Re: Permits for tripods

[Alan Zinn <azinn@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 08:51 PM 1/25/1999 -0900, you wrote:
>Now let me get this straight,
>
> I hear a lot of people complaining about photographic restrictions but
>nobody seems to be doing much about it.  The situation is only going to get
>worse for photographers or anyone interested in personal freedom.  But who
>is at fault?
>
>Obviously WE ONLY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS when we are doing our "thing".  But
>it becomes a thin line to the government bureaucrats that must manage a
>resource so 350 million idiots can enjoy it.  How many times have you been
>to a favorite public place and seen it totally trashed by some Bozo?
>
>I'm not condoning regulations that are hastily made or the overzealous park
>ranger.  But it seems that there are not too many options for the officials
>approaching you demanding fees or explanations.  You are either going to be
>greeted by someone who believes they are just doing the "right thing", or by
>a flaming nature nazi on a power trip.
>
>Believe me, I've had a few rounds with the enemy, and here is some advice:
>
Snip.

I do mostly urban pano work. I'm all over public and private property and
seldom have a problem.  The people who tend to accost photographers are
bored, minimum wage oafs. Usually you can just let them be in a picture
(tell them it's for your book on work). The last time I was harassed on
public property for shooting a building by a security type I simply said
"Call the cops, the FBI, and the CIA if you want." Do you think they did?
Another time a guy introduced himself as the owner of this humongous new
skyscraper with a beautiful private courtyard I was shooting in.  He said it
was OK to shoot as long as I didn't bother anyone - nice guy.  When movie or
TV crews are on the street they own it.  They have all the permits, the
rent-a-cops and the real cops.  You probably won't be able to work. The
argument is "hey, we're paying for all this, why should you get to use it
for free." 

AZ
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See hand-built panoramic cameras and pictures at:
http://www.keva.com/lookaround
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/8874

Also at Cafe Society Gallery:
http://www.curdev.hull.ac.uk/root/cafe/cafegal.htm