Comments on: Photographers’ Rights http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/ The blog of Lia Ballentine Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:49:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Portraits of My Friend – Knoxville, Tennessee Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer | Lia Ballentine http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-1589 Portraits of My Friend – Knoxville, Tennessee Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer | Lia Ballentine Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:29:49 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-1589 [...] From the trompe l’oeil, we headed around the Square to downtown Knoxville’s wall of graffiti art and assorted flyers. TJ struck some serious poses in front of the chaotic background. Vogue! Following our short Market Square excursion, we headed towards Krutch Park and crossed over to the other side of downtown Knoxville near the post office and the John Duncan Federal Office Building. (No crazy security guards yelled at me this time.) [...] [...] From the trompe l’oeil, we headed around the Square to downtown Knoxville’s wall of graffiti art and assorted flyers. TJ struck some serious poses in front of the chaotic background. Vogue! Following our short Market Square excursion, we headed towards Krutch Park and crossed over to the other side of downtown Knoxville near the post office and the John Duncan Federal Office Building. (No crazy security guards yelled at me this time.) [...]

]]> By: Christy http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-903 Christy Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:34:01 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-903 Thank you for the story. I just witnessed tourists being told of this new "law" outside the Federal Courthouse in Boston by a security guard. He was nice to them about it, but he told them not to take photos of the building itself, as it is federal property. I couldn't believe it...I've never heard of such a thing. When I Googled the question, numerous blogs came up from across the country telling of this happening to people, but, of course, I found no actual laws. Very strange... Thank you for the story. I just witnessed tourists being told of this new “law” outside the Federal Courthouse in Boston by a security guard. He was nice to them about it, but he told them not to take photos of the building itself, as it is federal property. I couldn’t believe it…I’ve never heard of such a thing. When I Googled the question, numerous blogs came up from across the country telling of this happening to people, but, of course, I found no actual laws. Very strange…

]]> By: Leti http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Leti Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:17:40 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-21 Sorry that this thing happened to you while you were there taking pictures. The security staff obviously was not properly trained to handle the job. Hopefully, soon, the Administrative Staff or whoever is in charge of training the employees who work in this federal building will take into consideration things of this nature and how to handle situations like this in a very diplomatic and professional manner. I would like to see that the taxpayers money is used appropriately. Sorry that this thing happened to you while you were there taking pictures. The security staff obviously was not properly trained to handle the job. Hopefully, soon, the Administrative Staff or whoever is in charge of training the employees who work in this federal building will take into consideration things of this nature and how to handle situations like this in a very diplomatic and professional manner.

I would like to see that the taxpayers money is used appropriately.

]]> By: Christa http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Christa Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:25:10 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-20 Hmmm... sorry about the a-hole that ruined your day. That sounds extremely frustrating. Well, I guess I'm not the only one that's had an encounter with the cops. Good Job. Nice Pics Lia. Love you! Hmmm… sorry about the a-hole that ruined your day. That sounds extremely frustrating. Well, I guess I’m not the only one that’s had an encounter with the cops. Good Job. Nice Pics Lia. Love you!

]]> By: MichaelG http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-19 MichaelG Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:20:13 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-19 "we decided not to fight..." yep and that's how the use of intimidation prevents the exercise of fundamental rights without the use of unconstitutional laws. As others have written, a right not exercised is a right that is lost. Doesn't matter whether the right is enumerated as protected under the first, second or other amendments to the US Constitution or if it is an unenumerated right such as the fundamental right to travel. MichaelG What part of 'shall not be infringed' don't you understand? “we decided not to fight…”
yep and that’s how the use of intimidation prevents
the exercise of fundamental rights without the use
of unconstitutional laws. As others have written,
a right not exercised is a right that is lost.
Doesn’t matter whether the right is enumerated as
protected under the first, second or other amendments
to the US Constitution or if it is an unenumerated
right such as the fundamental right to travel.
MichaelG
What part of ’shall not be infringed’ don’t you understand?

]]> By: Sailorcurt http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Sailorcurt Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:29:13 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-18 I have to wonder if they're being told to say that even though they know its not enforceable. If they can bully someone into not taking/deleting pix, they win. I'd be willing to bet if you call their bluff and say "Arrest me then", they'll back down about it. If not, it may take a sacrificial lamb or two to be illegally detained and sue the security guard/company into oblivion to get it to stop. I have to wonder if they’re being told to say that even though they know its not enforceable. If they can bully someone into not taking/deleting pix, they win. I’d be willing to bet if you call their bluff and say “Arrest me then”, they’ll back down about it.

If not, it may take a sacrificial lamb or two to be illegally detained and sue the security guard/company into oblivion to get it to stop.

]]> By: SayUncle » The watchmen don’t like to be watched http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-17 SayUncle » The watchmen don’t like to be watched Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:43:34 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-17 [...] to some security guard with a master’s degree, it’s illegal to take pictures of public buildings you pay for: When I got to to the building, I stood across the street with my wide angle (to fit the huge [...] [...] to some security guard with a master’s degree, it’s illegal to take pictures of public buildings you pay for: When I got to to the building, I stood across the street with my wide angle (to fit the huge [...]

]]> By: F-Stop http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-16 F-Stop Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:58:23 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-16 A couple of years back, I wanted to try my hand at some night photography with my new camera and tripod. I was downtown, on Main, right across the street from the old Whittle Bldg. which had recently been converted to the Federal Courthouse and Post Office. I took a couple of timed exposures, when this private security guard from the bank came and told me "You can't do that. You can't be taking no pictures of that building because of Nine Eleven..." I couldn't believe what i'd been told. I looked at the guy and said, "Well, I just took a few pictures of that building. And i'm gonna take a few more." I thought he was going to call the police, which I would have welcomed. I'm not a terrorist; i'm doing nothing wrong. This is a public building, out in the open in front of all humanity every single day. It's not a secret military installation, it's our building, a part of the landscape. It will be a damned sad day in America when we lose the right to photograph a public building. A couple of years back, I wanted to try my hand at some night photography with my new camera and tripod. I was downtown, on Main, right across the street from the old Whittle Bldg. which had recently been converted to the Federal Courthouse and Post Office. I took a couple of timed exposures, when this private security guard from the bank came and told me “You can’t do that. You can’t be taking no pictures of that building because of Nine Eleven…”

I couldn’t believe what i’d been told. I looked at the guy and said, “Well, I just took a few pictures of that building. And i’m gonna take a few more.” I thought he was going to call the police, which I would have welcomed. I’m not a terrorist; i’m doing nothing wrong. This is a public building, out in the open in front of all humanity every single day. It’s not a secret military installation, it’s our building, a part of the landscape.

It will be a damned sad day in America when we lose the right to photograph a public building.

]]> By: Sam http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Sam Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:51:39 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-15 This is ridiculous. You should not only return to the very site you were harassed at, but get some shots of this dim-witted buffoon. Stop making up laws... or I'll SHOOT! This is ridiculous. You should not only return to the very site you were harassed at, but get some shots of this dim-witted buffoon. Stop making up laws… or I’ll SHOOT!

]]> By: Jim http://www.thinklia.com/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Jim Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:57 +0000 http://thinklia.com/blog/2008/01/27/whatever-happened-to-my-rights/#comment-14 I took a non credit photography class at UT last year and the same yhing happened to us. Ther was maybe 45 of us we decided not to fight. You are right, there is no law, just a renta cop who thinks there is a law. I took a non credit photography class at UT last year and the same yhing happened to us. Ther was maybe 45 of us we decided not to fight. You are right, there is no law, just a renta cop who thinks there is a law.

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