lightboxDC

The ULTIMATE Photography-is-Not-a-Crime Outrage? Coast Guard Enforces BP's "No Cameras" Rules

2010-05-20T12:03:00.017-04:00

"When a crew from CBS News tried to film an oil-covered beach in Louisiana, they were stopped and threatened with arrest by a group of BP contractors and members of the Coast Guard. 'This is BP's rules, it's not ours.'..."

Gawker has a bit more here.

Why is the U.S. Coast Guard enforcing BP's rules? And who is BP to decide media access on the sea? Only more questions and public exposure will yield answers, and restore the public's right to know. You can ask them by sending a message via their District 8 Facebook page, here. Or, phone the District Commander's office at: (504) 589-6298.

You can also comment on their District blog. Doesn't matter where you post the comment, let's get the ball rolling. (And why are we left to communicate via their blog and Facebook page? Their regional commander's web page offers no direct email option.)

Please be respectful in your communications, yet clear and concise in expressing your concerns and questions.

Denying the press its rights as set forth by the founding fathers: last thing on Earth the U.S. Coast Guard should be doing.

UPDATE: Coast Guard District 8 issues statement, blames CBS for safety concerns and/or interference, but doesn't explain further. Oh, they trumpet all the embeds too (we know how well that worked out in Iraq).

Moving Pictures

2010-03-17T14:53:00.005-04:00

Video: Snowpocalypse Walk from 14th Street to Dupont Circle

2010-02-12T11:57:00.002-05:00

I plunged into the storm on the morning of Wednesday, February 10, 2010, walking through the 35 mph winds of this "second wave" to capture a few scenes: Swann Street (including alley shots), 14th Street, 15th Street, and finally over to Dupont Circle. Camera: Flip Ultra HD.

At the Museums this Weekend

2009-12-04T14:42:00.000-05:00

For your weekend enjoyment, a number of great photography exhibitions are at the museums; some of these depart in early January, so you may want to make a point of catching them in their final weeks:

In the Darkroom at the National Gallery of Art: "This exhibition chronicles the major technological developments in photographic processes from the origins of the medium until the advent of digital photography...the exhibition is organized chronologically and includes some 90 photographs that range from an early photogenic drawing by William Henry Fox Talbot, the inventor of photography, to Polaroid prints by Andy Warhol."

Robert Bergman: Portraits, 1986–1995 at the National Gallery of Art: "For more than 40 years, Robert Bergman (b. 1944) has traveled the streets and back alleys of the United States, photographing the people and scenes he encounters. Beginning in the 1960s, he, like so many other so-called street photographers of that generation, used a 35mm camera to make black-and-white photographs. In the 1980s Bergman began to work in color. Using no special lighting or equipment, he made a series of monumental portraits of the people he met." (Ends January 10.)

Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845-1924 at the National Portrait Gallery: "The American West was dramatically reconstituted during the 80 years between the Mexican War and the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924. This exhibition tells the story of these changes through 100 portrait photographs of the defining men and women of this period." (Ends January 24.)

Investigating Where We Live 2009 at the National Building Museum: "...a four-week summer program created by the National Building Museum in which middle and high school students from the Washington metropolitan area use digital cameras to explore, document, and interpret the built environment in D.C. neighborhoods. For IWWL 2009, students examined the neighborhoods of Columbia Heights, Shaw, and U Street. Their photographs, writings, and artwork are featured in this exhibition." (Ends January 18.)

Form and Movement: Photographs by Philip Trager at the National Building Museum: "...large-format black and white photographs selected from Philip Trager's forty-year career. The exhibition brings together his extraordinary depictions of architecture, from Italian Renaissance villas to views of Paris and New York City streetscapes, with his later explorations of dance and the body." (Ends January 3.)

Washingtonian Gets it Right: Contest Shows Your Photos, Doesn't Grab Your Copyright

2009-12-02T17:48:00.004-05:00

Avid photographers love contests. As a number of photographers have discovered, however, our love usually isn't returned in kind, as an increasing number of contest sponsors engage in rights grabs--the fine print of too many contests simply grab ownership of your work. Photo Attorney has been particularly adept at warning photographers away from these rights grabs. Anyone considering the joy and excitement of entering a contest should take a good stroll through her blog.

