“Always Be Rollin’…” That’s what we teach ’em at The Lenslinger Institute. So whether you’re a rent-a-cop, a shackled crackhead or just some bystander with a bad caffeine buzz, keep your meathooks to yourself. Or you could end up HERE where your lopsided drop-kicks and warbling cries of “Wolverine!” will echo long after your bitter spittle has all dried up. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya…..
We checked back in with Mike Anzaldi, the freelance photojournalist who was arrested by the Chicago Police Department October 22 at a crime scene. Thinking we’d hear about the status of his arrest, we were shocked to learn he’d been arrested again – and the second offense is even more outlandish than the first!
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will not file criminal charges against an Oakland Tribune photojournalist who was detained last Friday while covering a student protest against immigration raids.
Assistant district attorney Tom Rogers would not elaborate on the decision, which was made Tuesday afternoon. Rogers had reviewed allegations made by a school district police officer against Tribune videographer Jane Tyska that included vandalism, blocking the street and inciting a riot.
“There is no photography allowed. You must put away your camera or cellphone before approaching the signing table.”
One of the things that amuses me the most is the stipulations that the recording artists put on us shooters.
The Taylor Swift show was no exception. In fact, it probably had the most convoluted and ridiculous shooting restriction yet.
Constantly under the watchful eyes of security, the media wasn’t permitted to wander around inside Coachman Park to talk to Sarah Palin supporters.
the NUJ has released a short film called Press Freedom: “Collateral Damage” which tackles the issue of police surveillance of bona fide journalists who document political dissent.
The film is a damming account of the Orwellian techniques and methods of the Metropolitan Police Forward Intelligence Team (FIT Squad) over the last few years.
This film includes evidence of the FIT Squad targeting working journalists and footage of police attacking journalists when covering protests. The film also has an interview with Jeremy Dear and photographers outside New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police.
“Daily News reporters who tried to speak to city employees at rescue sites were denied information and told no one was authorized to talk to them except for the mayor and city manager,” the paper reported.
“It’s the worst thing the city could do. Those who will suffer most are evacuees,” Publisher Dolph Tillotson said in the story. “The media will have to turn to other sources that might be less reliable. I can’t imagine a dumber move under these extreme circumstances.”
Throughout the show a member of the Killers’ entourage takes pictures from the side of the stage. These days he is the only photographer allowed to shoot the band live. After gigs, the media are invited to pick shots that the band have selected to put up on a special website. Later I ask (Killers’ singer) Brandon Flowers why such an edict is necessary.
‘Ah-ha-ha,’ he laughs nervously. He begins by saying that the ban on outside photographers was in response to publications tending to use the same kind of image repeatedly: him with his mouth wide open, singing. Or, as he puts it, ‘the screaming moment… It just to got to be – well, for me, I didn’t like it.’
Photographer Matt Rourke of the Associated Press was arrested and detained at the Republican National Convention yesterday
Check it out here.
Police in Denver arrested an ABC News producer today as he and a camera crew were attempting to take pictures on a public sidewalk of Democratic senators and VIP donors leaving a private meeting at the Brown Palace Hotel.
Check it out here.
Reich and Carlson began to leave the premises, says Reich, certain he had captured the use of extreme force on tape. Hoelting, who had stayed behind, then overheard a guard say, “That shit’s going to be on YouTube. We gotta get that tape.”
Check it out here.
An Oakland Tribune photographer filed a federal civil rights lawsuit today against the city of Oakland, saying police illegally barred him from taking pictures at a freeway crash scene and handcuffed him when he persisted.
Ray Chavez, 44, said officers had interfered with his right as a member of the press to cover news, specifically a car crash and the emergency response time.
Check it out here.
David Burnett and I were comissioned by a high-profile magazine to make a cover image of Michael Phelps. Actually it was David who they wanted. David to his credit and as a testimont to his experience suggested that both of us do the shoot at the same time. It was a pretty smart and somewhat bold idea. Two sets of eyes, two brains working togeather to make the most out of the five minutes that we’d (hopefully) get.
Check it out here.
A Londoner was stopped by a London Transport Police officer under S.44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and had the presence of mind to whip out his video camera and record the officers tearing through his stuff.
Check it out here.
The Department of Defense would be required to grant journalists access to ceremonies honoring fallen military personnel under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Check it out here.
Journalists and photographers were targeted by police during the aftermath of a demonstration by Free Tibet activists near the Olympic stadium in Beijing
Check it out here.
How sad, for you Thomas. And, everyone rallying around your opinion here. Is there any justice at all to a one-sided rant? This to me is where blogging loses it’s credibility, by the second. I see that you tried to make some grand statement about the rights of photographers, but your method for doing so is selfish, immature, and actually rather cruel. Do you know Simon Blint? Do you have any idea of what it means to be able to safely and securely bring art to the masses? I do, on both accounts. I have worked at SFMOMA. You have used this incident to construct a rather flimsy soap box.
Check it out here.
from the ever-quotable Thomas Hawk:
Simon Blint, Director of Visitor Relations at the SF MOMA is a first rate a*hole.
Check it out here.