It's a Brave New World

If you're a hobbyist or professional photographer and haven't already been approached by police, private security, secret service, rent-a-cop, etc. telling you that 'photography is prohibited on these premises,' then it's probably just a matter of time before you are.

I try to be fairly sensitive about when to leave my camera in the bag, but I can think of a couple of times when I've been 'busted' for using a camera:

One of those was already been mentioned on this site: here. That was at the airport several years ago (I can hardly believe that was 3 years ago!).

The other was more recently, just before Christmas just a couple months ago at a local mall.

Neither were a big deal.

But more and more, photographers' rights to make photographs while on public property are being questioned and threatened.

photopermit.org is a site with hundreds of such stories.

Bert P. Krages II has an excellent website and downloadable pamphlet that explain a photographer's rights and obligations during such confrontations.

USATODAY.com's Andrew Kantor has also written two good articles on the issue [one & two].

Finally, at the PMA (Photo Marketing Association) convention a couple of weeks ago, SIGMA announced a couple of new lenses of interest.

Check it out:

This gentleman is holding the Sigma APO 200-500mm F2.8 lens. See that little object in his left hand? That's a normal-sized SLR camera. In this day and age, try pointing that thing at a Federal Building in any large city and you'll get yourself shot on sight.


Use the military green version of the lens and they'll skip the sniper and just call in an air strike, and ask questions later!

Films Recently Watched:

Blood Diamond (2006) dir. by Edward Zwick

The Da Vinci Code (2006) dir. by Ron Howard
This had been on my 'must see' list for months. Finally got around to it. I really don't see what all the conservative fuss was about.

Flags of Our Fathers (2006) dir. by Clint Eastwood
Interesting story of an iconic photograph.



Happy Feet (2006) dir. by George Miller, Warren Coleman, Judy Morris
Cute. I loved that the DVD includes what may have been the inspiration for the movie, the classic 1936 Warner Bros. cartoon, 'I Love to Singa.' "Enough is too much!" I also love the telegraph gag, too. STOP! Hilarious.

Lilo & Stitch (2002) dir. by Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

The Queen (2006) dir. by Stephen Frears
Helen Mirren earned her Oscar. She is The Queen

Also, I'm waiting for the final few discs of 'Heroes' - Season 1 to become available at the library -- in the meantime, I found '24' - Season 1 and just finished that. It was kind of strange to be watching it now of all times. I didn't know this when I began watching, but the events of the first season take place on the day of the California presidential primary when one of the candidates in the story is black. Original airdates were in 2001-02.