First, watch this video if you haven’t already seen it.
Honestly, the actions by the photographer and not the officer are what made me uncomfortable while watching this.
First of all, the photographer seemed to be provoking the officer for a desired reaction. Secondly, the photographer doesn’t seem to be fully aware of the law he’s trying so nobly to uphold.
If you want to take a picture of people outside, you are free to do so. If they ask you to stop, and you continue to do so, you’re in a gray area. It could be considered harassment. Oh, and it’s impolite, too. Just because you have a camera in your hand does not guarantee you a special set of laws. When I go out for street photos, I have a set of guidelines set up for myself. Things I wouldn’t want other people to do to me. One of those is I don’t take a picture of someone if they ask me not to. Candids are one thing, but to be expressly told to stop is another. The person wants their privacy…I want mine. It’s a sign of respect. I can always get a picture of someone else. The ‘decisive moment’ is not a reason to be a jerk.
Now, when it comes to police, and in this situation specifically, I feel the photographer was way out of line. For starters, he just rolled up to him during a traffic stop. Those can be tense situations and the last thing an officer needs is to have someone distracting him while he’s working. If it had been a firefighter, and the photographer jumped in front of him while he was running back into the building would we be having this same discussion? I doubt it.
Police officers get a lot of flack from photographers for “not knowing the laws” and arresting or detaining people unlawfully. Yes, that happens. Not nearly as much as some groups (like the one that made this video) would have you believe. I will guarantee you that not every photographer knows those laws either. There are times when it gets a bit ridiculous (like the guy who was arrested for photographing Amtrak trains…for an Amtrak contest), but common sense on both sides should still prevail. Pick your battles. And don’t start one just so you can be internet famous.