But here in DC, Washingtonian appears to be getting it right, in announcing their December Photography Contest. Here's their policy:

Our policy on photo rights: The photographer retains the copyright. However, because the photographer has submitted his or her photo to the contest, the magazine has the right to print the winning photograph in the current issue of the magazine and online as well as in any future issues as long as usage is related to the photo contest. The magazine also has the right to use the finalists online in relation to the photo contest.

First off, the policy isn't fine print at all: it's right there on the blog posting announcing their contest. Second, the policy is easy for any shutterbug to grasp, whether you're an amateur or pro. Finally, the policy is nicely and narrowly drawn: they want to use your photo, but they've limited themselves to usage related to the contest.

I'm not an attorney, but Washingtonian's policy is a refreshing read. If anything, it limits the sponsor more than anyone--when it comes to handing your artistic work to a media outlet, that's a very good feeling.

Perry Belmont Mansion

2009-10-25T20:26:00.007-04:00

I have no idea why I continue to find myself attracted to geometric imagery like this, but there you go. This is the Perry Belmont Mansion, used today as the international headquarters for the Eastern Star. I'd walked by this house for many years, since it's only a few blocks from home, but had never actually gone inside until last year. It is one of the most stunning examples of French architecture in America; inside pics here.

Slideshows Generated by Slideeo.com

2009-03-24T11:44:00.004-04:00

Testing out a new slideshow feature, from Slideoo.com. You can select photos from your Flickr stream--either all your photos, or from a particular set--for the resulting slideshow. You can also control size of the images; this one is set for medium:

KEH in Our Area: Empty or Fill Your Wallet

2009-02-20T08:53:00.005-05:00

(Yeah, long time since I've been posting, but back into it now). KEH.com is known among photographers for being a fantastic source of high-quality used gear. The fast-moving digital photographic industry churns a lot of quality stuff into the used market, while the recession is also forcing a lot of under-used gear onto the shelves. I've found KEH to be one of the best places for good finds. (Not a paid plug; I've used them for many purchases, esp. for hard-to-find items, and feel that quality independent photo businesses deserve positive mention. I've also had good experiences with Penn Camera right here in DC.)

Well, KEH is coming to the DC area. In conjunction with Photorama USA, KEH is co-hosting an "Everything Photographic" Camera Show on Sunday, March 1st at the Best Western Tysons/Westpark in McLean, VA. The show will feature countless opportunities to "sell, trade and buy with dealers, both local and nationwide" with "thousands of digital, film, collectible, hard-to-find, and accessory items." And KEH will be purchasing clean, used photo gear on site. Show details here (see third listing).

BBC 4 Series: "The Genius of Photography"

2008-08-01T21:00:00.010-04:00

A fantastic BBC4 documentary series, "The Genius of Photography," is currently available on YouTube. It's not hosted on an official BBC YouTube page, so who knows how long this series may be available. (It's also one of the growing number of items available in higher quality--go to the originating page, and click the "Watch in High Quality" option beneath the screen, lower-right).

There are several Episodes online, with each episode broken down into parts. The clip below kicks off with Martin Parr and John Gossage on a road trip.

Metro Hypes False Fears Over Photographers

2008-08-01T19:10:00.011-04:00

Metro has begun to hype false fears over photography, despite the system's own regulations allowing camera use in the system.

In an irony of ironies, fellow photographers' rights activist Erin McCann discovered Metro's new hyped-up warning after she emailed Metro regarding their policies. In an automated response, Metro signed off with the following:

"Metro would like to remind you that customers play an important role in keeping our system safe. Please remember to be watchful for...

* Unusual persons or activities

* Unattended bags, packages, boxes, backpacks, etc.

* Persons photographing, sketching or documenting activity at or around Metro stations"

John Catoe, Metro's general manager, fielded a question about the warning in an online chat today. While Catoe reiterated that photography is permitted in the system, he said the warning was the result of a policy that encourages riders to "be on the lookout for suspicious behavior. Tourists taking snapshots is one thing. People who go to the edge of the platform taking photos of darkened tunnels is another..."

