You ever been told you can not take a photo?

I was at a local mall the other day picking up the wife from work. Decided to go out and wait in the car (it was close to time for her to get off work). On the way out, I stopped and looked at the mall Christmas tree. There was about 4 or 5 other people standing there taking pictures with thier phones. So I said what the heck. I spun my camera around (not about to leave it in the car in the mall parking lot) on the shoulder strap and fired off a couple photos of the tree. Turned it back off and walked outside. Halfway to the car I kept hearing , sir, sir! So I turned around and there was mall security. Sir, do you have permission to take photos here? What were you taking photos of? Don't do it again........

What the heck? The other people were taking photos with thier phones. I can't do it because I have a "camera"?

Just don't do it again.

LOL........So, have any of you ever been told you can not take a photo or been run off because you did?

Malls are private property, just because they talked to you and not the other people doesn't mean they were wrong.

If you want to read plenty about people's past experiences with it, do a search for "mall" in this sub-forum. It's been an oft-discussed topic. Bottom line is that malls are private property and they can enforce "no photography" policies. Shooting with a camera vs. shooting with a phone has been an oft-discussed topic as well - right or wrong, a DSLR is just more conspicuous and is equated with "pro" photographers, whereas a phone camera isn't. Just the way it goes <shrug>.

Security guards in Millennium park have given "pro" photographers --people with tripods--a hard time for not having a proper permit.

While countless folks with cell cameras and P&S's aren't given a second look.

Private property--He who has the gold makes the rules

PeteD wrote in post #13486489
What the heck? The other people were taking photos with thier phones. I can't do it because I have a "camera"?

Sometimes you just have to accept that some people are stupid. Even if they're in positions of authority.

If they think that you capturing photons of light with a large black box is somehow more dangerous (?) than someone capturing photons with a smaller plastic box then you have to abide by their rules as you're on private property.

LOL.......I understand the whole private property thing and he was just doing his job I guess. But, it suprised me that I was singled out....Not mad or anything.

I could see how most people would get that confused. Thinking a mall is public property but someone owns that building and it is privately owned. It's up to the owners I guess. I was at a large mall in the Chicago suburbs about 10 years ago taking photos of their huge 3 story tree they put up every year and had no hassles. I walked all around that tree on a couple different levels getting pictures of the animated characters on it. It is quite the spectacle.

dave kadolph wrote in post #13486550
Security guards in Millennium park have given "pro" photographers --people with tripods--a hard time for not having a proper permit.

A lot of cities have a tripod permit requirement. You can shoot all day all over town all you want. But as soon as you set up the tripod there is problems. They often cite it as a public safty issue.

JoYork wrote in post #13486557
Sometimes you just have to accept that some people are stupid. Especially when they're in positions of authority...

Having done that sort of security when I first started working, I know the kind of hiring "process" that you go through to get one of those jobs...

It really is, frequently, the type of job one does without independent thought or discretion. it's even POSSIBLE that they've been told to specifically deny SLRs or other large cameras


That said, I haven't run into the whole "you can't do that here" with my camera, yet; although, I'm sure it's a matter of time.

I went into a cool store a few months ago. They had some neat figurines, little statues, carvings, and other cool stuff from different countries. I started taking pictures here and there.

A lady came up to me and said "We actually don't allow photography". So, I just said, "OK Sorry " and put on the lens cap. No biggie.

However, before I even walked in the store I looked all over the door and front windows for a "No Photography" sign and didn't see one.

Not a problem, but if I had seen a sign I wouldn't have taken any in the first place.

Jason

I have posted this here on POTN before but here was my experience with being told not to take photos.

I was at an outlet mall here in South West Florida just taking some family shots of my wife and child. MY 7D and my 28-135 in hand and a security guard approached me and conversation goes
-Security guard -"you can not take pictures here"
-Me - "why:
-Security Guard - "it's private property and we do not allow cameras on property"
-Me - "ok no problem, but do you instruct every person with a camera/phone to put it away"
-Security Guard - "no only people with the big ones"

WOW I guess it's private property and I can not argue but it sounds like discrimination to me. Kind of made me chuckle to be honest.

Understand that this is one of the few opportunities rent-a-cops get to actually do stuff. Don't deprive them of that moment.

'large camera' can equate to 'pro photographer' and they do not want any pro to make money from photos taken without the property release (and probably, the payment of some fee for the privelege) from the shopping center management. They know that no self-respecting pro would even use photos from a P&S or camera phone.

Mark1 wrote in post #13486759
A lot of cities have a tripod permit requirement. You can shoot all day all over town all you want. But as soon as you set up the tripod there is problems. They often cite it as a public safty issue.

I can see that being a valid argument. Tripod legs can be a hazard to people walking by in crowded areas, I know I have tripped over my own tripod many times..

sherman oaks galleria. its an outdoor mall in the la area. surrounded by a some office towers. i took a photo of the buildings casting shadows onto the pedestrian walk way (between the shops) with a powershot sd1200is. i got approached by security. they told me its a security/terrorist thing. i got approached even with a point and shoot. i guess them teenage girls taking photos of their friends could be a terror threat now at the mall.