Thomas Hawk (whose blog I read regularly) has just posted an account of his experience with the Long Beach police/security guards. It’s not very often that I hear of photography being prevented in public places in New Zealand. So infrequently that my one, tiny, niggling issue is the inability to take photos in art galleries here, which is a very grey and idiosyncratic area anyway. Though a few friends have had very unfair run ins with law enforcement I can’t really recall any major instances of this on public property. However, it sure is disheartening each time I hear about photographers being harassed in the USA. Seething paranoia is a scary thing. It sounds like the efforts of the security staff would prevent little apart from fun, freedom or creativity. Surely there has to be a better way for both parties to have their interests met. On the lighter side, the write-up is accompanied by a great photo.

Link: Long Beach Harbor Patrol Says Photography “Not Allowed” From Public Sidewalk