That latter distinction may be fair enough, and Catoe is a respected manager with a sysiphian task, but Metro's clarion call for riders to keep an eye out for anyone photographing anything around Metro can only serve to ratchet up irrational fears over photography. Metro's warning could also result in some Metro employees taking a negative approach to photographers in the system, which would only compound Catoe's customer service challenges.

Metro would be wise to get in touch with security expert Bruce Schneier, who reminds us that: "The 9/11 terrorists didn't photograph anything. Nor did the London transport bombers, the Madrid bombers, or the liquid bombers arrested in 2006. Timothy McVeigh didn't photograph the Oklahoma City Federal Building...Photographs aren't being found amongst the papers of Palestinian suicide bombers. The IRA wasn't known for its photography."

If you're concerned about Metro's approach in this instance, take a moment to share your concerns here. And remember: Metro's policies explicitly state that "still photography that does not require a tripod, special lighting, film crews, models, impair the normal ingress/egress or operation of Authority services and can be accomplished by a hand held camera by one person is not regulated." [WMATA Use Regulations, Section 100.8; page 10 here]

Norton Schools Union Station Management on Photo Rights, Other Issues

2008-07-22T16:56:00.042-04:00

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) used her perch as chair of a House Transportation subcommittee today to blast management for Washington DC's Union Station over their treatment of photographers, and LightboxDC was on the scene.

The hearings were sparked in part by harassment of photographers at the historic train station, and led to an hours-long grilling of station management regarding inconsistent policies on photography and a raft of other issues.

Norton kicked off the hearing with an opening statement that read, in part:

"Reported first amendment violations and denial of access by the press and public as well as inconsistent messages by Union Station personnel are especially troubling. In June, a photographer was detained by Union Station security personnel for taking non-commercial photographs. A real time display of the confusion about access came when Channel 5, a major television outlet here was shut down by security personnel while interviewing the chief spokesperson for Amtrak, who was explaining that photography was allowed. Although management officials asserted that a ban on photography was not the policy, Channel 5, National Public Radio, tourists and a host of amateur photographers have been shut down or given inconsistent direction on photography at Union Station. The evidence of confusion and arbitrary actions by security personnel reflects the continuing absence of clarity concerning public access. Union Station appears to be a case study for the necessity of my bill, H.R. 3519, the Open Society with Security Act, to assure public safety while maintaining the highest level of free and open access to the public."

Norton also reinforced the fact that Union Station, while hosting a mix of retail and other uses, remains public property. "The overriding public interest has never been in doubt: to provide the public access to a federally owned facility," Norton stated.

Incredibly, representatives for the entities that manage Union Station offered prepared statements that sidestepped, entirely, the very issue that helped initiate today's hearing.

Photographer Erin McCann came prepared to remind them of her long and frustrating chronology of attempts to communicate with them about their policies. "Often, my calls and e-mails have resulted in being given conflicting information, sometimes minutes apart by people in the same office," McCann testified.

Station managers said they're working to fix the problem, but Norton branded management's approach "pathetic" and demanded immediate removal of their signs claiming Union Station is private property and that photography can be banned at their discretion. Norton also mandated that management submit, within thirty days, a new draft policy regarding the rights of photographers and other public access rights within Union Station.

The full hearing can be viewed here (allow time to load).

Tom Fitzgerald of DC's FOX5 covered today's hearing. His report, along with other videos and links, is here. Washington Post coverage here.

Photos from today's hearing are available on my Flickr stream.

The Hearing is ON

2008-07-16T08:44:00.006-04:00

It's official: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will hold a hearing on Union Station, the recent anti-photography antics of security there, and claims by various parties that the station is somehow "private property."

The hearing is set for next Tuesday, July 22, 10:00am in Room 2167 of the Rayburn House Office Building (RHOB for all ye fellow former Hill staffers; I just had to type "RHOB" reflexively). According to the committee's website, the hearing will be webcast live. Info here.

More details here, courtesy of Erin McCann, one of the leaders of the DC Photo Rights group over on Flickr. Erin has consistently and courteously dogged Amtrak, and station management company LaSalle, for many months, seeking answers to what should be simple questions. It's been a time consuming and oft-maddening task, and the entire photographic community owes Erin a huge hug of thanks.

I will attend this hearing, along with Erin and other concerned colleagues, and report on the proceedings at this blog.

