I'll echo Cotty and say that the photographer was unwise to set up his camera on a tripod. Having worked in a museum where I sometimes had to adjudicate on the permissibility of photography in what is after all a public building, it mostly comes down to the impression of either amateurism or professionalism that the photographer's equipment conveys.
You'll probably find that the city park involved is administered by some sort of statutory authority, and is not quite the 'public domain' that the street outside the gates is. Sydney residents would be familiar with similar restrictions on photography in the precincts of the Sydney Opera House, to protect the building from uncontrolled commercial exploitation of its image. Similarly, Uluru (formerly Ayer's Rock) is not in the public domain but is under traditional native ownership. It would be unwise to flaunt the professionalism of one's gear there, too. I guess we shouldn't worry. All we need say to the person in uniform is, "This is a Pentax, and everybody knows that Pentax doesn't make professional cameras." regards, Anthony Farr > -----Original Message----- > From: D. Glenn Arthur Jr. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Folks, > > I'm behind on my list reading so I don't know whether this has > already been discussed, but just in case it hasn't ... : > > <http://newurbanist.blogspot.com/2005/01/copyrighting-of-public-space.html> > > "The Reader recounts the experience of photojournalist > Warren Wimmer's attempts to photograph Anish Kapoor's > sculpture, Cloud Gate (more commonly known as 'the Bean'). > When Wimmer set up his tripod and camera to shoot the > sculpture, security guards stopped him, demanding that > they show him a permit. Wimmer protested, replying that > it's absurd that one needs to pay for a permit to > photograph public art in a city-owned park." > > The explanation (they're protecting the _artist's_ copyright) makes > some sense to me as well, but the "guards will stop you if you try > to take photos in public" aspect still feels ... troublingly odd. > > > -- Glenn
