Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/02

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Documentary Photography 2003
From: frank theriault <knarf.theriault@sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2003 17:53:56 -0400
References: <r01050300-0921-281E9780ABDB11D7A7A72EB9644AA8E4@[66.239.168.61]> <3F02F712.4060001@myrealbox.com>

Hi, David,

Well, my opinion ain't worth a hell of a lot, but I don't think you stepped
over any boundaries or did anything improper.

I wonder exactly what they were planning on arresting you for?  What crime
did you "commit"?  You were presumably standing on the sidewalk, a public
place, so you weren't trespassing.  Other than that, I don't know of a
Criminal Code that says you can't take someone's photograph.  Publishing it
may be a different issue in some places, but taking it isn't, AFAIK.

I've often wondered, were I in a situation like you were, if I'd have the
guts to press the guy.  "What would you arrest me for, sir?  Why have you
removed your gun from it's holster?  How am I threatening you?  Could I
have your name and number, so I can contact Brinks and sue you and the
company as I feel my life threatened by your removal of your gun from its
holster?"  I know it's easy sitting at a computer to think I'd do that, but
it real life, I wonder...

What are these guys worried about anyway?  No one knows that Brinks guards
bring bags and boxes of money in and out of banks?  What would your photos
have portrayed that would assist in a robbery down the road I wonder?  Does
one need to study a photograph to figure out that Brinks trucks park
directly in front of the main entrance to a bank and transport their stuff
in and out?  I mean, I know many criminals are stupid, but hell...  <vbg>

I wonder if Brinks guards are allowed to remove firearms from holsters?  I
know that here in Toronto, every time a police officer removes his sidearm
from it's holster, a full report must be made out.  I'd like to think that
it would be the same with security guards.

Anyway, sorry for the rant.  To sum up, David, you stepped over no
boundaries.  I think the guard did, though...

cheers,
frank

David Degner wrote:

> Why do people feel threatend when they are being photographed?
>
> I was sent on just a quick illustration assignment to get a picture of
> the front of a bank that had been robbed.  While I was there the Brinks
> Security truck pulled up.  This was a more exciting picture than just a
> facade so I stood back a little ways and snapped pictures while they
> carried money in and out.  They man in the truck then leaned out of the
> truck with his revolver in his hand pointed at the ground and said "You
> can't take pictures.  Ill get you arrested."
>
> Was I stepping over any bounderies taking those pictures?  I was on
> public sidewalk at the time.
>
> David Degner
>
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- --
"What a senseless waste of human life"
- -The Customer in Monty Python's Cheese Shop sketch


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Replies: Reply from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] Documentary Photography 2003)
In reply to: Message from George Lottermoser <imagist@concentric.net> (Re: [Leica] Documentary Photography 2003)
Message from David Degner <leicanews@myrealbox.com> (Re: [Leica] Documentary Photography 2003)