Thursday, February 25, 2010

it could happen here

I have just been made aware of the story (and video, here) of an amateur photographer in the UK who was detained for eight hours under a section of the terrorist act. He was photographing Christmas scenes. Every couple of weeks I hear about a similar situation, usually in the UK, although sometimes here in the USA, too.

Now, I don't know how it works in the UK, but here in the USA, a photographer is well within his rights to photograph whatever he wants, with only a few exceptions. If you are shooting from a public place, you can shoot anything you want, except a person in a situation wherein they have an expectation of privacy. This can be a tricky bit of semantics, but I expect that most people possessing some common-sense will figure it out. Don't try to shoot somebody in a bathroom or dressing room. You can shoot them on the beach, but you're probably just better off not.

You may find yourself in a spot of hot water if you attempt to photograph anything related to the military, the federal government, or possibly local law-enforcement. And I'm told you'd better beware in NYC with landmarks and public transportation.

Also, just because you may, ultimately, have the law on your side regarding most of your photographic endeavors, that doesn't mean you won't get stopped by the police, questioned, and possibly even detained or arrested. Often, the police think they can legally stop you for photographing even when they cannot/shouldn't. You may find yourself being in the right all the way to a jail cell.

Now, when I say that you have a right to photograph just about anything you want, you must understand that you might easily not have the same sort of latitude when it comes to the displaying or publishing of your images. If the subject matter is private property or a copyrighted work, you may not be able to do anything with the image without permission. If the subject is a person, you are at some liberty with editorial or artistic uses, but any commercial use will require permission unless you really can't discern the person's identity.

I've never been stopped by police when photographing, but I've been stopped on several occasions by security guards, random do-gooders, and a rare competitor (especially when they are the "official photographer" at an event and I am shooting for fun/art/practice). I find these moments annoying and I really can't even imagine the amplification that would be part of an intimidation by police. They do have guns, after all. I prefer all shooting to be done with a camera.

For more information, check out Bert P. Krages II's Photographer's Rights pdf document. You may find it very enlightening!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

buckhorn baths

Interesting mix of old-school America from about the 50's (although the place first opened in '39) and big creepy. The Buckhorn Mineral Baths, Motel, Wildlife Museum (taxidermy) and gifts. Check out some history here.

(click pic for larger)



Sunday, February 21, 2010

diving into the thick of it

Little something I found in Mesa yesterday that makes me very happy...


la casa at encanterra





Saturday, February 20, 2010

rainbow


This afternoon from the area of Power and Williamsfield Rd. (click for larger)....


Thursday, February 18, 2010

friday night fave


My favorite shot from the Johnson Ranch Daddy Daughter dance last Friday night.


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Dawn's egret


Guess who got the big action shot of the day at the Riparian Preserve on Sunday? That's right, Dawn did with this "takey-offy" egret who just did not care too much for us at all.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

food for thought





my most beautiful bride


I shoot a lot of weddings, but this will always be my most beautiful bride.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

egrets, I've had a few....


Found this fellow at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, AZ.


barrel racin'






Shot some barrel racin' in Queen Creek on Saturday (but you won't see any barrels here!) Big fun!


Friday, February 12, 2010

40

budgetary concerns?

Just saw this posted on a forum:

"Faster lenses!
Older whiskey!
Younger women!
No money - spent it all on the first three!"

Ha!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

nearby mountain


Wouldn't that be a great name for a mountain? Nearby Mountain? I'll have to Google it and see if there is one called that anywhere.


warhol

"Photographers feel guilty
that all they do for a living is press a button."

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

maisel

"If you are out there shooting,
things will happen for you.
If you're not out there,
you'll only hear about it."

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

newton

The first 10,000 shots are the worst.

Monday, February 08, 2010

day at the museum




Dawn and I visited the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, yesterday. Dinosaurs, old west stuff, photo exhibit, stuff for kids..... an all-around swell experience that I recommend!


Canon T2i

Canon justed announced a new camera in the Rebel line, the T2i (or 550D overseas). 18 mp, full HD vid (at 24,25, or 30 fps), 3.7 fps stills, ISO up to 12,800, and Digic 4 processing. $800 body only or $900 with kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS).


rowell

"You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day,
and you only get so many days on the planet.
A good photographer does the math
and doesn't waste either."

Saturday, February 06, 2010

penn

"I myself have always stood
in the awe of the camera.
I recognize it for the instrument
that it is, part Stradivarius, part scalpel. "
~ Irving Penn

Friday, February 05, 2010

rope tricks

doisneau

The photographer must be absorbent
-- like a blotter, allow himself
to be permeated by the poetic moment....
His technique should be like an animal function
...he should act automatically.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

twain

"You can't depend on your eyes
if your imagination is out of focus."

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

arbus

"Taking pictures is like
tiptoeing into the kitchen
late at night and
stealing Oreo cookies."

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

evans

Stare.
It is the way to educate your eye, and more.
Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop.
Die knowing something.
You are not here long.

Monday, February 01, 2010

lange

While there is perhaps a province in which
the photograph can tell us nothing more
than what we see with our own eyes,
there is another in which it proves
to us how little our eyes permit us to see.
~Dorothea Lange

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