By: Johnny Mullis

Johnny Mullis — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:13:38 +0000

I was photographing the exterior of a hospital and stopped by hospital security and told that I could not do that. I was standing on a public road and did not see the problem since I was not on their property. After explaining that I had been paid by one of their contractors to document his work, I was released. I had never been referred to as a suspect until then.

By: Sideman

Sideman — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:14:12 +0000

wow. that’s terrible. what did the sign actually say? why could the others continue shooting?

By: Barry Stoch

Barry Stoch — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:51:09 +0000

I really enjoy architectural photography and have had a number of run in’s with Security folk who argue you can’t take a photo of their building even when you are on public property!! However, this episode really bothered me when I recently made a trip to Chicago. I wandered around and there was an event in a plaza in front of this building with acrobats. I did a bit of shooting of them & then noticed that the building behind them was very interesting and walked inside to a huge atrium and took some images. Another guy walked in with his point & shoot and took some images as well. So I walk outside and take some more shoots of some great columns across the street and this Illinois police officer comes up and asks me what I’m doing. I explain that I love architecture and had traveled to Chicago to capture some of the fantastic buildings. He says I can’t shoot the building because it’s City Hall. I ask him how in the world would I know that. He points to a tiny sign! It also turns out that the building I was in & shooting the interior of was a State building. I show him my images and he still asks for my ID and calls it in. Meanwhile lots of people are shooting with their point & shoots without a hassle. Since when did being a photographer become such a crime?

Comments on: Photographic Profiling Continues

By: Johnny Mullis

By: Sideman

By: Barry Stoch