{"id":327,"date":"2008-03-18T08:25:18","date_gmt":"2008-03-18T15:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bspcn.com\/2008\/03\/18\/the-10-legal-commandments-of-photography\/"},"modified":"2008-03-18T08:25:18","modified_gmt":"2008-03-18T15:25:18","slug":"the-10-legal-commandments-of-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/2008\/03\/18\/the-10-legal-commandments-of-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Legal Commandments of Photography*"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by photojojo<\/a><\/p>\n

\"handcuffed<\/p>\n

Say you’re out for a photographic stroll, taking pictures of that cool old power plant on the edge of town. Suddenly seventy security guards swarm you and demand you hand over your camera.<\/p>\n

“What is this,” you ask yourself, “a Michael Moore movie?”<\/p>\n

You’re sure you haven’t done anything wrong, but you don’t know whose side the law is on. Fret no more- we’ve got a list of things you can and can’t do, and it’s a lot more permissive than you might think.<\/p>\n

Now grab your camera back from that Rent-A-Cop and let’s hit the books.<\/p>\n

Photography and The Law: Know Your Rights<\/em><\/p>\n

*Charlton Heston not included<\/p>\n

p.s. Thanks to everybody who entered our “Monday Stinks!” contest! Congratulations to Notorious D.A.V., Warren Photography, evaded, mommaozzy 84, biancaprime, berdandy, spade, AnasBananas, trenity00, andreskrey, determinedforce01, ladibug, killbyte, Nellofcourse and Mia!<\/p>\n

Before we get started here, we have to point out that even though we’re smart and awesome and devastatingly attractive, we’re not lawyers<\/em>. None of this should be construed as legal advice. If you have a legal issue, get in touch with a lawyer. Much of this information was gleaned from attorney Bert P. Krages<\/a>‘ website, so we’ll go ahead and recommend him.<\/p>\n

The Ten Legal Commandments of Photography<\/h4>\n

I<\/strong>. Anyone in a public place can take pictures of anything they want. Public places include parks, sidewalks, malls, etc. Malls? Yeah. Even though it’s technically private property, being open to the public makes it public space.<\/p>\n

II<\/strong>. If you are on public property, you can take pictures of private property. If a building, for example, is visible from the sidewalk, it’s fair game.<\/p>\n

III<\/strong>. If you are on private property and are asked not to take pictures, you are obligated to honor that request. This includes posted signs.<\/p>\n

IV<\/strong>. Sensitive government buildings (military bases, nuclear facilities) can prohibit photography if it is deemed a threat to national security.<\/p>\n

V<\/strong>. People can be photographed if they are in public (without their consent) unless they have secluded themselves and can expect a reasonable degree of privacy. Kids swimming in a fountain? Okay. Somebody entering their PIN at the ATM? Not okay.<\/p>\n

VI<\/strong>. The following can almost always be photographed from public places, despite popular opinion:<\/p>\n