lefty1
join:2002-10-25
Clay, NY
| reply to Stacy
Re: Stopped by police- You can't photograph here...
Twenty years ago I did some freelance work for New York State DOT so I was in and about Grand Central Station....
Earlier this week I was shooting in Times Square when I was approached by a couple of cops near the recruiting center who wanted to know "if they could help me." There certainly are no laws against shooting in Times Square but New York's Finest certainly know how to encourage you to move on.
I've had no problems taking pictures inside Grand Central, but since 9/11, New Yorkers are positively paranoid about tourists taking pictures of almost anything but the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty. I can't tell you how many times I've been stopped in Manhattan, usually not by policemen, and asked what I was taking a picture of. And it's always something innocent; usually an architecturally interesting building or structure that seemed otherwise meaningless. Once I was even stopped after walking past a synagogue with a camera bag on my shoulder. I didn't have the camera out and I didn't notice it was a synagogue until someone from the synagogue followed me down the street and in effect told me to keep moving. I assured him I had no intention of taking a picture of his building, but I would handle that same situation differently today.
Funniest one: I went down to Alphabet City to take a picture of the Filth Mart, which at the time was partially owned by Drea De Matteo of The Sopranos (hoping I might catch a glimpse of her highness) and some very upset old guy came out of a nearby building across the street and asked me what I was taking pictures of.
I have taken a few innocent pictures in the subways, but I always make sure there are no police or subway employees around. |
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sykocus
Watashi Wa Shashin O Toru Ga Suki Desu
Premium
join:2002-11-21
Guam, USA
| reply to Stacy
said by Stacy  :said by tmpchaos :Did you ask if one would be kind enough to hold you camera bag? I know this sounds terrible but.. I'm tired of trying to charm my way through a shoot when I have every right to be there. I'd much rather save my charm for times when I need to overstep my bounds  could have said something like "could ya move to the right? you're in my shot" 
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My Gallery
"Every time someone tells me how sharp my photos are, I assume that it isn't a very interesting photograph. If it were, they would have more to say." -Author Unknown |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to tmpchaos
said by tmpchaos :Did you ask if one would be kind enough to hold you camera bag? I know this sounds terrible but.. I'm tired of trying to charm my way through a shoot when I have every right to be there. I'd much rather save my charm for times when I need to overstep my bounds |
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tmpchaos
Requiescat in pace
Premium,Mod
join:2000-04-28
Hoboken, NJ
clubs:    | reply to Stacy
Did you ask if one would be kind enough to hold you camera bag? |
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Stacy
FotoDogue
Premium
join:2001-11-02
New York, NY
·RoadRunner Cable
·Speakeasy
| reply to tmpchaos
said by tmpchaos :Photography has been prohibited without permit on the PATH system for years. I discovered it was also not permitted on NJTransit property when I tried last year. The MTA permits it, but the subway cops may or may not be informed about the current rules. I don't know what Amtrak's rules are. It's certainly becoming a more hostile world for photographers. Twenty years ago I did some freelance work for New York State DOT so I was in and about Grand Central Station and drove up to Croton on Hudson where I got down on the AMTRAK and Metro North tracks to photograph workers. No credentials but nobody questioned my authority to be there.
Earlier this week I was shooting in Times Square when I was approached by a couple of cops near the recruiting center who wanted to know "if they could help me." There certainly are no laws against shooting in Times Square but New York's Finest certainly know how to encourage you to move on. |
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