by Carmella on September 9th, 2007

Carmella

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Is it legal to take photos inside airports?

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  • by iwnit on September 10th, 2007

    iwnit

    1) "In the United States, anything visible ("in plain view") from a public area can be legally photographed. This includes buildings and facilities, people, signage, notices and images. It is not uncommon for security personnel to use intimidation or other tactics to attempt to stop the photographer from photographing their facilities (trying to prevent, e.g., industrial espionage); however, there is no legal precedent to prevent the photographer so long as the image being photographed is in plain view from a public area."
    "Some other restrictions on photography exist in the US, but most have to do with either commercial use of a space, such as forbidding photography inside a private building, or national security, such as restrictions on airport security areas or military installations"
    Source and further information:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_photography#Legal_considerations


    2) Here a discussion about this issue:
    "Taking photos in airports forbidden?"
    "In most airports it's prohibited to take photos in or near the security screening areas, but apart from that it should be ok. Also beware of photographing airport police or security personnel -- while you mightn't even notice that they are in the frame of your photo, they often take exception to being photographed."
    http://www.flickr.com/groups/airports/discuss/72157594373814053/


    3) "Despite misconceptions to the contrary,
    the following subjects can
    almost always be photographed lawfully
    from public places:
    accident and fire scenes
    children
    celebrities
    bridges and other infrastructure
    residential and commercial buildings
    industrial facilities and public utilities
    transportation facilities (e.g., airports)
    Superfund sites
    criminal activities
    law enforcement officers"
    Source:
    http://pdf.textfiles.com/pamphlets/thephotographersright.pdf


    4) Here some ideas for your shots in airports:
    "Shots That Take Off. Shooting Air Travel "
    http://www.dreamstime.com/shots-that-take-off.-shooting-air-travel_blog_art26


    5) Outside the U.S., specific rules could apply!
    Same for military airports:
    "The agents asked him if he had taken any photos inside Camp Delta.
    No, he replied.
    The agents knew he was lying.

    Al Halabi loved to take pictures. From the moment he had arrived at Guantánamo, he was snapping photos of his quarters, the beaches, his new friends on the base. He posted them on his personal Web site, along with messages to his bride-to-be.

    To him, the pictures were a record of his American journey."
    Source and further information:
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002147304_yeechapter5.html

    Comments
    • FYI: Taking pictures of statues and other public works of art that are copyrighted is a violation of copyright law (with a few exceptions).

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on September 10th, 2007

    • Anonymous: I suppose you are right. However, one should certainly consider different uses of these photographs:
      - commercial use
      - personal use (family and friends)
      - fair use:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

      iwnit

      by iwnit on September 10th, 2007

    • Just because something is intended for personal use, or not for commercial use, does not mean it qualifies as fair use. Fair use is a term that is often thrown around, but it really is a very narrow doctrine. Think about this: you take a picture of you and your family in front of a copyrighted statue for personal use and upload it on one of the internet sites that allows you to share your photo's. The picture is for personal use but is not transmitted/searchable by millions of people. Despite your non-commercial, personal use, of my copyright, the fair use doctrine is not likely to protect you.

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on September 10th, 2007

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