I enjoy taking pictures. It originally started because I was a railroad enthusiast and I took pictures of trains. However, photography as my hobby has taken on a life of its own. I have expanded my subjects to include architecture, landscapes, nature, and people, while continuing to photograph railroads. Unfortunately in recent years amateur photographers, like myself, as well as some professional ones have come under attack by the authorities who see photography as a threat. After 9/11 we were told to return to our normal routines. THEN why are photographers repeatedly told “the world is different now”?.. Why are we being constantly stopped from returning to our normal pre-9/11 routine? What is particularly frustrating is that cops and other authorities outright LIE to us and PATRONIZE us by telling us that photogrpahy of __________(fill in the blank – trains – bridges – the harbor – roads – etc) is illegal when clearly there are NO LAWS prohibiting the activity. Why are we being routinely stopped from pursuing a LEGAL activity? Photography is a form of art protected by the first amenedment of the constitution. Why are our first amendment rights being infringed on?

The purpose of this site is to compile the stories of photographer harassment from throughout the web in order to prove that these are not isolated incidents but rather part of a concerted effort on the part of authorities to intimidate photographers into abandoning their rights under existing laws and the constitution. When the public sees the enormity of the issue perhaps only then can public pressure can be put on the government and its agencies to cease the harassment.

Questions or comments about this site can be addressed to the administrator of this blog at info@nycphotorights.com

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Have an Incident you want to share or report?
PLEASE post it in the Forum. If it is interesting we will move it to the main page while discussions can continue in the Forum.

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If you are a member of Flickr and have a picture you were hassled for taking please post it in our Flickr Group