Simon Blint, Director of Visitor Relations at the SF MOMA, Yeah You A**hole, Photography is Not a Crime

Looks like Thomas Hawk had a little run in at SF MOMA. Nice picture though!

Recently I blogged about my excitement regarding the San Francisco MOMA’s decision to begin allowing photography in their permanent collection after years of maintaining a closed no photography policy. Directly because of this change in policy, I decided to purchase a family membership in order to support the museum, both with my artistic energy and financially. I was excited to begin spending regular time exploring and documenting the museum.

Unfortunately, I should have known better than to really believe that the San Francisco MOMA was serious about opening up the art and architecture entrusted to them to the general public.

It’s sad really that a photographer and artist following the museums own policy gets ejected from the museum.

This part did make me laugh though - shows you what people DON’T know, or care to find out.

He accused me of using a “telephoto” lens to spy on his staff from the public staircase on the second floor. Blint obviously knows nothing of photography because the 14mm ultra wide angle lens on my camera body was about the furthest thing possible from a telephoto lens.

Reminds me a bit of my own experiences… recently I took my DSLR to the swimming pool to photograph my wife and my daughter in one swimming class and my son in another. I got a few odd looks - granted it is a swimming pool - but I noticed quite a few people with point and shoots who didn’t even get a second glance… can’t wait to go back with a 5D and 70-200 f/2.8L and see what happens ;)

Be sure to read Thomas’ post and digg it as well!

Tags: moma, photography, rights, san francisco, sf, sfmoma, simon blint, thomas hawk

Jury Clears Photographer Who Refused to Stop Photographing an Arrest

Some good news over at Thomas Hawk’s Digital Connection:

I was pleased today to see an article about photographer Nick Adams being cleared by a Galveston jury of misdemeanor charges of interfering with police while photographing an arrest at a Mardi Gras celebration in 2007.

What gets me is this:

Conveniently, and not surprising to me, police deleted some of Adam’s photos while they had him in custody which would have proved he was outside the perimeter established by the police. According to Adams’ defense attorney, the digital index from his camera showed that these photos were deleted.

That’s gotta be some sorta crime in itself!

While not an arrest, I’m sure these guys would have had something to say had they turn around while I was snapping the shot…

Check out the rest of Thomas’ Jury Clears Photographer Who Refused to Stop Photographing an Arrest post, and hit it up on Digg!

Tags: arrest, digg, jury, photographer, rights, Street Photography, thomas hawk

If You Put That Picture On The Internet I’ll Call My Lawyer

Saw this image via Thomas Hawk on Flickr.

Photo taken by Jeremy Brooks
Uploaded to Flickr by Thomas Hawk

Seems his friend Jeremy Brooks, had a minor run in with this guy while out shooting some photos.

However, Mr. Angry Overreaction Man decided that he now had a problem with me. He confronted me, demanding my camera. Of course, I refused. He got in my face and started threatening me, telling me that I cannot take his photo without his permission. I told him that yes, in fact, I can. He then walked up and bumped into me, trying to act tough. I told him that one more touch and I would call the police.

As I mentioned on Thomas’ photostream, it is well within our rights to photography in public places (unless you live in Quebec)… ask me nice and I’ll be inclined not to post it - or send me a cordial e-mail if you see an image of you that I’ve taken and I’ll likely remove it at your request - be a jerk or worse and it’s going to go up for sure.

Check out Jeremy’s accounting of the incident on his blog.

Digg Jeremy’s original blog post.

Tags: anger, flickr, jeremy hall, photographer, Portrait, rights, thomas hawk