By Carlos Miller
Trey Ratcliff, who runs the popular travel photo blog Stuck in Customs, was in a public park in downtown Atlanta trying to photograph the World of Coca-Cola museum when he was confronted by a cop.
He was actually trying to photograph an entire cityscape, including several tall buildings surrounding the Coke Museum.
The cop told him that the Coca Cola Bottling Company doesn’t allow their building to be photographed by professional looking photographers.
She told him professional photographers need special permission to take a photo of the building.
She also told him that if he continued taking photos using a tripod, he would be arrested.
She said he would be charged with illegal use of a tripod. Actually, I am just kidding about that part but I haven’t a clue what type of charges he would face. Most likely disorderly conduct and refusing an unlawful order.
He doesn’t say how the situation was ultimately resolved but he did post the above photo, saying that it wasn’t the shot he wanted. So I’m not even sure if the Coke building is in the photo.
And if you feel deprived because you have never visited the Coke Museum, check out this blogger’s review of the tour.
When you think about it, the Coke masterminds are really genius. Not only is it a great drink, but they’ve turned their building into a landmark and tourist attraction.
People come here from all over and pay Coke to hear about how great their product is and all the wonderful things they do for people, like getting them hooked on caffeine and making them smile while they’re rotting their teeth with sugar.
People pay to walk around and read tons of advertisements and watch a super long commercial and to sample all their products, and then buy their crap. They get thousands of people to do this every year. Amazing.
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16 responses so far ↓
1 Boi Boy // Aug 10, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Yes, you look like a professional… No photos for you. Sounds like prior restraint to me. We won’t let you take photos because we are not sure what you will do with them.
Yes, and YOU look like a malcontent, we will have to lock you up because you might commit a crime. YOU there, with the 1972 Ford Pinto, up against the wall, that car MIGHT be used as a terrorist bomb. Where does it all stop?
Perhaps the police academy and security training now includes training on what a person might do in the future so that they can arrest them before they commit some terrible act.
2 Mr. Ben // Aug 10, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I’d bet the “cop” in this case was just a security guard in which case there are no real arrest powers. What jurisdiction did she work for, what was her name and badge number?
Taking pictuers from public spaces of any thing is, as we all know, not illegal.
I’ve not yet had any problem with regular police and photography, just security guards and others.
The only real incident I’ve had the cops were on our side this time – I’ve told this story elsewhere before. In downtown Seattle a friend and I were accosted by a security guard who got nasty real quickly and tried to intimidate us to give him the camera and delete the pictuers of the building. (Got luckly and had some golden hour photography.)
The real police saw this from across the street and came over. The security guard whined to to the police and wanted us arrested. The Seattle officer told us were just fine as we were. The guard got flustered and said something to the cop. The guard was warned, then was told he would be arrest for assaulting my friend or something like, that if he did not go back in the building.
The only other time I had a cop talk to me was when he was on his horse on the waterfront and asked if I could email him a copy. He actually seemed to pose when he knew were there.
3 Vidiot // Aug 10, 2009 at 4:29 PM
I’ve been told by PR people quoting policy that “professional” cameras aren’t allowed. I have no idea what that means, as I’ve taken some crappy photos with my DSLR with battery grip and tele zoom, and I’ve sold photos that I’ve taken with a $150 point-and-shoot.
4 Jon Quimbly // Aug 10, 2009 at 8:00 PM
NYC requires a special permit for tripod use, unless you have a NYPD press card-
http://pdlstudios.com/blog/?p=36
http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/news/070108_moftb_adopts_rules.shtml
Silly, I know. They say that use of a tripod constitutes “exclusive use” of a piece of NYC property (which, although we call it “public,” they say it’s owned by the municipal corporation.)
I bring a monopod when I know a long lens will be necessary and the light’s too low. I have a press card, but almost never bother unless it’s a landscape or building shot.
5 gal // Aug 10, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Man that is crazy. I like the shot
6 Pinandpuller // Aug 10, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I think Sasha Baron Cohen got around this by putting cameras on the backs of Mexicans.
But seriously-Coke is the company store in Atlanta. They have a lot of pull with city hall so they could possibly get some laws or ordinances passed that help them control their image. Or the municipality could pass laws restricting professional photography to generate fees.
