“No Pictures Allowed”
In my equipment page, I mentioned how I got started in photography. After actively being taking pictures for a bit over a year, I have started to run into situations I was not expecting to run into, namely the “No Pictures Allowed” policy. Now, before I continue, I will highly suggest everybody read this article regarding photography laws in Canada.
Are you still here? OK, good. Here is my take:
- If there is a note saying “No Pictures”, I will honour the request and not take any pictures. As mentioned in my PNE post, local artist Mei Yu had a note request no pictures to be taken and I honoured that request.
- If there is no note and I am in a public place, it is fair game.
However, when it comes to semi-public places I have a big pet peeve. Which semi-public places? Well, malls, restaurants, et al. When I was in Hamilton, LD wanted to go to a nearby mall and our colleagues in Hamilton suggested Mapleview in Burlington. I was not really interested in shopping at all but it was all for LD. Why I ended up there too? Well, I was the designated driver for this trip…
Anyway, while LD was shopping, I bring my Nikon with me and started taking pictures, like these two:
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Click on pictures above for the large version of the pictures.
After I took these two and walking to the other end of the mall, somebody from the mall told me no pictures were allowed. Now, since it was asked nicely, I put my camera away without even asking why. Of course, I was a bit unhappy. Why? If you read the link above about photography laws in Canada, it tells you not to (when confronted): “Be accusing. There is no reason they should put up a ‘no photography’ sign, this is not their fault. Telling you is just as effective as putting up a sign in the eyes of the law, however, prior to them telling you that photography is not allowed, it was implied that photography was allowed, so legally, you are on solid ground, as long as you don’t take a photo after they tell you not to”. I must make emphasis on this section because of this:
Picture taken with my cell phone
Anyway, putting that aside, that is not the part that bugged me the most. Instead, it was the fact there is a Black’s in the mall… I find it a bit hypocritical the mall allows cameras being sold, yet you are not allowed to use it (please, no buy gun references here) - something that reminds me of this. An even odder situation, after I took the pictures for my post on The Market Buffet, I was told no pictures allowed… In a restaurant?! C’mmon!
Any comments on this? Was I too hypersensitive on this? What is your take on taking pictures in public or semi-public places?
An interesting topic of discussion. As a fellow photographer (go Nikon!) its something I’ve discussed on many occasions with colleagues. I’ve never been approached to stop shooting as you have in public spaces, though have seen signs asking that no photography take place. I figure as long as nobody is requesting I stop and its public space, I can shoot to my heart’s content. (^o^)
Thanks for your comment!
Yup, as mentioned above, that’s something I do, as well. However, what if there is no specific rule? What if you are in a restaurant and, when you take out your camera, the maitre d’ tells you no pictures allowed, despite you can’t see any sign?
I have the odd feeling they are not aware of what a picture can do for them. No publicity is bad publicity? I might be digressing here…
That’s why I just use my phone in public. I’m terrified of someone confronting me because I hate attention in public.
Was reading the Daily Mail and in London an older lady was taking photos in a mall and the security told her to stop because it’s a “terrorist threat”.
Come to think about it, that makes sense! For some odd reason, it seems some people feel intimidated by the size of a dSLR compared to other point-n-click digital camera. Still…
Did that situation actually happen to you?
I try as much as possible to shoot quite discretely, sacrificing quality sometimes when I shoot indoors at restaurants. But I’ve got a technique down pat and have my settings ready to go before I take out my camera, so I can get my shots off really quick without anyone noticing.
A P&S camera definitely helps for those more difficult situations though.
For people, I can see them not wanting to be shot, and I do that kind of photography only in very public places (e.g. when they are performers) and can expect to be photographed.
Yup, it happened to me… Twice… Since it happened in a really short period of time (during my one week trip to Ontario), I guess that’s might explain why I am annoyed. On the other hand, I have been shooting for over a year here in BC and nobody has stopped me, except in places I knowingly you are not allowed to take pictures (casinos, et al) or I am aware people have something to “hide” (stands selling dubious merchandise in the Chinese Night Market, for example).
By default, I have my camera set up to Programmed Auto, ISO 200 and Cloudy -1. I would say about 80% of the time they do a really good job. If I am in a situation where things are a bit more complicated, I switch them to Auto-No Flash, ISO 200 and Auto WB so, in a way, I am not too concerned with settings. But, then again, the fact the body alone of a dLSR is larger than any PS camera, it makes it difficult to “hide”. I guess I will have to get a PS for those other cases.