She's Serious About That Hearing

2008-06-10T13:15:00.012-04:00

Photographers who've suffered harassment at DC's Union Station were encouraged last week when Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) expressed a desire to hold hearings on this subject.

Well, she's sticking to it.

In response to constituents who write to her regarding harassment of photographers at Union Station, Norton is sending letters which include the following:

"As a result of these incidences, I am planning to hold hearings in the near future to support any efforts to protect the civil liberties of citizens and to ensure that no one is forbidden from taking photos of the beautiful and historic Union Station."

As I told FOX5, security seems to be lightening up on photographers, but the question that remains for us is: will this last?

Message to LaSalle (managers of Union Station) et al: learn to love our cameras, or face the ones in a congressional hearing room. Hmm, maybe a "field hearing" at Union Station? Or a congressional "fact finding" walk, as part of this process? Hope security guards would recognize Norton. Unlike the Amtrak spokesman, who was quite polite as security interrupted and shut down his own interview (wherein he was trying to explain that photography was permitted), I suspect the Gentlelady from the District of Columbia wouldn't be so...gentle.

In all seriousness, Congresswoman Norton's continued interest in this matter will help ensure that Union Station remains a hassle-free zone for photographers.

They're Messing with the Wrong Congresswoman

2008-06-03T08:50:00.008-04:00

As a longtime inside-the-beltway type, it's sometimes easy for me to forget that not everyone lives by their little guidebooks to Congress, or has a general knowledge of things like committee assignments or prominent legislative sponsorships. If you live baseball, you know your teams and positions. If you live politics, you know committees and whatnot.

In the event anyone, say, managing Union Station has forgotten, or in the event any personnel at any facility like Union Station nationwide is not aware of the particular congressional lion they have awakened regarding the rights of citizens in these facilities...I give you...Congresswoman Norton's committee assignments:

Homeland Security

- Subcommittee on Transportation and Security and Infrastructure Protection

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

- Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management

Her full list of assignments is on her website. But the ones above are potent positions from which Congresswoman Norton can help us restore our civil liberties in/around so many locations where security guards and police have harassed, assaulted, detained and even arrested photographers, based upon no sound law.

Security is vitally important. So are civil liberties. Congresswoman Norton understands this.

Union Station Photo Flap Grows Into Congressional Issue

2008-06-02T23:44:00.019-04:00

A LOT has happened since FOX5 interviewed me for their story on harassment of photographers at DC's Union Station.

This has now quickly grown into a serious congressional issue. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reacted angrily today to the suggestion put forward by Union Station's management that the space is "private property."

"I'm astounded that Union Station would be declared private property, when we [Congress] issued the lease," Norton said today, after she was provided with a list of policies written by Jones Lang LaSalle, the company which manages Union Station. LaSalle's policies--provided by the management company to FOX5, which then showed them to Norton--began by declaring Union Station as "private property."

"The Congress of the United States didn't realize it was selling Union Station, and it is not," Norton said. Norton's full statement to FOX5 can be viewed here.

"We're going to have hearings," Norton warned, "because it's going to be us, the Congress, or it's going to be the courts. Somebody is going to sue, straight out, and I can tell you that the Supreme Court precedents are as clear as water on this."

As one of the photographers that kicked off this entire discussion, I say this: after seven long years of having fears used as an excuse to shred the Constitution, we have found our Joan of Arc, we have found our champion, and her name is Eleanor Holmes Norton.

As a former congressional aide and DC civic activist, I've known and watched Congresswoman Norton for years. I can tell you, if anyone's going to mess with civil liberties in any manner whatsoever, or claim ownership over property which the people of America and the District of Columbia in particular hold dear, Eleanor Holmes Norton will not let them pass. Her intellect is powerful, and it is wrapped in tenacity and passion.

I'll be talking with the Congresswoman's office tomorrow. In the meantime, please thank and encourage her, right now, by clicking here. NOTE: Congresswoman Norton's contact page is for District residents only. If you live outside DC, please express your appreciation by contacting her at:

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

2136 Rayburn House Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515

Or, call (202) 225-8050

Let's show Congresswoman Norton that she has tapped into a powerful nationwide constituency on this important issue.

Photo Nation, let your voices rise.