Totally annoyed!

[2careless]

I was taking photos of a very nice building (trying to do a 360 degree shot). I was positioned at the pavement outside this building and a couple of the security guards came out and told me I'm not allowed to take pictures of this building - 1. if I continue to stand there they'll just stand in front of me and block my views. 2. if I go opposite the road, then they'd call police.
Since I was alone and had rather expensive gear I didn't want them to be spitted on (potentially), I packed up and left.

I'm under the belief that if I was standing at the pavement I'm in a public place and these people have no legal legs to stand on threatening me like that. However, since this is Australia, the law can be quite different to other jurisdictions.

Has anyone been through similar kind of trouble?

P.S. If they call the police, what would an officer do? Can I file a complaint as well?

[JimSnyder]

I would say with the way things are in the world today people get nervous. You just never know anymore

[GinGinD]

It's probably a security issue. But I agree they likely had no legal leg to stand on in prohibiting you from taking the pictures. However an officer might have accused you of loitering or something and asked you to move on. Except a call like that would have been low enough priority you'd probably have been long gone before the police even got there.

Frankly, nervous about security or not, I think they have some nerve getting so officious with you and I'd make a complaint.

Jeannie

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by JimSnyder

I would say with the way things are in the world today people get nervous. You just never know anymore

I agree with jim...everybody is getting paranoid..just try to look at it at a safe side... you can just imagine how tight the security in NYC now a days...but taking pictures right there of buildings are unavoidable...

[Ed Rooney]

Law enforcement can typically trump up some charges on you, take your stuff (good luck getting it back intact from the black hole), make you lawyer up then drop the charges without an apology. To make a statement about your rights, you have to be willing to be arrested. Not quite Thoreau or MLK, but you have to start somewhere.

Now that you are out of the situation, you can make much more noise by complaining to the city, the landlord of the building, the police and the newspapers.

[Kenny147]

What you've got here are two annoying human traits;

Firstly, the stupid but doesn't realise it and wearing a uniform, with a little bit of power.

And secondly, what is becoming an Australian obsession with being officious. It's the reason I would never move back to Oz permanently. I still can't believe Australians aren't rioting in the streets about the impending state imposed censorship of the internet. It's certainly not the Australia I called home.

[toph]

NOT trying to cause a fight, but here is just a thought -how would you feel if someone was outside your house taking pictures?

[mgm]

Originally Posted by toph

NOT trying to cause a fight, but here is just a thought -how would you feel if someone was outside your house taking pictures?

Where I am and considering the nature of my building and its strategic value to national security, I wouldn't mind a bit... unless it went on too long, at which point I would probably go outside and ask why they were obsessed with it.

But I can well understand the problems created by 9/11, and the awareness that we now have about public structures being targeted. I was taking photos along the Mississippi River a couple of years ago and was prevented by the guards from photographing a power plant. They don't mind you aiming a touristy camera but don't like intense observation. It's difficult to determine whether the photographer is trying for the ultimate shot of the building or is documenting it for nefarious purposes.

It's too bad, but that's the world we live in.

[GinGinD]

Originally Posted by toph

NOT trying to cause a fight, but here is just a thought -how would you feel if someone was outside your house taking pictures?

Happens all the time. Appraisers take pictures of other houses to use as comparables for the ones they are appraising. It's perfectly legal to take a picture of someone's house. It's not something that would bother me, but then I tend to take a more pragmatic view of that kind of thing than others do as I've worked in financial services for my entire adult life.

Jeannie

[Mike B]

Probably just two security guards bored out of thier minds, and trying to act macho. They should have simply just asked why you were taking said pictures, and just let you take a few more with them watching, and let you be on your way. They didn't have to be (insert word of choice here) to you.

[2careless]

Originally Posted by toph

NOT trying to cause a fight, but here is just a thought -how would you feel if someone was outside your house taking pictures?

Google Earth already did, and you can see my house from their street view thingie, if you got my address

Thanks guys for your responses. I'll probably visit the local police station and ask them on Monday.

[Lol-x]

I would like to know the basis for the assertion that you are 'not allowed to take photos of the building'.

There are really only 2 grounds as I see it:
(a) national security;
(b) breach of copyright by the reproduction of a three dimensional artistic work in a two dimensional form.

It was unfortunate that you were alone, but if they didn't provide a satisfactory answer to justify why 'your not allowed', the if I were you, I would have called the police before they did.

