Comments on: Video Clip From My Grand Central Station “Permit” Shoot

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:27:48 +0000

Even before 9/11 it was problematic using a tripod in NYC. There were spots the police just wouldn’t permit it due to the problems it creates for pedestrians.

Since 9/11, it has been more problematic. The level of fear is higher and there is a general confusion about what it legal and what isn’t. There aren’t any posted signs saying “No Photography Permitted.” But from time to time people say, that’s forbidden here. What I think is forbidden in these instances is logic. Logic says that it is impossible to prevent photos. Whatever you want a photo of is probably available on line somewhere and if it isn’t a cellphone can take a photo without anyone knowing one was shot. Forbidding photography gives the appearance of doing something when in fact all it does is provide an illusion of security and an annoyance to the photographer.

It would seem the “War On Terror” (isn’t it actually a struggle against, not a war on) is actually an assault on our freedoms. Too bad George Orwell isn’t around to write about it.

By: nicholas von staden

nicholas von staden — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:39:17 +0000

check this out:

NYC sets formal rules for filming on city streets
BY SARA KUGLER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK – Filmmakers and photographers who shoot on New York City’s streets and sidewalks now have a clear set of rules dictating when they must obtain permits, after years of relying on loose guidelines that civil liberties advocates said were too vague.The rules, which were to appear Monday in the City Record, now state clearly that productions must have permits and at least $1 million in insurance if they plan to take over a lane of traffic or leave less than eight feet of open space on a sidewalk.Last year, the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed to make formal rules for filming and photography as part of a settlement in a lawsuit against the city on behalf of award-winning documentarian Rakesh Sharma, who was detained in 2005 when he was standing on a Manhattan sidewalk, filming with a handheld camera.. .

By: c3l5o

c3l5o — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:03:07 +0000

Nevermind it works again… Probably a youtube bug Sorry!

By: c3l5o

c3l5o — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:02:25 +0000

Hmmm, guess I’m a bit too late… It says the Video is no longer available

By: around the net: volume 9 - how prophotolife got here | pro photo life

around the net: volume 9 - how prophotolife got here | pro photo life — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:32:27 +0000

[...] surprise to be mentioned on one of his sites. I particularly enjoy Scott’s wit (check out the “security guard video”) and his in-depth explorations like this week-long feature on [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:00:45 +0000

Wow Scott I guess he was the trusting sort. Or you just looked so happy to be able to pull out that piece of paper, he never considered you a “bad guy” in disquise!

By: clifton

clifton — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:28:00 +0000

Ah, Scott…I know what you mean.
I was in Times Square one day and the band
Good Charlotte had their personal cars
out there…and I’m just out there photographing away…
The police were all over me…”Oh, you can’t shoot here” “Go away”.
?
I asked them “Did you forget what country you’re living in Mister?
”

I had a monopod and credentials…
Thankfully, a supervisor officer came up
and told the other officer to back off…

That was a quite humorous vid, Scott. Thanks for the information.
Where’d you have to go to get the permit?

By: mike

mike — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:15:10 +0000

“This is a freedom issue. The freedom to be able to take shots (oops, I meant photographs) where ever and when ever we want within the Law (unless itâ€™s private property etc). ”

Not with respect to Grand Central Station. It is an issue of getting the heck in the way. It is an extremely populated train station. Requiring a permit enables the city to reasonable limit the number of people that want to set up a tripod in GCS at any one time on any particular day.

By: Tad

Tad — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:45:28 +0000

Just saw an interesting story referenced over on http://www.schneier.com/blog/ about Union Station in D.C. As the TV crew was interviewing the spokesperson for AMTRAK who was saying there wasn’t a policy against photography, a guard came over and said they had to turn off the cameras due to a policy. Priceless.

By: Aasmund

Aasmund — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:02:10 +0000

I actually got kicked out from a norwegian trainstation (Oslo S), even though I had a permit! People suck :p

By: David

David — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 12:17:28 +0000

And he didn’t even look close at the permit ? You could’ve just made a “home-made” one.

By: Alan Hess

Alan Hess — Sat, 31 May 2008 21:20:56 +0000

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6664418&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

this story is about photos in DC and how the security reacts or overreacts as the case may be.