Re: [Leica] US street shooting laws.....

[TEAShea <TEAShea@aol.com>]

Your questions are excellent.  Let me address them one by one.

<<  What if you take a photo of a crowd scene and there are 20
 people clearly identifiable in your photo.....do you need 20 releases?

A release is only required if the photo is used for commercial purposes.  You
do not need a release to take a photograph in public places. 


 <What if 15 consented and 5 did not......would you not be able to publish
 the photo or could you just blur out the faces of the 5 who did not
 consent?

If your were to use the photo for commercial purposes, you could blur the
faces to make the individuals non-recognizable.
 
< Do I, as a photographer but not a journalist, have the same rights to
 take photos of people on the street as you press people do?  

Yes.  An non-professional has the same constitutional rights as the press.  As
a practical matter, police and other public authorities often give preference
or access to members of the press.

< Can I tell a policeman at an accident scene that I am a photographer and
that I
 have the right to be there to document the scene?  Will he ask me for 
 a press pass?  

This is a practical matter.  Generally, if you want access beyond that given
to the general public, they will ask you for a press pass.  

Tom Shea