We are suddenly facing serious legal restrictions when
photographing on the streets of New York.

An overview

Jem Cohen, Astra Taylor, Laura Hanna, Beka Economopoulos, Brandon Jourdan, and Julie Talen:
Introduced quietly just before Memorial Day weekend, the regulations could severely impede the ability of even casual photographers and filmmakers to operate in New York City. A group of two or more people who want to use a camera in a single public location for more than a half hour (including setup and breakdown time) could be required to get a city permit and $1 million in liability insurance. According to the NY Civil Liberties Union, "these regulations violate the First Amendment right to photograph in public places, and open the door to selective and discriminatory enforcement."


Excerpted from an email by artist/filmmaker Jem Cohen:

"The Mayor's Office of Film deals primarily with big film shoots (ie. commercials, features, t.v.) where permits and insurance are, understandably, a given. However, many photographers and filmmakers carry on an equally vital tradition in which spontaneous documentation of the urban environment is at the very heart of our work. Being a street photographer often means standing in a random location and waiting: for the right activity, the right light, the break in the traffic; the countless other unpredictable factors that need to fall into place to make a shot worthwhile...

Permits would have to be obtained for specific dates and times and exact locations, and the insurance would be out of reach for many individuals. The fact is that we simply CANNOT predict where, when, and how long we are going to film or photograph; we CANNOT afford expensive liability insurance policies; we occasionally NEED to work with other people or to use tripods to support our gear. (The regulations would, for example, effectively rule out a great deal of time-lapse photography which depends on tripods and cannot possibly be done with time limitations of 10 to 30 minutes, as well as the use of large format still cameras and long lenses).

Especially in the current climate, official clarification of photographer's rights could be a positive thing. (Many of us have been shut down by police or other authorities who do not seem to understand that we DO have rights to film and photograph in public places). That said, if these regulations go through, it would invite if not require police to harass or shut down both professional artists and amateurs.

Unfortunately, I believe that we must see the proposed regulations not only as a blow against New York as a city that welcomes and inspires art-making (and historical documentation), but as part of a continuum of broader attacks against civil liberties and free expression."

TAKE ACTION:

1) Click on this link to sign the petition:
http://www.pictureny.org/petition/index.php
We don’t have much time with an august 3rd deadline.

2) Attend the Rally for the 1st Amendment –
Union Square – TOMORROW – Friday, July 27th, 6:30 pm
Show up to make a statement about New York City’s laws and regulations regarding filming, shouting, biking, parading, and dancing.

3) Please contact the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting immediately and express your concerns.
Julianne Cho
Associate Commissioner
Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting
1697 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
jcho@film.nyc.gov
ph: 212.489.6710
fax: 212.307.6237

4) Visit http://citizenspeak.org/node/1123 to send an email to top NYC officials and NYC Film, Theatre & Broadcasting officials.

Additional information:
Original New York Times Article
PDF of Proposed Changes (will download directly to your computer)
NYCLU Response.

Thanks to Jean Miele for giving me the heads up in an email today.

About the author

Kevin Michael Reed
Kevin Michael Reed (Google+, Facebook) is a fashion & beauty photographer and producer/director based in New York City and Los Angeles, CA. He is the President/CEO of RedFOG Visual Media, a production company in New York City, and a partner in Passion of Photography, Inc, a company dedicated to teaching photographers and sharing our passion through charitable causes. Kevin has lectured and hosted workshops throughout the United States and the world teaching photographers the business and creative sides of photography. (Kevin's Fashion & Beauty Photography Portfolio can be seen here).