And You Might See Me Tonight With an Illegal Smile
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. David also maintains a photography related blog here.
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: http://digg.com/travel_places/Thomas_Hawk_s_Digital_Connection_Long_Be ach_Harbor_Patrol_S
Update 3: The Port of Long Beach's Assistant Director of Communications Art Wong, responds to this incident here.
Comments and faves
kayodeok, Pffft, Mathias.Pastwa, th.omas, and 125 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Ricardo Carreon (53 months ago | reply)
This sucks. Thanks for sharing the story.
And the photograph is beautiful!
dogwelder (53 months ago | reply)
I'm surprised they didn't ticket you for blocking the sidewalk.
yobink (53 months ago | reply)
Great pic! Disturbing story. It's stories like this that make me sad to be an American. Sad that the tragic events of 9/11 pit us against one another, instead of bringing us together. Thanks for sharing, Thomas.
Scott Barlow (53 months ago | reply)
Why not contact the Harbor police and setup a "legal" time/place to shoot? Although a hassle, at least you'll give them warning that you'll be there exercising your rights.
Beautiful photo BTW. Well worth it :)
alexdelaforest (53 months ago | reply)
Thanks for sharing the story. That kind of incident are more and more frequent even in Europe.
Nice pic anyway !
thorhammer67 [deleted] (53 months ago | reply)
Techmeister,
This is David I've tried numerous times to call them and let them know when I will be there, sounds logical, but it doesn't work.
there are 3 agencies that converge on 5 -7 square miles of port, LAPD, LBPD, and LBHP., none of them share any info with the others.
I've called to let them know, and dispatch for LBPD said the officers will still come up to you and question you / run your ID so theres really no point in filling out any permit, all it does is give them a paper trail in case something happens they might be able to finger you for it. Seriously, there is no good reason to fill it out. Thats the system THEY set up.
If it would help I would fill it out, but it wont, actually I don't believe such a permit exists to shoot art on a public sidewalk. .
I think the harbor patrol is confusing commercial with art. Try explaining that to them, long story short, no permit is required therefore I will not be filling one out. Ever.
eblaser (53 months ago | reply)
this is the perfect characterization of LA
ashi (53 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Photography is not a crime, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Scott Barlow (53 months ago | reply)
> David Sommars - (thorhammer67)
Bummer to hear. Thanks for the reply
jakerome (53 months ago | reply)
Security Theater at the San Pedro Cruise Terminal
Took this photo about 30 minutes before one of the security guards falsely told me I wasn't allowed to take photos inside of the public cruise terminal. Mind you, they make folks walk through a metal detector, before reuniting the passengers with hundreds of pounds of unscreened luggage on the boat. And visitors are prohibited from boarding the boat unless they ask permission 4 days - 2 weeks ahead of time (the answer changes depending on who you ask). This security theater is worse than useless, as I am now fairly sure that the people in charge of designing Crystal Cruises' security system have designed it with only the illusion of security, no doubt sacrificing actual security. Waste of money, waste of resources, waste of time.
FAIL
NikkiRMZ (53 months ago | reply)
This is a magical photograph. Sorry for the hassle. Everyone is so jumpy nowadays after 911. it's too bad.
Cwluc (53 months ago | reply)
Amazing.
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encouragement (53 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Photo MOB(ilization), and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Mystery 770 (53 months ago | reply)
wonderful shot. I also second you on being harassed. I was told i cant take pictures of a train yard from a public sidewalk on a public road on a public bridge....and yes they mentioned 'homoland insecurity" and "9/11" and "sensitive stuff like uggg military things". Funny the army did not feel the same way.. hmmm
Kevin Munro (On Instagram!) (53 months ago | reply)
Love the shot but also appreciate the story, I'm asking myself how this would have played out over in the UK.
Arjan Almekinders (53 months ago | reply)
Beautiful shot
mudpig (53 months ago | reply)
great shot.
Rutger Blom (53 months ago | reply)
This is a fantastic photo!
just sof (53 months ago | reply)
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while! I took a couple of images from Ocean Blvd. toward the harbor over the holiday--guess I got lucky.
