By Carlos Miller
The Michael Jackson hysteria in Los Angleles sparked a confrontation between an ignorant security guard and an assertive photographer earlier this week.
The security guard works for Andrews International and is named Vasquez (#782). He was standing on Hollywood Blvd ordering some other guy to get off the sidewalk, who apparently was heckling reporters but claims he was protesting something or another.
The photographer, wearing a video camera around his neck, was standing a few feet from the two and snapped a photo with a still camera.
This, of course, prompted Vasquez to turn his attention on the photographer, telling him to “stop taking pictures.”
The photographer asserted his rights which led to the security guard to order him off the sidewalk – which he has no authority to do.
Photographer: “I’m going to stay here and take as many photos as I want.”
Security guard: “You’re not going to with me.”
Photographer: “Yes, I will. If you’re in public, I will.”
Security guard: “No, you will not.”
Photographer: “I know the law, you can bark all you want …”
Security guard: “It doesn’t matter, don’t take another photo of me.”
Photographer: “What’s going to happen?”
Security guard: “You’ll see.”
Vasquez then grabs the camera and pushes it into the photographer’s face.
They continue arguing with Vasquez claiming that “you can’t take a picture of me.”
Vasquez calls his supervisor and the photographer calls the cops.
Vasquez, if you’re reading this, not only can he take a photo of you. He can videotape you as well.
Vasquez should be fired and Andrews International should be sued.
Click on the photographer’s website for a list of email addresses to local politicians and Andrews International bigwigs to file a complaint.
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I am a multimedia journalist who has been fighting a lengthy legal battle after having photographed Miami police against their wishes in Feb. 2007. Please help the fight by donating to my Legal Defense Fund in the top left sidebar, which helps pay for the thousands of dollars I’ve acrued in debt since my arrest. To keep updated on the latest articles, join my networks at Facebook, Twitter and Friendfeed.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Scott Chamness // Jul 10, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Carlos, nice story, but…
“The photographer arrested his rights which led to the security guard to order him off the sidewalk – which he has no authority to do.”
You do mean “asserted his rights” correct?
2 Carlos Miller // Jul 10, 2009 at 4:46 PM
Scott,
You’re right. I need to stop these late night/early morning insomnia-laden posts.
3 Scott Chamness // Jul 10, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Haha, happens to everyone.I’ve made some mistakes writing papers late into the night that were due the next morning, with some wrong words that the professors found quite amusing.
4 genewitch // Jul 10, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Carlos: I’m applying for a job as an editor!
/hint
Security guards are such a joke. Except the ones that carry a .44 and an AR-15. Those aren’t jokes.
5 Jon Quimbly // Jul 17, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Carlos,
I noticed the position of his video camera also. Yep, hanging around his neck based on his still camera and hand movements. That photographer was fully prepared for the type of encounter he found himself in.
Advice to fellow photojournalists: *Always* have a pocket digital video-capable camera with you, equipped with neck strap or other means of attaching it to your person (a cellphone holster to attach to your belt, for example, or velcro.)
When preparing to enter a situation where officers or insecurity guards are present, flip the camera on, mount it on your belt or around your neck, and start it recording. Then get to work.
Current cameras are about the size of a smartphone, and cost much less than the price of a nice prime. Compared with pro photo gear it’ll be next to unnoticeable. It’ll look like a cheap camera to them and probably be ignored.
With today’s pocket cameras, you should be able to get at least two hours of 720p HD video (or better) and audio. Choose a camera with a wide-angle lens -28mm or better- or one that allows wide-angle adapters. When putting it to use, be sure it’s set to the widest focal length.
Bring extra batteries and memory cards. Some cameras stupidly stop recording after awhile, so avoid them, or at least check the recording indicator light every so often to ensure it’s still capturing.
Equipped in this way, you’ll have actionable evidence when your 1st amendment press freedoms are inevitably, illegally suppressed by government authorities and wannabes. Don’t expect that police car dash cam recordings will ever be available to you, at least not without a legal fight.
And know your rights as a photographer, as Carlos has pointed out many times. Do not submit to arbitrary searches and seizures of your memory cards. *Politely* refuse, and if they persist tell them to obtain a court order, and call your attorney (advice I’ve learned from discussions elsewhere on this most excellent site.)
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