The exterior of the building is a public facade for crying out loud, anyone can see it, make notes about it, even sketch it.

I would be interested to know exactly what building we are talking about............

[2careless]

Same building, different date/time and last night I had my tripod and tried to do a wide stitch when they interfered

[Lol-x]

What, that is just a dumb old bank/hotel and retail shopping precinct

I say as long as you are not on their property i.e. over the boundry line from the street, then they can't stop you taking photos for your own personal pleasure.
However if you are on their property, then they have the right to restrict the nature of your activities.

[2careless]

Thanks. What they said was that they would stand in my way and use their bodies to block my camera's view. As private citizens they also have rights to stand wherever they like in public places so effectively I wouldn't have a chance to finish the stitch.

[Lol-x]

That is not correct IMHO, as private citizens they are not so acting, they are harassing you in their capacity as employees of a third party and their purpose is to annoy, harass and frustrate you in taking photos and the lawful exercise of your personal rights. Just doesn't seem right to me

[Andad]

Ha, caught you killing time whole waiting for Grima's to open.

[BigHat]

If you hadn't been wearing a keffiyeh and left the AK-47 at home they probably wouldn't have bothered you.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BigHat

If you hadn't been wearing a keffiyeh and left the AK-47 at home they probably wouldn't have bothered you.

[Oscar]

Kai,

Steve's comments are spot on. If I was a responding supervisor going to a call like that I would the 'riot act' to two idiots like that.

You are in a public place. They cannot do anything.

If it happened to me personally I'd tear each of them a new arsehole and then report them that say day to their management and follow that up with a formal letter of complaint.

don't tolerate idiots likje that.

Kai, I wish I had've been there......................:co meandge



Michael (still have anger issues too)

Originally Posted by Lol-x

I would like to know the basis for the assertion that you are 'not allowed to take photos of the building'.

There are really only 2 grounds as I see it:
(a) national security;
(b) breach of copyright by the reproduction of a three dimensional artistic work in a two dimensional form.

It was unfortunate that you were alone, but if they didn't provide a satisfactory answer to justify why 'your not allowed', the if I were you, I would have called the police before they did.

The exterior of the building is a public facade for crying out loud, anyone can see it, make notes about it, even sketch it.

I would be interested to know exactly what building we are talking about............

[Oscar]

Kai,

PM me with the location of the building and where you were standing and I'll have a right go at those idiots.................I'll take my camera and see what they try and say to me.

[Gentleman8]

Security officials are not kind to those who do not share their paranoia.

[Denny M]

Originally Posted by Kenny147

What you've got here are two annoying human traits;

Firstly, the stupid but doesn't realise it and wearing a uniform, with a little bit of power.

And secondly, what is becoming an Australian obsession with being officious. It's the reason I would never move back to Oz permanently. I still can't believe Australians aren't rioting in the streets about the impending state imposed censorship of the internet. It's certainly not the Australia I called home.

I agree Kenny. The ever increasing number of laws, regulating our lives here has gotten to the point of being almost stifling. I feel the UK has it even worse (not sure about US). Don't get me wrong, i don't want to live in a law-less place but there is a fine medium.

I think the welfare state (70's), political correctness (80's) and the ease of suing/lawsuits (90's) have contributed to the change in Australian society. One sad example is the elimination of merry-go-rounds and sea-saws from public playgrounds, as one or two idiots sued local councils and won, when one of their children grazed a knee. End result, councils tore out this play equipment.

Kai, what happened to you sucks. to those baboons that harrased you.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Oscar

Kai,

PM me with the location of the building and where you were standing and I'll have a right go at those idiots.................I'll take my camera and see what they try and say to me.

Glad to see you're feeling feisty.

[2careless]

I did go to a police station near that building and tried to file a complaint. The station officier said what the guards did was incorrect, but told me to call them if it happens again. So, when I feel angry I may just go there again and see how it goes
Might as well get a mate to video the whole thing and send to the TV station.

[mopsey]

Try stopping in Grosvenor Square, home of the American Embassy, in London.
I was on the knowledge for a couple of years and stopped there.
2 crew cutted American gorrillas turned up within 30 secs asking me to move on. I told them to go and get a London bobby and if he asks me i'll gladly do it.

[Gentleman8]

Paranoia with a capital "P":
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/01/02...ded/index.html