I have read quite a few articles about people running into problems taking photos these days, particularly in the states.

Here is another one:

http://www.brownequalsterrorist.com/artiststatement/


I have also read about people taking photos at beaches or playgrounds being accused of being pedophiles when they aren't even taking pictures of kids and they have the cops called on them and are interrogated.

and the sad thing is even if you are told the wrong information and/or detained without merit you can't really do anything about it. You are basically helpless.

:(

pfff, pathetic...

Thats just crazy.

I remember reading a huge article few years back that was talking about those issues.
I've never had that problem (yet) although sometimes I get strange looks when I'm photographing something that others wouldn't.
I've also read that in bigger metropolitan areas you have to have a permit to shoot in subway :thbsdown:

So much for "Land of the Free"!

I don't think any of us will experience similar problems... that is, those of us who don't look Arab.

It all depends on the situation.
This has nothing to do with photography but as you may (or may not) know I was born in Ex. Yugoslavia therefore I don't have an English name. Jay is just something that was given to me by a friend. Anyway, right after 9-11-01, x-mas, me and my girlfriend were flying to Oregon to see her mom. At that time the airport security was very tight and they were all very paranoid. Now, they implemented this thing called "random check" at the gates (not the band called "at the gates" :cheeky: ). In case you don't know how this works, I'll explain: When you buy a ticked you of course have to give them your personal information (name etc...) so they have it in the database. Also, when you are given the boarding pass all of the info you have given them is included on it and at the gate you pass is scanned. By random people are selected to have their carry on luggage searched. Of course I think this is a good idea. BUT ... since I didn't have English sounding name I was "flagged" as a "threat" so through 3 airport on the way to Oregon then on the way back I was searched 6 times. Including my girlfriend since she has paid for the tickets.

I don't look, sound or behave like "Arab" (whatever that may be) but my name was just out of the ordinary and that triggered the "random" searching.

Make what you want out of it but I think what they are doing is just finding the easy way of "fixing" things without any care on how this affects minority that are being discriminated against.

[/rant]

thats just wrong on soo many levels. Just shows you, and proves, why the patriot act was rushed and not even read. Just sad really. We get soo caught up in this now, that neighbors, who get in a fight, can call in and say they are a threat to the country, just cause you mad them mad. Scary and sad at the same time.

after reading your post Nemesis, yea, i remember my dad going on a trip and they did "random checks" and this 80 year old dude, in sandles, got pulled over and searched! just crazy really...

Prior to reading this story I found it awkard taking photographs in public. Especially when I'm attempting some abstract photography, macro shots, and shots of odd subjects for textures to be used in photoshop. I can always feel the people staring at me and hearthem making jokes and ignorant comments about me. Now I have yet another thing to fuel my paranoia of taking odd photographs in public! :gosh:

Shave your head and get tattooed. You'll get stares but no laughing ;)

Shave your head and get tattooed. You'll get stares but no laughing ;)
True, but you see, I'm trying to blend in with the crowd, not stand out like a sore thumb. All I need is to look like a 6 foot 2 hispanic skinhead (is that an oxymoron?) with a camera and an iPod. There goes my chances of some nice candid street photography.

omg it sounds like serious. can't believe the cops suspensed the student who is a photographer :s

that's so lame :/...

I also get strange looks sometimes, people whispering and pointing but I really don't care. Sometimes I take sots of people who're looking strange and whispering just for the fun of it (delete them at once of course. don't want their pathetic faces to take space).. but they don't know that ;).

I just finished reading that entire article. All I can say is holy crap! That article had my jaw on the floor. The state of our country is truly horrific right now. In a time of terrorism, all of our rights go out the window (patriot act). That sure shows how meaningless our rights truly are. I don't remember getting a vote on the patriot act, do YOU? Truly disgusting. As for the specifics of what happened to this poor guy, I'd be willing to bet he made it 10 times worse by not simply providing his ID to the second security guard with the german shepard. All of this because of a freaking camera in a tourist spot! Yikes! I'll be passing this article around to everyone I know.