Dance while the record spins.... (53 months ago | reply)
Worth the hassle! Well done!
shooten4ya (53 months ago | reply)
You GOT the shot! THATS what matters!...:)...love the story!
Gregory Jordan (53 months ago | reply)
this photo turned out nicely. sorry you got harassed so much because of it!
belpo (53 months ago | reply)
beautiful shot!
rwirtz (53 months ago | reply)
Look at all the pretty lights, like a petroleum fueled Christmas tree.
tarboat (53 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Chemical Industry, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
smoothdude (52 months ago | reply)
this is a TH!
KeithHiggins (52 months ago | reply)
Sorry to hear of all the trouble. Wish I could have been there tagging along! This is spectacular and IMO well worth the hassle.
DELLipo™ (51 months ago | reply)
Beautiful photo BTW. Well worth it :)
hurleygurley (49 months ago | reply)
New to Long Beach and prone to wandering where I probably shouldn't I'm very appreciative of all this info. I got the vibe as soon as I got there but didn't have any run ins. As I woman I count on getting away with a little bit of trespassing but I'm going watch my steps 'round the port but they won't scare me away!
Great work as always!
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enfi (47 months ago | reply)
The picture was worth the risk!
I always fell temped to photograph this kind of things, but as a non American I know is not a great idea.
Luis R. (47 months ago | reply)
police officers are always very closed to hear reasons, I've got same experience several times
Luis R. (46 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called worth to see!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
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gdiazdeleon (42 months ago | reply)
to blame police state and its zombified society
save
Colusite [deleted] (42 months ago | reply)
Awesome distillation columns
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A. Vandalay (42 months ago | reply)
great shot and even better story - petrolium plants are just about the purest form of architecture, nothing more than they need to be and you captured that nicely.
-save3
boscbo (42 months ago | reply)
I'm liking the shine on those lights. Looks cool against the blue sky.
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juleann on mv (42 months ago | reply)
eye candy . . . save5
Manny Flores [deleted] (42 months ago | reply)
Nice. Save
macabrephotographer (42 months ago | reply)
I like tubes! Sweet Shot. I live like 20min from the LB harbor and have never been down to shoot. No point now, it will be difficult to improve that.
-save
DEARTH ! (42 months ago | reply)
a well executed photo that I think falls just shy of the lightbox.
-Voted "delete" (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group)
Ivan Plata (42 months ago | reply)
great composition
save8
ernestkoe (42 months ago | reply)
sharp
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luxx11 (42 months ago | reply)
people are too paranoid over there :)
Good you managed to shoot some nice pictures
save
the_napkin (42 months ago | reply)
Fight the power!
Great bokeh and use of the aperture blades.
G Er Foto (42 months ago | reply)
Nice lightning
Save
_robocop (42 months ago | reply)
shining and great
save
Roger in AZ (42 months ago | reply)
Congratulations.
Your photo has been deemed worthy of saving by The DeleteMe Uncensored Group. and is given entry to The Lightbox
If you are not yet a member, please feel free to join The Lightbox and submit this photo there.
anonymousdictator (42 months ago | reply)
That sucks. I used to live literally a block away from this refinery, and I've taken numerous shots of it and was never stopped. Although, I have on occasion been stopped by the Carson PD numerous times for taking pictures of just random buildings. At least the shot was worth the hassle! Great capture.
Shakedown 1992 (41 months ago | reply)
this is a great picture. my dad worked there for half my life we live like 2 hours away so i never really seen what it looked like before...
Lego_paige [deleted] (29 months ago | reply)
And so the Terroroists have won. Its intersting how terror attacks rob us of our freedoms.
Neil Kremer (28 months ago | reply)
I'm an LA based photographer and the same thing happens to me all the time. Check out my rant on this very situation with the same security under the same giant flag.
www.flickr.com/photos/neilarmstrong2/53602715 31/
David Tsegai (26 months ago | reply)
Great photo! I used it in an article on my Calgary real estate blog, thanks!