Ik heb zojuist met stijgende verbazing een post op het dpreview forum zitten lezen, het is dus een rechtstreekse quote van dit topic...
ik heb ook al aardig wat op straat gefotografeerd, met een (niet zo grote) 35mm camera (een minolta srt101 met ong. 10cm glas ervoor), maar mij is zoiets mafs nog nooit overkomen.. Ik kan me voorstellen dat je bij evenementen (zoals floris ooit had op lowlands geloof ik) een perskaart nodig hebt, en dat hier ook naar gevraagd wordt door security mensen als ze je zien rondbanjeren met 1 flinke camera. Maar van zoiets heb ik dus nog nooit gehoord.. Iemand van jullie hier ervaring mee, of is het "gewoon" iets wat te maken heeft met Amerika's overdreven gedoe rond rpivacy wetgeving enzo?
ik heb hier maar 1 woord voor.. "WTF"Over the past few years I've read the posts with some amusement of people who were shooting pics minding their own business when out of nowhere a security guard or over zealous law enforcement type approached the photographer with the attitude of them doing something wrong or criminal.
Well it happened to me today. I decided to take my new 20D out for a lunch time test. I wanted to get some shots of a new building going up in the city I work in. The best vantage point was the top of the parking garage at the mall. Bel-Square in Bellevue, WA for those who know the area.
I was on the top level shooting the city scape in the fog and the building going up across the street with my 20D and 24-70 Sigma. I figured since I wasn't in the mall itself no one would bother me, the lot was completely empty on top. I know it's private property and they have a right to their own rules, which is understandable. What caught me off guard was the attitude people take at someone minding their own business but taking pictures.
A young lady drove up to me in her purple car, started asking me all sorts of questions, "what are you doing up here?" ("taking pictures)" "of what?" ("things I find interesting") "Do you work for the mall or the development across the street?" ("nope")
Then I couldn't believe she asked this "Can I see some ID or a business card?" ("No, what do you need that for? And why are you bothering me? I'm minding my own business. Do you work at the mall?" She said the worked for the property management company and that they don't allow people to take pictures on the property.
I said they are within their right to enforce that, I don't understand why they would and that I would not shop at the mall if that is their policy and would leave now.
On my way out a security guard rushed to me and escorted me off the property (he was nice about it though). Said I could talk with their office to get a permit. I declined. I said you know if I had just bought this equipment from the camera store in the mall and was out here testing it and you did this I would return it immediately. Also, are you aware many of the people in your mall have camera phones - I don't see you escorting all of them off the property.
This is the first time anything like this happened to me. Even with my 10D, grip and 70-200L IS I have never been approached like a criminal before. Sorry for the vent but I can see why people are frustrated at the mentality. Instead of those skateboarding isn't a crime stickers how about Photography Isn't a Crime ones.
I'm tempted to go back in the mall and have security kick out all the parents taking pictures of their kids with Santa and around the decorations next month. Sorry I just don't get it.

ik heb ook al aardig wat op straat gefotografeerd, met een (niet zo grote) 35mm camera (een minolta srt101 met ong. 10cm glas ervoor), maar mij is zoiets mafs nog nooit overkomen.. Ik kan me voorstellen dat je bij evenementen (zoals floris ooit had op lowlands geloof ik) een perskaart nodig hebt, en dat hier ook naar gevraagd wordt door security mensen als ze je zien rondbanjeren met 1 flinke camera. Maar van zoiets heb ik dus nog nooit gehoord.. Iemand van jullie hier ervaring mee, of is het "gewoon" iets wat te maken heeft met Amerika's overdreven gedoe rond rpivacy wetgeving enzo?