If you are a photographer, carry these around

The harassment of photographers, especially in the UK, is of course ridiculous. Terrorists don’t appear to make a big show of photographing sites before bombing them. Besides, in this day of tiny digital cameras that fit on everyone’s mobile phones, you can take photos of something with anyone knowing you are doing so.

From Bruce Schneier’s excellent blog, links to reference cards that explain your rights as a photographer in public for the USA, the UK and Australia. Apparently the English speaking world is affected most by what Schneier has termed the “War on Photography.”

The Photographer’s Right – USA. This additional link looks to have good information on getting model releases, should you ever need to commercialize yourself.

UK Photographers Rights – UK. I would still be concerned about a statement from the Brown government, though.

Street Photographer’s Rights – Australia

and a commenter offered this for Germany – in German of course, but the Polizei would be able to read it.

Basically, you still shouldn’t take photographs of government installations like military bases of course, and power plants, you know just like the USSR or modern China. Wearing a turban while armed (with say a Canon EOS-1D) probably isn’t a good idea in London.

Photography in the UK in continued peril

According to a UK high government official (The Home Secretary) one is subject to detention or arrest in the UK for taking photographs in public, depending on the discretion of local authorities. This is very chilling for professional photographers, as well as the casual amateur or tourist in that country. An earlier post showed that one could be accused of crimes such as pedophilia for taking photos in public.

I like to travel, and I always have a camera with me so I would have to steer clear of the UK when traveling to Europe. Now, do other countries in Europe have similar laws / policies?

Things in America aren’t so much better in some places. You can be held by police in the US II’ve heard of people being detained in New York City) as well for photographing the ‘wrong’ things in public. Authorities should get the memo that says that terrorists don’t go around snapping photos in public.