There is an interesting read in the New York Times Lens Blog about how photography in public places is being criminalized. It is an interview with James Estrin a lawyer with the National Press Photographers Association.
Estrin rightly points out that police are restricting access of press photographers and misleading the public about where images can be taken in a post 9/11 world. Basically if you are on a public street and are not interfering with anyone you can snap away to your hearts content. It's still a free country!
When I worked as a photojournalist I had a few conflicts with EMS and police about if I could take photographs at a spot news event. One guy told me I needed to respect peoples privacy. My response was that if you wrap your car around a telephone pole on a public street it isn't private anymore.
Sometimes I think we've given up to much freedom in order to be "safe" in a country founded on individual rights.
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