Law School - Photography and the Law

January 12, 2009 by Lee Hammaker

I love taking photos. I know I’ve said that a time or two. The problem is - where do you take photos?

If you’re like me I go out and wander around and just snap away. This has gotten me into some trouble. I’ve taken some pictures in Mall parking lots. I didn’t know it was illegal. You see you’re not allowed to take pictures on private property and Mall parking lots are the private property of the mall. I didn’t know this and I was approached by Mall security telling me to cease and desist, I did because I didn’t want to be arrested and thrown into jail.

The funny thing about all this is I had purchased a book about the photographing and the law. It said the same thing but I didn’t pay attention to the book. Fortunately I didn’t get into much trouble.

I used to wander around the neighborhoods taking pictures but that got the local people upset. I’ve taken pictures of ducks in a stream only to have someone drive by and stare at me. I’m not doing anything illegal but some people don’t know that. I’ve been known to find little out of the way places to take some photos but the first thing I do I make sure there are no posted signs around.

I was taking some photos of the ice forming on a fence just a foot or so away from my kitchen porch, during this time my neighbor from across the lot come out and asked what I was doing, I simply told him I was photographing the ice forming on different objects. He nodded and went back in after wishing me a Merry Christmas.  

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Lee Hammaker has a passion for graphic arts and has been involved in computer graphics for over 15 years. Although he does it mostly for personal satisfaction he does contract out to businesses and organizations through GoFreelance. He has a new website where he is selling some of his unique designs on clothing at Half Infinity Productions. His artwork has appeared on various websites.