I just got back from shooting for a week in Los Angeles and have to say that the highlight of my trip was shooting industrial stuff down in Long Beach Harbor with Photographer David Sommars. David is an amazing photographer who regularly shoots industrial stuff around L.A. and he shared with me some of the most fantastic vantage points to shoot this sort of photography in Long Beach.
Unfortunately our photowalk around the Port of Long Beach was not without incident. Three times we were blinted while photographing. I've been stopped plenty of times while legally shooting in the past. Most of the times I've been able to be respectful but insistent on my legal rights to shoot wherever I'm shooting. Every so often though an incident turns into a more serious altercation.
The first two times Sommars and I were stopped we were stopped by private security agents working for Securitas on behalf of BP's Carson Refinery. They asked us not to shoot the refinery and suggested that it was a "double standard" that we'd insist on our constitutional rights to shoot in public while not honoring BP's request that we not shoot their facility from a public sidewalk. I couldn't quite get my arms around the "double standard" argument coming from BP. Ironically one of the shots that I took of their refinery was probably the largest United States flag I've ever shot. Let's hear it for Patriotism.
The hassle from BP's agents though didn't really bother me all that much. We were insistent on our rights to shoot the facility and they seemed to understand that in the end there was nothing that they could do about it. Their security guard snapped photos of both of us with his camera phone (and I returned the favor of course) and then they followed us when we left in my car in order to get my license plate, but they seemed to pretty clearly understand that while they were free to ask us not to shoot the plant, it was clearly within our rights to do so.
The more disturbing incident came later when we were atop a bridge, again on a public sidewalk, shooting another plant and long exposure bridge shots. Here we were stopped by real cops this time, rather than security guards. The cops in question were from the Long Beach Harbor Patrol. Their officer explained to us that it was his job to monitor the side of the bridge that we were on while L.A.P.D. had jurisdiction over the other side of the bridge.
Basically the conversation went something like this.
Long Beach Harbor Patrol Officer: "I'm going to have to ask you guys to leave."
Us: "But, why, were simply taking art photographs."
Long Beach Harbor Patrol Officer: "You're not allowed to photograph these plants."
Us: "But we're on a public sidewalk. What law doesn't allow us to photograph here?"
Long Beach Harbor Patrol Officer: "You'll need to come back tomorrow and get a permit if you want to shoot in the Harbor."
Me: "I'm only down in Long Beach for tonight and won't be able to do that."
2nd Long Beach Harbor Patrol Officer (shrugging her shoulders): Oh, well, you're just going to have to leave. Photography is not allowed here without a permit."
During this altercation both David and I were asked to present identification to the police. They used our IDs to run background checks on both of us.
Now personally I have no problem with the cops stopping to talk to us and check out what we were doing. I also had no problem with Securitas photographing me earlier or following me to get my license plate number. But I think that it went too far when the Long Beach Harbor Patrol ran background checks on us and I think it also went too far when they required us to leave our shoot location. As far as I'm aware there is no law which requires permits in order to shoot the Long Beach Harbor from a public sidewalk. And to kick us off of the bridge that we were legally on was not justified and violated our constitutional rights.
We repeatedly tried to argue for our right to shoot at this location for about a half an hour. The entire time the cops were insistent that we were not allowed to shoot there without a permit. David showed the cops in question photos of his on his iPhone in order to share the type of photography that we were after, but none of this seemed to matter. We were on their turf and they weren't going to stand for that. He just kept repeatedly bringing up 911 over and over telling us that we were going to need to leave.
What bothers me even more is that this is not the first time that David (who shoots in Long Beach Harbor more regularly than I do) has been harassed by the cops there. David has had lots of previous run ins there. David told me that he's been stopped about 10 times in the last six months while shooting in Long Beach Harbor. About half of those stops involved actual police in addition to security guards. On one occasion the cops actually handcuffed him and in another incident 4 police cars and a black SUV converged on him. He's also had FBI agents call on him over his photography. Personally I think it's wrong to handcuff peaceful photographers for the "crime" of photography while questioning and detaining.
I've contacted the media relations department at Long Beach Harbor regarding this incident but have yet to hear back from them. I'll post more from them once/if I do hear back.
What I am tired of though is the harassment that photographers face on a regular basis while out documenting our world. Photography is not a crime. 911 didn't suddenly magically turn photographers into criminals. And as long as photography is not a crime, I think that cops, security guards and other authority figures should be required to live within the legal system as it now stands. Maybe some day they will pass a law that shooting Long Beach Harbor is in fact a crime. Or maybe they'll actually pass a law that permits *are* actually required to shoot there. But until that day happens (and I'd be one vocally opposing any such rule like that) this sort of harassment ought not take place. And it's unfortunate when it does.
