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.)

Security guards are such a joke. Except the ones that carry a .44 and an AR-15. Those aren’t jokes.

You’re right. I need to stop these late night/early morning insomnia-laden posts.

“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?