The US State Dept and the First Amendment.

[The_Traveler]

I was downtown in DC today to take pictures of Rolling Thunder for an article I'm writing and I cut across the space behind the White House to get to the Metro station.
There was a group having their picture taken (cell phone camera) in front of the fence. This is certainly not unusual but I happened to be at the right spot and took a picture of them having their picture taken.

Several of them, smiled so I gave them my card and said if they wanted one, just send me an email and I'd send the picture. While giving him my card, I asked one man where the group was from and he answered with the name of one of the several countries that doesn't like the US a lot.
Another woman who spoke excellent English but with an unidentifiable (by me) accent, took my card and asked if I was from a newspaper.
I told her that I just use pictures on my own site and often as part of articles I write.

I said goodby and walked away and I had gone about 200 feet when she came running after me.
She said that I shouldn't have taken their picture and that I should have asked permission and that taking the picture without permission was illegal.
I told her that she was unfortunately incorrect and she answered that the people were guests of the State Dept and the State Dept had told her that one couldn't take pictures without permission.

She was upset, and did have my contact info, so I promised several times I wouldn't post the pictures of them.

I wonder if the State Dept doesn't have access to copies of the Constitution or aren't aware of current laws?

Here's the picture, just peek behind that black thing.

 

[pixmedic]

wait..was she one of the people posing for a cell phone pic?
if so, why didnt she tell THEM not to take a picture?

 

[pgriz]

The personal opinions of individuals in the State Department do not represent the State Department policy. So even if she was told by some-one, that doesn't mean that what she was told/or understood, is correct. If the State Department has an undeclared policy that no-one is supposed to take pictures of the "guests" of the State Department, then that's another thing. My personal opinion is that she was blowing smoke.

 

[pixmedic]

I say post the pic in its entirety. $^#% da man! power to the people!

 

[Designer]

..the State Dept had told her that one couldn't take pictures without permission.

Now why am I not surprised?

 

[Braineack]

People are annoying. Just ignore her.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk

 

[The_Traveler]

First of all I promised her I wouldn't post it.
Secondly, she was concerned enough that there might actually be some real ramifications for the people pictured if it got out in the press.

Lastly, Snerd, I am asking you politely to delete your rant.
Politics is not an acceptable topic here and a rant means only one side gets to talk.

 

[snerd]

..............Lastly, Snerd, I am asking you politely to delete your rant.
Politics is not an acceptable topic here and a rant means only one side gets to talk.

Looks like it was done for me. Sorry. But I don't know how you can ask a question about the State Dept without politics being involved. You asked, I informed you. Sorry if you didn't like the answer.

 

[The_Traveler]

..............Lastly, Snerd, I am asking you politely to delete your rant.
Politics is not an acceptable topic here and a rant means only one side gets to talk.

Looks like it was done for me. Sorry. But I don't know how you can ask a question about the State Dept without politics being involved. You asked, I informed you. Sorry if you didn't like the answer.

Whetehr I liked the answer or not, you were out of bounds so lets drop it as it is.

 

[480sparky41 41]

Perhaps she was merely confused and trying to apply the laws in place in her home country to here. Or she simply misunderstood what she was told.

 

[The_Traveler]

Whatever, she was clearly very upset and the pictures have no real value as an image, (although I could probably sell them to a news service) so I promised I wouldn't post them.
I deleted the originals and used a utility to write over the space a few times, so whoever they were, their secret is so as far as I'm concerned.

 

[pixmedic]

Whatever, she was clearly very upset and the pictures have no real value as an image, (although I could probably sell them to a news service) so I promised I wouldn't post them.
I deleted the originals and used a utility to write over the space a few times, so whoever they were, their secret is so as far as I'm concerned.

its honestly very refreshing to see a photographer that actually has respect for someones personal feelings, and less "RAAAAWRRRRR im the photographer, public space, I can legally photograph you no matter what you say so my snapshot is worth more than your feelings because I own the copyrights!!! BLARG!"

good form Lew.

 

[table1349]

I told her that she was unfortunately incorrect and she answered that the people were guests of the State Dept and the State Dept had told her that one couldn't take pictures without permission.

She was upset, and did have my contact info, so I promised several times I wouldn't post the pictures of them.

I wonder if the State Dept doesn't have access to copies of the Constitution or aren't aware of current laws?

I know that some folks have a hard time believing this, but there are some people in this world that will lie to try to achieve their goals. They will even lie to the police.

 

[480sparky41 41]

.......... their secret is so as far as I'm concerned.

Homeland Security already has copies of them, along with an Incident Report, in your dossier, Lew.

 

[The_Traveler]

and she has my business card with my fingerprints.
I wonder if I'll get a call from the duty desk at the State Dept?

years ago, late 80's, a Polish exchange student wanted to come and volunteer in my lab one afternoon a week and, after I reported his offer to my CO, I had a counter-intelligence case officer assigned to me for a while.
nothing ever came of it but it was interesting for a while.