Have you ever been stopped from shooting at the airport?

Have you ever been stopped from shooting at the airport? Last year, I stopped in a parking lot just outside of ATL to try out my new 100-400, and was almost arreasted by the ATL Police before I could even get one picture. I was off of airport property and was told that taking any pictures of aircraft and of the airport was illegal. I questions this and did get to go home, but I did follow up with the ATL Police, FAA and TSA and got the real answer that they did not want to deal with all of the calls about someone taking pictures of the airport.

Anybody else ever have problems?

The public and authorities are very skittish about potential terrorist action directed at commercial airlines. Right or wrong, and probably based on watching way too many "24" episodes, they think that photographs will be the prelude. They are watching all the time. Knowing that, I would never ever whip out a camera anywhere near the exterior of an airport. If I needed to get shots of this type, I would seek written permission beforehand and let the authorities know exactly when I was going to do the shoot -- like getting a phone number and calling them with, "Hi, I'm outside the British Air terminal right now. I have permission to take photographs from airport authorities." Or stopping in the airport security office on the way to the shoot to show them the permission.

I have recently taken pictures inside Ohare, LAX, and Honolulu without incident.

In 2005, I was in San Francisco for Fleet Week. On Sunday, I went to a parking garage just outside of SFO to catch the Blue Angels taking off. When I got to the top floor, it looked like a police convention. My first thought was that they would tell me to leave, but it was just the opposite. When they saw my long lens, they encouraged me to get a good spot and asked for my business card to see the photos. If someone calls in a complaint, the police are obligated to investigate.

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I have never had problems. I usually do a last minute test of everything at the airport... a bit late I know! And I don't hide it at all. I'm swapping lenses and going through everything. Even shooting the ground control towers, I have never been given a second look, no less stopped.

I would say you ended up talking to an overzealous officer. As both a Commercial Airline Pilot and photographer there is really nothing you can photo about an airport or an aircraft that isn't alread on the web, sometimes from their own "Port" websites. I once was told I couldn't take pictures of a hotel I was staying at for the same reason...this in the middle of LA. They were afraid of terrorist targeting. Quality Inn in the middle of nowhere. Next time, show them your ID and ask for the specific law (section number) preventing you from doing this...be nice obviously but I'll bet they'll look at the ID and move on themselves.

It's been a mixed bag for me, depending on the airport. Some are more strict than others. While technically they don't have any legal ground to arrest you if you aren't on airport property, they can sure make your life hell and thus it's just not worth the fight. As almost everyone knows, being incredibly kind and cooperative goes a very long way with law enforcement.

Individual airports and my experience with them:

Memphis: No probs at all but others have had very bad luck in the past

Nashville: No probs

St. Louis: OMG, don't even THINK about it. There's a Boeing plant there that makes F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-15Ks for the South Korean Air Force. There is one place I found off site that is photo-friendly (it's even close to a police field office) but NOWHERE on airport property is photography allowed or tolerated.

Manchester NH: Another one to not even think about. Cops are very strict there. Why? Who knows..

Phoenix: No probs.

Louisville KY: No probs.

Chicago Midway: Surpisingly no probs.

Chicago O'Hare: Same thing, easy peasy lemon squeezy

NY JFK: Used to be photo friendly, haven't been there in a couple years.

LAX: Photo friendly

Whiteman AFB, home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber: I had no problems whatsoever taking pics from just outside the base fence. They have a very imposing security presence but I got zero flack for taking pics. I was very surprised.

Indy: Tends to be more picky than not. Cops are friendly but don't want you snapping away.

That's all I can think of for now... there is a location info forum on Fencecheck.com that can be found here...

http://www.fencecheck.​com …index.php/board​,46.0.html

I purposely don't take my "professional" camera out at airports except maybe to take pictures of my own family. People are nervous and I don't really want to add to it, since I don't want to be thrown off a plane or have my flight delayed. But I can see how someone who enjoys taking pictures can be irritated by the limitations. Here in the DC area, everyone is on alert, so no shooting of any kind for me.

SuzyView wrote in post #7009677
I purposely don't take my "professional" camera out at airports except maybe to take pictures of my own family. People are nervous and I don't really want to add to it, since I don't want to be thrown off a plane or have my flight delayed. But I can see how someone who enjoys taking pictures can be irritated by the limitations. Here in the DC area, everyone is on alert, so no shooting of any kind for me.

You can stand in the park adjacent to Reagan National and shoot all day...

I've taking photos at Houston Intercontinental without any issues. But I think this is because I called their security office when shooting from the garages. They have a spotting parking lot which is awesome though. It's at the end of 27L.

SuzyView wrote in post #7009677
... Here in the DC area, everyone is on alert, so no shooting of any kind for me.

This is where I am as well. I have never even been looked at at either Reagan Nat. or Dulles.

mycole wrote in post #7009570
Whiteman AFB, home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber: I had no problems whatsoever taking pics from just outside the base fence. They have a very imposing security presence but I got zero flack for taking pics. I was very surprised.

Cheyenne Ave. on the south side of Nellis AFB is a popular spot and has never been a problem, even with a long lens. As long as you are off the base, they don't mind what you shoot. Shooting inside an airport terminal might be a different matter.

FLphotoguy wrote in post #7012901
Cheyenne Ave. on the south side of Nellis AFB is a popular spot and has never been a problem, even with a long lens. As long as you are off the base, they don't mind what you shoot. Shooting inside an airport terminal might be a different matter.

Farther north along Las Vegas Blvd (at about what would be mid field) is a good place to shoot from as well. The mountain makes a nice background when you catch a jet taking off toward the north, just as they get above the fence line.

I just shot a series of feature photos at JFK Airport. I spent 2hrs wandering through four terminals, no one said a word to me. I wasn't subtle at all.

In fact at at Terminal 7 I was shooting a baggage template, near the TSA checkpoint when a Port Authority Police Officer stopped me. He told me I couldn't shoot security.I told him I was shooting the United Airlines cabin baggage template. The police officer didn't question me, he nodded and said "OK then" and walked off.

I was there, laying on the floor with a pro-body ad 16-35f2.8 to my face and another pro body (1Ds) with 70-200f2.8 hanging off my shoulder....never questioned me.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #7014041
Farther north along Las Vegas Blvd (at about what would be mid field) is a good place to shoot from as well. The mountain makes a nice background when you catch a jet taking off toward the north, just as they get above the fence line.

Just make sure you stay on the west side of Las Vegas Blvd (the side the Speedway is on). If you cross over to the east side, the m.p.s will stop you as you are on base property.