Need Help From Everyone...

[Arcusmedia]

Ok So Tomorrow I am shooting a rather controversial Event...

These people have been known to throw stuff and sue people over the most retarded stuff...

What I am trying to figure out is how do I protect myself...

If I stand on a public Sidewalk will I still have the right to take the pics?

I am taking the pictures for a newspaper But I want to make sure I protect myself :)

Any Other advice?

just for those who are curious I am shooting the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) Jew Protests http://www.godhatesfags.com/schedule.html.

[tc95]

I would pick-up a 800mm long lens...and go to a roof top.......

Na seriously....I would think You might want to wear something bright with the word press on it..also carry around a pass from the newspaper you are working for...put a uv filter on the lens...and have a bag ready to put your gear in...just in case...

Really don't know never been in your situation...

[Arcusmedia]

lol all good advice! i have a pink press pass that i can use! i am just told to stay on the sidewalk hehe

[ramblinray]

My philosophy would be to not go. Why give them any press at all? They are attention seekers and do what they do to get it. Don't give in to the urge. Ignore them and pray they eventually go away.

[Arcusmedia]

Well i am getting paid that is why :)

[Jeff_Green]

Originally Posted by ramblinray

My philosophy would be to not go. Why give them any press at all? They are attention seekers and do what they do to get it. Don't give in to the urge. Ignore them and pray they eventually go away.

Why? Because this is a job from the NEWSPAPER? It's their job to report the news? Good or bad (I do agree with you, personally) this is news... and pays bills.

[tertius]

Is the pay worth you possibly getting injured or the support of their cause?

All press is good press.

[Arcusmedia]

im smart enough not to get injured and have advice from my lawyer on what to NOT do and What TO do :)

[Dobick]

I may be wrong -- but I have never heard of the WBC folks being violent. They tend to walk the straight and narrow as far as the law is concerned.

Every event not associated with the military seems to be fairly non-eventful. They sometimes draw a crowd of curious on-lookers, and a few counter protestors.

I doubt very seriously it will live up to the expectations in your mind

[texkam]

My philosophy would be to not go. Why give them any press at all? They are attention seekers and do what they do to get it. Don't give in to the urge. Ignore them and pray they eventually go away.

Sometimes you must. My Dad and and his peers at the Louisville Courier Journal HAD to cover the protests over school desegregation back in '75. That's the job of a staff photographer. It got very dicey at times even to the point of some KKK dude, having a problem with my Dad shooting pics of him. When he demanded the camera, my Dad, thinking quickly, flipped open the back, pulled out the film and said here you go. He lost that shot, but got others. The staff shared a Pulitzer for the coverage. : )

Of course, he was a full-time staff photographer for a major newspaper. You need to ask yourself what degree of danger are you willing to put yourself in for what you are getting paid. Risk v. reward. Take a long lens and shoot from a distance if it's bad. As mentioned,

You might want to wear something bright with the word press on it..also carry around a pass from the newspaper you are working for...put a uv filter on the lens...and have a bag ready to put your gear in...just in case...

bring spare cards and use common sense.

[markfh]

Originally Posted by tertius

All press is good press.

Sorry but that's funny.

[Imagebuffet]

Let us know how it goes.

[Colyn]

Originally Posted by Dobick

I may be wrong -- but I have never heard of the WBC folks being violent. They tend to walk the straight and narrow as far as the law is concerned.

You obviously have never seen them up close. If you make them mad they do a lot of pushing.. I also saw a couple of them throw rocks..

They think they are above the law so they don't see violence as a breech of law...

[brewercm]

Good luck. I wish these people would crawl back under the rock they came from. Makes me sick to see these people do what they do. Too many of our brother in arms families have had to suffer through their rediculous protests as they are putting their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, etc. to rest. This after they have put their life on the line for reasons none of these morons could ever understand, not to mention doing it so these idiots have the right to do what they do.

[Charles Putnam]

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