Bad times for Photographers in NYC

[epoh]

Check this mess out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/ny...gewanted=print

Some tourists, amateur photographers, even would-be filmmakers hoping to make it big on YouTube could soon be forced to obtain a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance before taking pictures or filming on city property, including sidewalks.

New rules being considered by the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting would require any group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour to get a city permit and insurance.

The same requirements would apply to any group of five or more people who plan to use a tripod in a public location for more than 10 minutes, including the time it takes to set up the equipment.

[JamesB]

when will it ever end.

James

[barP]

doesn't sound to me like it affects the individual street shooter at all.

wp.

[epoh]

Will - Unless someone else within 100 feet of you also happens to have a camera on their person. You don't even have to be shooting anything.

[JohnT]

"The rules are intended to set standards for professional filmmakers and photographers, said Ms. Cho, assistant commissioner of the film office, but the language of the draft makes no such distinction."

Bull. Just another example of Big Brother trying to look over your shoulder.

[Dobick]

The film office held a public hearing on the proposed rules yesterday, but no one attended. The only written comments the department received were from the civil liberties group, Ms. Cho said.

To me, this is the most telling of quotes from that entire article.

(I was going to insert some witty remark about the effects of apathy on this country, but I just don't care enough about that to do it)

[NathanJK]

I wonder how this would affect working pro's...would you have to obtain a permit before having a portrait session in a city park? Talk about a pain in the @$$!

[kb5kjn]

Here is the link to the NYCLU article.

The new proposed rules, which the City quietly published the Friday of Memorial Day weekend...

edit: to fix spelling

[PeteQ]

The ACLU will be issuing a lawsuit any moment. The language is way too vague and after the city pays out for "selective enforcement" a few times this will pass...

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by NathanJK

I wonder how this would affect working pro's...would you have to obtain a permit before having a portrait session in a city park? Talk about a pain in the @$$!

That's been required for a long time....

[Xposure Photo]

well, that means we have 29 minutes to get the shots and we can bring a tripod in the last 9 minutes lol so we just make sure we have a good shot in that frame time, so it means planning ahead of time, studying you shot...it is verry possible to stay under the radar, now, does it count if no one is arround from the government to count time? and does that means once a day or can you leave and come right back for another 29 minutes? Kool! then we are ok! ant least we leave time for other shooters to have their shots and not just 1 person having the good spot for several hours in a row lol

[PeteQ]

Originally Posted by Xposure Photo

well, that means we have 29 minutes to get the shots and we can bring a tripod in the last 9 minutes lol so we just make sure we have a good shot in that frame time, so it means planning ahead of time, studying you shot...it is verry possible to stay under the radar, now, does it count if no one is arround from the government to count time? and does that means once a day or can you leave and come right back for another 29 minutes? Kool! then we are ok! ant least we leave time for other shooters to have their shots and not just 1 person having the good spot for several hours in a row lol

Exactly, you will see groups of photogs playing cat and mouse around these constraints just to rile things up.

29:55, 29:56, 29:57...Ok, I' m outta here as I step outside the 100' circle....

[TxManx]

My take on this?

If this is enacted, it won't affect the casual photographer, or the professionals...HOWEVER, it will give the police broad powers of harassment if and when they want to screw with someone...

End result will be that people will lose their camera equipment, their pictures, etc. - INDEFINITELY - and potentially be arrested if they complain or argue.

A lot will depend on whether or not it's a fine based offense, or considered an arresting offense...

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Xposure Photo

well, that means we have 29 minutes to get the shots and we can bring a tripod in the last 9 minutes lol so we just make sure we have a good shot in that frame time, so it means planning ahead of time, studying you shot...it is verry possible to stay under the radar, now, does it count if no one is arround from the government to count time? and does that means once a day or can you leave and come right back for another 29 minutes? Kool! then we are ok! ant least we leave time for other shooters to have their shots and not just 1 person having the good spot for several hours in a row lol

New York has always required a permit from the mayor's office for using a tripod on any public sidewalk for any amount of time.

[boomerd35]

Originally Posted by PeteQ

Exactly, you will see groups of photogs playing cat and mouse around these constraints just to rile things up.

29:55, 29:56, 29:57...Ok, I' m outta here as I step outside the 100' circle....

And I'm sure you'll see different methods of holding a camera steady besides "tripod" to get around the law (harness systems,etc.). Hello, IS!