With a just a quick glance, I found two blogs online that document photographer problems with "the law" (typically actually with incorrect and paranoid interpretations of the law). Photo Permit and Freedom to Photograph.
What are your rights indeed? Well, they can be paraphrased as follows: you can almost always photograph anything in public unless there is a specific law otherwise (like attempts to ban photography in the New York subway system). Film or flash memory cannot be confiscated except with a court order. Take a look at Bert Krages, Attorney at Law's excellent summary and the pdf document of your photographer's rights. Put a copy in your camera bag!
Another, longer pdf is also available online which lays out the same points in a slightly different manner. And you can also look at the model release FAQ for information on commercial uses of photos with recognizable people or owned things. The National Press Photographer's Association has a memo on photographer rights up online.
There's an NPR piece from last June as well.
Posted by duver001 at March 2, 2006 4:01 PM | TrackBack