Legality of taking pictures in Pittsburgh

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/23/2004 12:44:00 PM · #1

Meant to bring this up while I was there but forgot. I was trying to take some arty pictures in the reflections of a building in downtown Pittsburgh (big mostly glass/black/ steel building, with a skating rink outside)

Some security guard told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Said it was standard policy to stop anyone taking pictures of the buildings.

Anyone in Pittsburgh had problems doing that there ? It seems kinda stupid but left me a bit worried. I would have argued but I don't have the same rights as a citizen does and don't really want to get thrown out of the country.

TommyMoe21

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

03/23/2004 12:48:12 PM · #2

The same thing happened to me at a Hilton Hotel (exterior). It was the wrong time of day lighting wise, so it was no big deal. The funny thing is, he looked more like a terrorist than I do. It was in a western suburb of Chicago.

Message edited by author 2004-03-23 12:48:51.

Russell2566

03/23/2004 01:03:17 PM · #3

It's an understandable fear, but a hard one to enforce and a bit over the edge.

BUT, If someone was really taking survalance photos for intelligence reasons, ie taking pictures to show to the terrorist who are planing on driving the car bomb up to the building or blowing them selves up, then they would most likely pose as a tourist.

Message edited by author 2004-03-23 13:03:46.

rich

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

03/23/2004 01:36:14 PM · #4

Gordon,

I have heard of this sort of thing happening quite often, but (luckily) have never seen it or been confronted myself.

I hear this often enough that I have been trying to find any sort of official notice on a city or municipality website that clearly spells out what is and is not restricted. It is not easy to find, and I consider myself a pretty good user of Google.

If anyone knows of some examples from any US/State/City website would you please post a link? I would really appreciate it.

bluebullseye

Canon EOS-10D

03/23/2004 01:38:29 PM · #5

Happened to me when I was taking a few pics of some people walking out of the main State Department building in Washington, D.C. who were surrounded by Secret Service types. But that one is pretty understandable... It is very odd for people not to be able to take shots of public buildings in downtown areas though.

mariomel

Canon EOS-5D

03/23/2004 01:38:49 PM · #6

In Canada, the security guards offer to take the picture for you: "Would you like me to take one of you in front of the building?" ;-0

We're oblivious up here.

lykofos

03/23/2004 01:47:37 PM · #7

Wow, that's weird! I think the building you're referring to is PPG Place.

I'm currently living near the University of Pittsburgh, but go downtown on occasion. I've never had any problems at all with photographing people/buildings (although I haven't photographed PPG place before). Security actually seems kind of lax here.

In January, there was this huge fire in a house near the University: fire trucks, police cars, street closed off, the scene being taped off, etc. I wanted to get some photos and figured, "What the hell, it's worth a try!" I got my camera bag, slung the tripod over my shoulder, and started walking down the street. I walked right past several police and fireman into the heart of the scene no questions asked. The news anchor who was filming, even asked if she was in the way of my shots, and moved to the side while I was shooting. Everyone assumed that I was press! I got some pretty cool shots! I've been meaning to try it again, so that I can build a photojournalistic type portfolio, but haven't had much time lately.

JEM

Sony DSC-F707

03/23/2004 01:55:18 PM · #8

These things run in cycles. During WW11 everyone was uptight about photographers after it became apparent that Japanese "tourists" had thoroughly photographed Pearl Harbor in preparation for the Jap sneak attack which caused such terrible damage and loss of life.

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

03/23/2004 01:56:39 PM · #9

lykofos - that looks like exactly the place. It was a wintery Monday afternoon and I had a 'spy' camera (optio S4)

daisy77

Nikon D70

03/23/2004 02:01:01 PM · #10

i lived in pittsburgh for years and just before i left, in june 2002 (so well in time to have 9/11 fears influence security procedures) i went on a shutter spree, all over downtown taking photos inside and out of buildings (the guards let me into the gulf building to lie on the floor and take a pic of the ceiling/skylight dealio. also was over and on and photoing many of the bridges (three sisters) and at PNC park. not a peep from fearful guards anywhere.

i'm not sure what they think you are going to do with the photos that is truly dangerous. and besides, pittsburgh is generally so lacking in allure for tourists, to bar them from taking photos of the few attractive buildings is a shame.

should we all move to canada?

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/23/2004 02:01:58 PM · #11

Originally posted by Gordon:

Some security guard told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Said it was standard policy to stop anyone taking pictures of the buildings.

A security guard has no business trying to prevent you from taking photos in a public place, or of a public building. For that matter, neither does any police officer. If they tried it with me I would file charges against them. This is America, not WWII Germany.

03/23/2004 02:04:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by micknewton:

As I mentioned, I don't have the luxury of doing that. Maybe some nice person in Pittsburgh would like to try again ?

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/23/2004 02:08:45 PM · #13

I was in Washington DC this past December, and the security everywhere was very evident - police or security cars in front of pretty much every federal building. One night I went out by myself with camera and tripod - very conspicuous. I spent the whole evening looking over my shoulder, expecting someone to question me - but never got a second glance. On the one hand, I was relieved to not have faced being questioned or detained, on the other it did leave me wondering, what would it take to get them suspicious enough to react.

