Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Harassment for Photography
Posted by Jason Dunn in "ARTICLE" @ 10:00 AM
"So I know that I write a lot about being harassed for my photography on the streets of San Francisco and for some this story may be getting old. I shoot every day though and at least once or twice a month have a run in with a security guard or authority figure of some sort somewhere. Typically I can resolve these episodes on my own amicably with the individual involved, but sometimes things go over the line. In the past year I've blogged about three of these incidents that crossed the line. One was when a security guard at One Bush was following me around the sidewalk trying to put his hand in front of my camera and not allowing me to shoot the building. Another was when the Sheriff's Department detained me and ran what I consider an illegal background check on me merely for shooting near the train tracks in Oakland. Another was when a particular nasty altercation took place between me and a security guard who came out of 45 Fremont middle finger a'blazin' to insist that I not shoot that building."
I always find stories like this interesting, because it shows the tension between security and freedom. In this instance, Thomas' story is quite incredible and worth reading. I've been fortunate insofar as I've never been approached and asked by anyone to stop taking pictures. Have you?
I always find stories like this interesting, because it shows the tension between security and freedom. In this instance, Thomas' story is quite incredible and worth reading. I've been fortunate insofar as I've never been approached and asked by anyone to stop taking pictures. Have you?
