Avoiding harassment when shooting in the street

[Nitesail]

National Parks (and some state parks) seem to have become very concerned about "professional photographers" in the past 20 years or so. I think it is because they require commercial photographers (wedding photographers, product photos, models, etc.) to pay for permits to shoot on premises. But for those of us who are doing this as a hobby, or "fine art' (however you wish to define it), or testing a new piece of gear, or film/developer combo; we haven't paid their fees for permits to carry big, heavy tripods and cameras around. They are not recouping any cost from us. Just my $0.02 or WAG.

Years ago, I was setting up a tripod in front of the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, when a guy in uniform and a badge that said "Alamo Ranger" nicely, but firmly insisted I could not set up my camera because I was on private property (it isn't--it has been owned by the State of Texas since 1883). Anyway, I decided that discretion was the better part of valor that day and left. Some time later, I was also approached by the National Park Police while setting up near one of the old Spanish missions that make up San Antonio Spanish Missions National Historical Park. I was polite and respectful regarding his questions. I didn't have a business card with me, but I did have my faculty ID from the large, state university where I worked at the time. He took that and went back to his cruiser to call it in. When he came back to return my ID, he said, "You know, if you had been here about two hours earlier, the light would have been much better. Coming in from that direction over there, gives the building some nice side-lighting."

What's the old saying, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?"

Best,

Joel

This weekend, the wife and I went to Cumberland Island off the coast of GA and did some 5x7 photography. It’s amazing how many people want to talk to you about your “old looking” camera. I had indeed brought out the old Korona as it needed some air. All of the people who approached me, including a Park Ranger, were very cordial and were very interested in the process. One guy even asked if I could set it up, as I walk around with it on the tripod over my shoulder, so he and his wife could take some pics of it. Another couple, maybe in their twenties, I even let get under the dark cloth and check out the image, afterward he asked me where the film comes out.

For reference, I have always gotten the same reaction in all of the parks in FL and NC as well. Now, whenever I use a more “modern looking” camera, that’s when I typically get, at best, indifference. Sometimes I’ll get some not so nice encounters as well. It seems to me that an old wooden camera really lowers people’s guard and makes them less likely to be annoyed by your presence.

[John Kasaian]

The only National Park I've had a problem with was in Golden Gate National Recreation Area at Fort Point.
Never any problems in Yosemite or Kings Canyon/Sequioa, but I always seek out any nearby rangers first to fill them in on what I want to do.
As long as I don't block access, they don't have a problem with me.
This didn't work at Fort Point.

A letter asking for permission is nice to have in your quiver and can get you into some amazing places otherwise off limits.
Several years ago, before 9/11, I got to access an archeological site that requires transiting a live fire range at an Army Base
with the post Archeologist for my guide, gratis.

[Drew Wiley]

I just avoid the urban tourist areas, or peri-urban ones, these days. Too dangerous, even for Rangers. I had one friend mugged at gunpoint last week next to a popular urban park, and another friend murdered a few months ago downtown, and yet another who had to relocate his industrial complex due to the sheer danger of commuting into the neighborhood (close to a major sports and entertainment arena). When I go to GGNRA, I always drive my old dirty truck. Nobody bothers it in the parking lot. If it were a nice Lexus, the windows would probably be smashed by someone looking for valuables.

But once you get further north on Hwy 1 than Rodeo Beach and into Pt Reyes Natl Seashore, etc, there seem to be no problems. Likewise around here on the East Bay : the many official East Bay Regional Parks and open spaces are quite safe, and well monitored, even by helicopter; but you certainly don't want to leave anything valuable behind in a car while out on the trail.

Having lived in this area of the coast for over 50 yrs now, I've never been confronted by any Gov't official except once, by a brand new NP employee. Several times I have had rangers approach me and ask me camera and film advice. Up in the Sierras, never ever a camera and tripod issue where law enforcement or ranger responsibilities were concerned. But down in the woods, you do have to be careful if any illegal pot of meth operations are in the vicinity. The burbs can be pretty unfriendly too.

Higher up, a moose and its calf once knocked my tripod over in Wyoming. I don't know which agency employs the moose or mooses or meece. Perhaps they were resentful that I was shooting an Ebony camera rather than a Deer-dorff. But it could have been worse.

[Robert Opheim]

Drew, sorry to hear that Golden Gate National Recreational area is compromised. I always wanted to do some large format photography there. I didn't know that the San Francisco area was as unsafe as you mention. In the 1980's I visited a cousin in living Pacifica and we walked thru a lot of San Francisco including the Mission District at that time and it was a bit rough. I had family that lived in the east-bay areas like: Alamo, and Danville - and a cousin still lives in the hills out of San Ramon - a very beautiful area. Seattle too has areas I would avoid - unless I had security with me.

[Drew Wiley]

GGNRA extends well beyond the city of SF itself, and merges into both "Mt Tam" State Park and Pt Reyes National Seashore. 95% of that area is quite safe. Even most of the Pacific shoreline of SF itself is still relatively safe. But like other big cities, you need to be aware of which neighborhoods have serious problems. And some of this is spreading. There are significant portions of lowland west Oakland that are getting worse and worse. Of course, Oakland and its immediate vicinity including Emeryville and Berkeley are the world epicenter of Biotech and Pharmaceutical R&D, and the half of the population which lives in the hills tends to be quite wealthy. I don't want to say too much lest I be accused of derailing this into a political discussion. It isn't.

But it's no secret that popular tourist venues are especially targets of bolder and bolder street crime. A nice car with visible baggage in it has a bullseye on it. Likewise, designer purses, fancy digital camera gear, etc. And kids shouldn't be out of your sight in certain neighborhoods; they can get snatched fast. I've seen it happen, but yelled loud and long enough for them to pull free. Human trafficking is big time in both SF and W. Oakland. Some of these areas have been dangerous for decades; other neighborhoods have gotten much better, and others worse. Out on the rural trails, never a worry; jogging paths in the cities, however, all depends.

There are obviously still thousands of people who commute to work in downtown SF every weekday, and new professional firms moving in where others have left. It's a complex situation. Likewise, Oakland still has one of the most thriving restaurant scenes in the country, combined with Berkeley. So all this has to be taken in realistic proportion.

[angusparker]

The car break ins in SF are an order of magnitude worse than other major urban areas in the US. We have had a fairly incompetent series of heads of the SFPD and DAs office - that is slowly changing, and will change more in the next year. Unlike other cities, like LA, which leave bait laptops etc with trackers in them in cars, to then find out where the fences and warehouses are - we don’t seem to have the wherewithal to do the same.

Having said all that, once you are out of the city and the immediate area of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin, the GGNRA is quite safe and there are so many nice Lexus cars that there is safety in numbers! I’ve had my Lexus broken into three times in front of my house in a nice part of SF over the past 5 years but never had a problem in the GGNRA in Marin Co. I think the criminal set is allergic to nature. ;-)

Downtown Oakland and its surrounds (not the hills) is now plain scary and a no go area for me - Clorox has security guard escort their employees to their cars or public transport. Gives you a sense of how off the rails that city is.