Picture New York Petition

Whatever happened to freedom of expression in the U.S.? Another glaring reason to stop travelling photographers and travellers from visiting or from promoting the city. Just a side note; how on earth does use of a tripod automatically make one professional, or subject to more scrutiny than any other artist?

Comment posted by Mark Howells on July 27, 2007

I was actually surprised that I didn't hear more about this when the article came out. Everyone better sign that! cause I know I sure can't come up with those demands if I feel like strolling the block to take some photos when I am in NY.

Comment posted by Will on July 27, 2007

As yet this does not affect the individual photographer but it is a slippery slope. It gives the cops an excuse to hassle us in any case. And not just the cops of course. It's a ridiculous situation.

Comment posted by Paul Treacy on July 27, 2007

I am very, very glad you brought attention to this. Thanks.

Comment posted by inge bondi on July 27, 2007

Based on my initial research on photo restrictions, these is becoming a trend on several parts of the world. And we in the Philippines experience that also. Some public parks also prohibits shooting of photographs.

Comment posted by Dennis S. Rito on July 27, 2007

Poor Earth... and poor sheeps we are...
I realy hope to visit the U.S. one of thoses days... but not yet !!

Comment posted by JB on July 27, 2007

With or without precedent I believe it already concerns not only NYC residents. Martin, aren't you from Austria? Don't you feel concerned?

The petition should be open to everyone.

Comment posted by Tomé Duarte on July 27, 2007

New Yorkers, you have my support - I don't know that my signing a petition will have any impact, not being a resident of NY.

That said, this sort of issue needs to be met with full force. Petitions, fine, but the real impact will be made via public disobedience. Pull together--photographers, film-makers--and show your numbers, camera gear in hand, on the streets they intend to block you from accessing. Do it peacefully, of course, but make a show of force.

Good luck, meaning best wishes for success. If any can resist such ridiculous policy-making, New Yorkers can do!

Rise UP!

CE Nelson
nelsonfoto.com

Comment posted by CE Nelson, nelsonfoto.com (Rise UP!) on July 27, 2007

It is quite obvious where this proposed law is coming from. Those who are attempting to "protect" the citizens of NYC. Yet another case of the government dealing with there inadequacies by limiting the rights of it's citizens. If all this goes through what happens at the next protest? Everyone at those events has a camera of some type. Police can and will just start arresting anyone with a camera who has happened to be in one place too long. Keep moving folks and be sure not to photograph any police officers. Could you imagine if they passed a law like this in Los Angeles, the police would have a field day.

r. collerd

Comment posted by r. collerd on July 27, 2007

Thanks for providing this avenue to the petition. Our world is fast becoming more corporate, proprietary, and legalistic. The great irony with the City of New York leading the way down this path to Fascism is how much New York has benefited economically over the decades from its openness, from its being "The Capital of Photography." Maybe Magnum should lead the way (and all of us with photo web sites should join) in having "A Day (Week? Month?) Without New York" by bringing down all of our images celebrating that once-great, once-freedom-loving city. Would September be perfect (or too harsh)?

Comment posted by Terry Carroll on July 27, 2007

I just saw a link for this on Alec Soth's blog. Of course, I signed it immediately. I am so glad to see this information circulating so widely. If photographic freedoms can be squashed in NY then it can happen anywhere - everywhere! I'll do whatever I can to make sure that doesn't happen.

Comment posted by Katia Roberts on July 27, 2007

To be honest, I dont understand the purpose of this proposed legislation. Is it to protect the city from lawsuits? Is it to protect the city from terrorists? In the first instance, people looking for a reason to sue the city will find one, tripod or no tripod; in the second instance, New York is, next to Paris, the most photographed city on this planet. Can anyone think of a place of significance anywhere in the city that hasnt been photographed a thousand times already, with most of those pictures available now on the Internet? And now Google offers high quality satellite imagery of any potential target in the city; will they have to get a permit as well? As for the considerable discretion this legislation affords the police, this is simply abuse waiting to happen. I suspect that the broad wording affords politicians two of the things they enjoy most: the illusion that they are doing something when they arent and the ability to deny responsibility when some cop out in Queens takes an overly broad interpretation of his discretion under this new law and tosses a NYTimes photog into the clink for not moving along fast enough to suit the cop.

Comment posted by Akaky on July 28, 2007

at first i thought i've misunderstood the issue. i'm glad i came across everyone else's comments here. after reading the proposed rule, i also thought it was broad, and open to different assumptions and interpretations. it's obvious that the City should reconsider proposed wording.

Comment posted by daniel chow on August 1, 2007

Our freedoms are gradually vanishing. This is one good deed to do to save a valuable freedom.

Thank you for asking for comments.

Comment posted by Mary Ann Wood on August 2, 2007

Well, I also read the article a few weeks ago as I was searching information on photographing NY. To me it's not very clear at all. I will use a tripod but I'm mostly travelling alone. Will these new rules apply to my situation? I will visit NY as a tourist very soon and I can't really judge the impact of these new rules, so as an honest citizen I filled in the form and faxed it to their office in NY. The same day I received a (friendly) phone call requesting that if I want to use a tripod I should fill in the form more specific, meaning, on which day and which hour will you take pictures on that particular place? Excuse me?

Comment posted by Serge on August 4, 2007

I'm a little confused. Wouldn't this in effect ban television photojournalism. Isn't a TV news team three people at a minimum. This is enormously confusing. To whoever has read the full text of the statute, is there a clause for photojournalists? I'm imagining all photojournalists covering the same high profile court case being detained by police while they're waiting for whomever to leave the courthouse. I really hope I'm not understanding this correctly.
As far as why they're doing this, isn't amateur video a precious commodity when investigating a disaster? If the real reason is terrorism prevention, isn't this just going to be a handicap?

Comment posted by s. cholke on August 4, 2007

I read to this petition. Petitions, fine, but the real impact will be made via public disobedience. Pull together--photographers, film-makers--and show your numbers, camera gear in hand, on the streets they intend to block you from accessing.

Comment posted by joann on December 4, 2007