on the street taking photos of people you are likely to be threatened by thugs, (the level of threat does depend on where you are) but no public / private place allows photography and if they catch you it's vigorously surpressed.  Police even caught an MP taking photos in London and questioned him under the anti terrorism laws.

This incident catagorically was not a missunderstanding, it was quite deliberate on behalf of the shopping centre security, and the Police, both referred to a notice which apparantly banned photography.  The security guard did act illegally, requesting that the images were deleted, but unfortunately our police are so dim witted they are 'barely literate'* and most haven't got the first clue even about basic law let alone specialised stuff, worse they will not listen to people who know better than them and refuse to accept they are ever wrong.

In answer to JonJT there are issues with English migrants living in large communities in France & Spain, where they refuse to learn even the basics of the language, or integrate in any way.

*Tom Winsors review of Police for the Home Office

Hmm, let it be known that immigration can present issues to any host nation but, a specific group of people does not have a monopoly upon ignorance.  Those English immigrants are doing the same that some Muslim immigrants are doing in France and, as some Mexican immigrants are doing in the states.

Anyway, that is neither here nor there.
Let me ask, are we discussing the specific incidence of a man being banned from a mall in Scotland or, general hostility towards photography in the USA?  This is a very salient point!

[JonJT]

Living here in the USA, I am glad things aren't to this point yet, at least not where I am from...

Just two examples (you can find hundreds of them online).

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXkA55czGWc
This is actually pretty funny despite the whole situation. Be careful next time you take a picture of the White House. It should remain secret what it looks like so that terrorists don't know what to attack ;-)

2. http://www.npr.org/2011/09/07/140234451/under-suspicion-at-the-mall-of-america
People with video and photo cameras are considered terrorists at the Mall of America. The ironic thing is that one of the guys in the story wanted to take a video for his fiance, who lives abroad, to show her how great life in America is.

Im sure most of you have seen this, but its soo good its worth another link

http://www.photoradar.com/news/story/street-photography-video-stand-your-ground

The terrorists have won............

[bornshooter]

Its simple the terrorists have won people are living in fear and are paranoid.its not a free world anymore we are going to miss out on wonderful moments i love street photography capturing candid moments of people living there lifes i wouldn't point my camera at kids for the fear of being labeled a pedophile unless i get asked to photograph them i wonder what henri cartier bresson would have thought had he lived in these times he captured amazing images which he wouldnt have been able to do living in the uk today.so thats it terrorist have one they have struck fear into peoples minds and every man in public with a camera is a sex offender the uk has gone mad i say uk because i was in cyprus and there attitude over there is different much better.and also freedom of speech doesnt exist in the uk you will be arrested and prosecuted if you say certain things beginning to hate my own country.

[awinphoto]

Then again..... Here in the good ol' USA in a outdoor mall I was shooting at in Santa Barbara, CA, I was told by security to stop shooting and delete all photos taken at the mall... (I had to go afterwards to the front desk/office and sign a release saying I could shoot for personal shoots but not professional use or sale.).  I also cant take my camera into my local university's football games so it's a mixed bag depending on location, venue, and security... Some places I get stopped and asked what I'm doing when I've got my camera with me... but as long as you got a legit answer they dont bat an eye. 

[awinphoto]

Last but not least, I remember a few years ago I had friends (using cameras and telephoto lenses) took some pictures of some cool buildings in Los Angeles and someone saw them, reported the cars license plates to cops, and sure enough later that day they had a lovely visit from the police at their house asking what they were doing taking photos.... They had a good answer and the cops went away, but it's getting bad all over for photographers, not just a certain area or culture.