Warning for weather photographers

KB7MIB · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 3:01 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

Skywarn spotters and storm chasers: If you like to photograph severe weather, be aware of what else is in your viewfinder. Someone may report you as suspicious. http://www.pixiq.com/article/houston-man-receives-visit-from-fbi-after-photographing-weather

scannerfreak · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 3:14 AM

Moved to the photography forum.

KB7MIB · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 4:03 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

The photographer was a Skywarn storm spotter who was seen taking pictures. That's why I put it in the weather forum in the first place.

scannerfreak · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 4:42 AM

That forum, as the description states, is for discussion on severe weather and storm chasing radio communications. This thread has nothing to do with either, so it belongs here

CapStar362 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 6:21 PM

thats interesting..........

triptolemus · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 6:33 PM

Alerting security and sometimes law enforcement is pretty common for refineries to do when they spot folks taking photographs of their facilities. Most such contacts are obviously off of the refinery property. I see/hear this about once a month at the various refineries I work in. The refineries are acting in accordance with their security plans developed with DHS and USCG. The typical response is to ask folks to move along.

I'm not saying it's right but it isn't the refineries' fault, per se. It's the (sometimes) dumb government policies they must abide by.

k9rzz · #7 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 2:48 AM

I was shooting pix of an all white squirrel in a residential neighborhood. You bet that I high tailed it out of there once I got my shots. :^)

n9mxq · #8 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 5:12 AM

Honestly I'm glad they reported it.. I know the guy was innocently shooting a storm, but what if he wasn't? I for one am glad to see some places are still taking security seriously..

I think the whole thing was handled properly..

burner50 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 5:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n9mxq

Honestly I'm glad they reported it.. I know the guy was innocently shooting a storm, but what if he wasn't? I for one am glad to see some places are still taking security seriously..

I think the whole thing was handled properly..

As long as you ignore how absurd it is that you can be prevented from taking photos of some place where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy while you are doing so from public property.

FFPM571 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 8:25 AM

Its all paranoia.. These days with google earth and their street view anyone can get much more detailed pictures right off the internet. Unless there is a sign proibiting photography such as a goverment facilty. Taking a picture of a building from a public street is not a crime.

~~kb2vxa~~ · #11 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 1:52 PM

All so very true but to borrow a lyric, paranoia mean destroyer. Not long ago railroads prohibited photography in a post 9-1-1 knee jerk reaction. It raised such a howl from fans and photogs they finally realized how silly it was and reconsidered. Refineries (what's left) are another matter not being popular subjects so the terrorist scare persists especially when da gubmint has a policy of "when we don't have an enemy we invent one to scare the public and justify the existence of Homeland Insecurity".

Then there are the cops but that's another popular rant.

rdale · #12 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 2:22 PM

Terrorists are a figment of the government's imagination? Son,we need to teach you how to read the news...

~~kb2vxa~~ · #13 (**permalink**) 11-18-2012, 9:38 PM

The news reports feathers in caps, patting self on the back or simply put, self praise. I don't believe in the bogey man or the closet monster or the dragon slayer's boasting.

n9mxq · #14 (**permalink**) 11-19-2012, 5:23 AM

Regardless of your views of terrorism, it's still private property and as such the owner has rights not to allow photographs of said property, even if Google doesn't care.

If some yahoo came up and started photographing my house, you'd have a safe bet that he'd be meeting me in a hurry.

burner50 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-19-2012, 6:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n9mxq

Regardless of your views of terrorism, it's still private property and as such the owner has rights not to allow photographs of said property, even if Google doesn't care.

If some yahoo came up and started photographing my house, you'd have a safe bet that he'd be meeting me in a hurry.

No, they don't.

If your private property can be seen from public property, it is fair game...

Now, using a telephoto lens to peer inside windows is a different story.

But a refinery that can be seen from a road, there is no expectation of privacy and I don't believe they should be harassing taxpayers for taking pictures near one.

If someone was taking pictures of your house from public property, you have the right to block his shots, but that's about it.

If they're taking the pictures from their own private property, you have no right to enter their property.

In areas around your house that can be seen by all, you have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

rdale · #16 (**permalink**) 11-19-2012, 6:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

The news reports feathers in caps, patting self on the back or simply put, self praise. I don't believe in the bogey man or the closet monster or the dragon slayer's boasting.

You don't have to believe any of that. But it would be wise to believe that there are people/groups on US soil who are actively in one form or another plotting to do bad things to us.

~~kb2vxa~~ · #17 (**permalink**) 11-19-2012, 2:46 PM

What's not to believe? Foreign and domestic saboteurs have been around since day one only now they're called terrorists for the scare factor. They have always been plotting against us as we plot against them, nothing new and nothing to worry about.

ckqualls · #18 (**permalink**) 03-10-2013, 11:17 AM

I'm Dallas PD, and when I was on the streets downtown, I'd answer "suspicious person" calls all the time about "terrorists" taking pictures of skyscrapers. Remember that every CVS has postcards of skyscrapers, so this really wasn't anything evil.

I'd roll up to the "suspect" and ask one question - "Nikon or Canon"? They'd give me a startled look, I'd smile,, then they'd relax. I'd explain why I was there, and then talk "shop" (photography) with them. Never met anyone looking to blow up a building, just "blow up"a photo to 11x17.

It isn't illegal to take photographs if you're on public property (IE public sidewalk).

FiveAlarmPhotography · #19 (**permalink**) 03-10-2013, 1:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckqualls

I'm Dallas PD, and when I was on the streets downtown, I'd answer "suspicious person" calls all the time about "terrorists" taking pictures of skyscrapers. Remember that every CVS has postcards of skyscrapers, so this really wasn't anything evil.

I'd roll up to the "suspect" and ask one question - "Nikon or Canon"? They'd give me a startled look, I'd smile,, then they'd relax. I'd explain why I was there, and then talk "shop" (photography) with them. Never met anyone looking to blow up a building, just "blow up"a photo to 11x17.

It isn't illegal to take photographs if you're on public property (IE public sidewalk).

Wish we had more officers like you around here

gewecke · #20 (**permalink**) 03-10-2013, 1:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiveAlarmPhotography

Wish we had more officers like you around here

Yep, here too! When I'm out with my camera which is rare, when the cops roll up to ask what I'm shooting I say don't worry it's already dead.

73,
n9zas