Update: Art Wong from the Port of Long Beach's Media Relations
Department has contacted me and told me that he's asking their
officers for information on this incident. I will post any update
from the Port of Long Beach as it becomes available.
Update 2: On Digg here: digg.com/travel_places/Thomas_Hawk_s_Digital_Connection_L...
Update 3: The Port of Long Beach's Assistant Director of Communications Art Wong, responds to this incident here.
th.omas, Daniel Light, pipilo, and 139 other people added this photo to their favorites.
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hassam602000 42 months ago | reply
سكس
almo_toro 42 months ago | reply
Alma
sturtel 42 months ago | reply
Un hébergeur de qualité : hébergeur de photos, également hébergeur d'images taille réelle et sans publicité intéressant pour vos photos de sites, photos de forum et surtout pour vos images ebay. Ce site propose également un hébergement de photos grand format et permet l'affichage de dossiers entier sous forme de différentes galeries flash. Ca vaut le coup.
Q8Evanescence 39 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called DASMAN, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
U-s-e-r-1 38 months ago | reply
Hello,
It's disappointing that we such unintelligent patrol are guarding the two ports, LA and LB. We also get harassed by these piggies while riding our bicycles around there. Best night is the first Thursday when there's a stop work meeting there. After running into the same harbor patrol month after month, and the same lame ass ritual performed month after month, I'm convinced we totally f**ked when the terrorist do actually hit the ports.
I'm working on documenting my experiences and confronting the council member for that district in LB. She just happens to be a big bike advocate.
apostis 38 months ago | reply
Is there any response to your.. response from update 3?
cloudbi 37 months ago | reply
I guess I was there late enough, a harbor police drove by without asking me questions :P
joso111 37 months ago | reply
This happened to me today, a little different situation, but the cop told me to delete the photo, A car crashed into my friends brand new parked Subaru Outback, I started to take photos for my friend for his records and I took one photo of the driver who said he was on meds, he also stated that the pills made him fall asleep.
The paramedic told the PA State Trooper I took a photo of the driver, he told me to delete it,
I was not very happy in this land of the free, home of the brave...
mikekingphoto 37 months ago | reply
The US of A is sadly a very constrained Country. You can recover deleted images easily so long as you don't overwrite them. Good luck, Mike.
noe00 36 months ago | reply
dude you need to check out this video. never provide id to the cops unless you are being accused of a crime. better yet dont even carry it. leave it in your car.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA
Scott-Smith 36 months ago | reply
i've been stopped and harassed by security, police, and alleged homeland security agents for taking pictures of a conoco-philips refinery in wood river, illinois. all of their excuses were a total crock of shit, too. they even took my roll of film.
Frederic Mancosu 35 months ago | reply
Amazing shot, great work!
trident2963 33 months ago | reply
Nice amber lightbar.......not
Stacy Ann Young 29 months ago | reply
We used to be a free country but are quickly becoming a police state!
Sorry this happened.
su4jsus 29 months ago | reply
I know this is about the U.S., and Long Beach in particular, but does anyone know if photographers are hunted in Eastern Europe? I was in Gautemala 2 years ago and walking through the city I was told to put my DSLR away unless I wanted trouble. Then I tried taking photos of La Antigua at night and was told to leave my camera at my hotel. Arghh - that spoiled everything for me. I am going to Germany, Austria, Czech, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia on a tour and I was wondering if anyone had anything to say about taking pics in those areas?? I would hate to come home w/o photos to bore my family & friends with. Thanks!
blah blah41 27 months ago | reply
long beach forms of authorities beside the fire department suck pretty bad they dont know what from what
joe kreydatus 18 months ago | reply
www.krages.com/phoright.htm
Go to this website, download this file, "Photographer's Rights" and carry two copies with you everytime you carry the camera and create art photographs. When approached by security guards or police, just hand them a copy and demand they read it.
I am sick and tired of these dumbass police officers and security guards harassing photographers. They have nothing better to do, I guess. My favorite incident happened to me in Downtown Denver...a buddy and I were near the convention center, just photographing random subjects, when we were approached by a security guard asking us to leave the area. He said, "Hey guys, I'm gonna need you two to refrain from taking pictures in this area...you know, because of 9/11 and stuff."
Lame, right?!
deanfuller2 6 months ago | reply
deanfuller2 6 months ago | reply
Me: Am I being detained?
Ofc: No
Me: Thank you officer, you may go.
or
Ofc: Yes
Me: I won't be IDing myself or making any statements. Please let me know the moment I am free to go.
trident2963 6 months ago | reply
Why do they have yellow lights if they are police?