June 22, 2008

• You Can’t Photograph That!!

  When Amos and I were told we could not take photographs on “private property” at the Pacific Design Center the other night; the more I thought about it, the angrier I became.  So I did a little research, and as it turns out, I’m not the only one who’s angry or confused.  And even after reading all of this information, I’m still not clear as to whether I have a right to photograph Garbo & Ruby at the Pacific Design Center, or the lawn of Beverly Hills City Hall (another place I was kicked out of by the police for taking pictures without a permit a few years ago.  If you really want to be shocked, take a look at what the city charges for a permit!!), or the subway, or the Port of Los Angeles.  If anyone is interested in reading up on this, here are a few links:

  You Can’t Photograph That!!
  Taking pictures on LA’s Red Line violates the “9/11 Law”
  Orwellian Los Angeles
  Two FBI agents just showed up at my door… (I think I’m being investigated)
  This is Broken – Anti Photo Policies
  Photographer grills security guard about dumb policy
  Photography and the Law:  Know Your Rights
  Your Rights and Remedies When Stopped or Confronted for Photography
  

  Yet, according to this article in USA Today, “You can take photos any place that’s open to the public, whether or not
  it’s private property. A mall, for example, is open to the public. So
  are most office buildings (at least the lobbies). You don’t need
  permission; if you have permission to enter, you have permission to
  shoot.” 

  Amos isn’t even allowed to bring his zoom lens to sporting events!  So, if he wanted to get a closeup of David Beckham’s package like this:

  

  He’s have to work for Getty Images!!  (Or Armani:)

  
  Gratuitous Beckham shot that has nothing to do with this post.

  So which is it?  Can I photograph the dogs at the PDC or not?  It seems that in just the past week I’ve broken many laws, like:

  
  Photographing the elevated train tracks in Chicago.  Is that REALLY an iPod ad??

  
  Photographing the Port of Los Angeles from the air.  Is that a nuclear submarine??

  
  Fraternizing with known drug users!  (I didn’t inhale during this photo.)

  If I don’t blog tomorrow, you’ll know the FBI arrested me, and whisked me off to Guantanamo.  (I hope I can share a cell with Harold & Kumar!).  Do you think Guantanamo has wi-fi?  Before I go however, I’m going to post these illegal photos that Amos took with his penis envy lens.

  
  Even though that’s my watermark, Amos actually took these, and gets full credit.

  
  The watermark goes on automatically when I shrink these for the blog.  The actual photos were about 9 MB each as .jpgs and even bigger in RAW format, but they look amazing.  It’s hard to tell when they’re this small.
  

  
  Another illegal photograph I took at the PDC in February, of Roscoe.

  I’ll end with this photo I secretly took today from my balcony (is that illegal??).  This guy was walking his dog in my front yard, and the dog has a TATTOO!!!!  If you look closely you’ll see a red heart on the dog’s hip.  I’ve heard of tattoos of dogs, but tattoos ON dogs??  I swear, only in LA.  LOL

  

  • 12:44 am
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