On the other hand, I have to say that walking through DC, which was not too long ago the murder capitol of the US, late at night, I felt very safe.

Gordon, just saw your last post below: all kidding aside, maybe the small pocket-sized cameras cause more suspicion than someone with a fuller set of camera gear. I was using my A40 - not exactly a full-size camera, but also had a full-sized tripod, adaptor, teleconverter and camera bag on my shoulder. Maybe that just appear more "legit"?

vsmed1968

Gateway DC-T50

03/23/2004 02:08:50 PM · #14

Originally posted by TommyMoe21:

Were you near O'Hare or Midway airport Tommy?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/23/2004 02:17:22 PM · #15

Originally posted by ScottK:

all kidding aside, maybe the small pocket-sized cameras cause more suspicion than someone with a fuller set of camera gear. I was using my A40 - not exactly a full-size camera, but also had a full-sized tripod, adaptor, teleconverter and camera bag on my shoulder. Maybe that just appear more "legit"?

You might be right. I've been stopped (more reasonably) before outside the Texas capitol building by one of the state troopers there, for taking quite understandably 'strange' looking pictures of the dome, using the reflection in a car window. In that case however, the trooper was a whole lot more friendly and civil and willing to actually listen to what I was doing. In that case I was using a tripod and a bigger camera.

In Pittsburgh, it wasn't as if I was being obviously furtive or attempting to hide the camera in any way, shape or form though.

KevinRiggs

Canon EOS-1Ds

03/23/2004 02:37:09 PM · #16

Gordon (et al),

I was walking around downtown Chattanooga with a friend during lunch one day. He'd just bought a DRebel and we went to take some shots of people and places. We got within a block of the federal building where the downtown post office is and even though neither of us had taken a photo of the federal building a security guard came out and talked to us. He was very courteous and mentioned several times that he wasn't telling us we couldn't take photographs but that we were being filmed and if we did take photographs we could expect visits from some federal agents wanting to verify who we said we were. We decided to just head over a block and pickup something for lunch before heading back to work. No one else said anything to us. We photographed some church buildings and some local govt buildings with flags flying against a nice blue sky background.
I do often shoot portraits in federal parks, though, and several times I've been asked by park rangers what I'm doing. I simply give them one of my cards and show them my equipment and I've never been asked to leave or given any more hassle about it. Well, there was that one nude set . . . . naww, I think we'd packed up already. Then again the ranger may not have been coming over to kick us out. ;)

Kev

lykofos

03/23/2004 02:48:56 PM · #17

Originally posted by Gordon:

As I mentioned, I don't have the luxury of doing that. Maybe some nice person in Pittsburgh would like to try again ?

If nothing comes up on my days off this weekend I'll give it try and see if I get hassled.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

03/23/2004 02:54:21 PM · #18

Dress up in your full death-metal garb - that ought to get a reaction! ;)

cbonsall

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

03/23/2004 03:30:32 PM · #19

I really can't see why they are worried, surely there are more photographs online than any terrorist would ever need, hell you can buy detailed satelite photographs now.

magnetic9999

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

03/23/2004 03:37:16 PM · #20

I live in DC, and I have to tell you your observations are the result of a small sample size :).

I get way more attention and flak when i go about with the 10D than with any of various point and shoot cams :)

Originally posted by ScottK:

lykofos

03/23/2004 03:58:24 PM · #21

Originally posted by ScottK:

Dress up in your full death-metal garb - that ought to get a reaction! ;)

Lol, I just might do that! That never fails to get a reaction! Wearing leather with your hair spiked straight up and accessorizing with spiked gauntlets and a spiked collar tends to drawn people's attention for some reason.

Hey, maybe the security guard will be afraid to approach me! I better wear my frat boy disguise (Tommy khakis and Polo T-Shirt) so that the results are more accurate. Heh.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/23/2004 03:59:06 PM · #22

Originally posted by lykofos:

Hey, maybe the security guard will be afraid to approach me! I better wear my frat boy disguise (Tommy khakis and Polo T-Shirt) so that the results are more accurate. Heh.

I might take that as a slur!

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

03/23/2004 04:03:43 PM · #23

Originally posted by Gordon:

...Some security guard told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Said it was standard policy to stop anyone taking pictures of the buildings.

Actually, there was a story about this exactly kind of thing in the Post-Gazette a month or so ago. A lady had complained to the paper that she was told not to take a photo of the USX Tower, and the paper looked into it. They found that the security person was wrong for telling her she couldn't photograph the building.

I'll see if I can locate the article, assuming it was posted on their site.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/23/2004 04:13:29 PM · #24

This link has been posted before. It contains a summary of your rights as a photographer, and there's a downloadable version you can print out and carry with you for the edification of various authorities as they lock you up (for being a smart**s if not a terrorist).

Last year I asked the guys at my local fire station if I could take some pictures and they said "sure." Asking first and having a real pre-printed business card (which matches your ID) will go a long way towards getting more photo-ops.