7 keith // Aug 10, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Went through the same problem at the airport (ATL) with some Delta bimbo.
8 NYCPhotorights // Aug 11, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Joh Quimbly:
Actually tripods do not require a permit as long as the space conditions are met (i.e. leave 8 feet of sidewalk space passable).
A tripod is considered “handheld equipment” – see page 3 of the full document
http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/downloads/pdf/moftb_permit_rules_final.pdf
The photographer indicates that he spoke to a park worker – parks have their own rules and permit requirements.
9 Pinandpuller // Aug 11, 2009 at 2:08 AM
OT but what do y’all think of phones being taken by Secret Service to keep pictures from being taken of the Obama women: http://www.nypost.com/seven/08072009/gossip/pagesix/burger_watch_183423.htm
What can they do if you say no-I was here first?
10 Trey Ratcliff // Aug 11, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Interesting messages above – thanks for the comments.
BTW, it was a real police-woman. Not a security guard…
Coke officially replied on the thread with an apology – you can see it at http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2009/08/09/nearly-getting-arrested-in-downtown-atlanta/ down on Comment #55
11 LocalNAtl // Aug 11, 2009 at 8:39 AM
As an amateur photographer in Atlanta that regularly shoots all over the city with a DSLR and sometimes a tripod I have yet to experience a problem in terms of actual harassment from the cops or private security. Maybe I don’t look commercial enough to be harassed.
Anyway, the last time I was shooting the World of Coke from every angle possible I do remember getting some long glances by Atlanta police officers that were stationed nearby. I could tell they seemed a little curious about me so I decided to avoid what could have been a confrontation and moved around to another side of the building and kept shooting photos without a problem. I guess I was lucky I wasn’t followed and questioned. Still their questioning stares at me for enjoying my legal hobby left a chilling impression on me.
The cops that are stationed in this area should know better than to harass someone with a camera in what is considered the tourist zone of downtown. This area is the most popular part of the city with tourists armed with cameras given it includes Centennial Olympic Park, The Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coke, CNN Center and good views of the city skyline.
I know other locals amateurs that have been harassed by private security for shooting photos of the Suntrust Tower, Bank of America Tower and anything near the Federal building all legally from the sidewalk.
So just like every other city in the country we have uninformed police and private security guards wanting to consider photographers as suspicious.
My apologies for the long comment.
12 Jon Quimbly // Aug 11, 2009 at 5:49 PM
NYCPhotorights: thanks for the clarification, though I’m still confused (not your fault!)
There is, or was, a 10-minute rule regarding tripod use. However, seems like whenever I have used one, even at sunrise in a nearly deserted Times Square, inevitably some shitheel beat cop beelined it for me to say “Take that damn thing down now!” (Seems like cops are all passion for keeping society walking in a line, whatever line the cop wants walked that day.)
A quick scan of the PDF you linked tells me there’s no longer mentions a 10-minute limit, that correct?
13 Michaelk42 // Aug 11, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Demanding my cellphone would result in the record mode of it and my camera instantly being turned on.
14 Datech // Aug 11, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Just to note, the World of Coke building is behind the photograph on the left side about 100 yards, and the new Georgia Aquarium is behind the photograph on the right across from the WoC.
The actual HQ of Coke is about a mile behind the photographer as well, next to Georgia Tech’s campus.
I lived in Atlanta (less than a mile from the photograph) for the past two years, and thinking about it I RARELY see anyone with tripods or other more professional equipment. There are usually a ton of tourists with DSLR’s and some pretty big lenses, and I guess this is the reason there aren’t more as Atlanta is a fairly photogenic city.
Beautiful photo though, props to that guy and hopes the charges don’t stick.
15 Jon Quimbly // Aug 11, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Very nice photo, would make a good publicity print. Looks as though it might be HDR.
16 vitamine k // Sep 3, 2009 at 5:13 AM
Taking photo is permitted or not is depends on place. There should be an instruction note at places if photography is not allowed. I don’t know about the place but if the photography is allowed then it is a mistake of cops. Use of tripod is restricted looks a joke to me.
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