Ban on the Run?

In the four years of doing street photography Downtown, I’ve been told I wasn't allowed to photograph a building only three times. Once at Ninth and Broadway and now twice near the Library Tower.

The first time was this past May is referred to in Patt Morrison Op-Ed, via LA Observed’s Morning Buzz under “Library Tower can ban photos”

“On the website laobserved.com, locals and tourists have reported the same encounters. One man standing on the Bunker Hill Steps was told — incorrectly, it turns out — that it's illegal to take pictures of the public library. Another man photographing the steps from the sidewalk was told to stop because he was on private property.

 

Something's wrong here. I asked the L.A. Conservancy, which conducts downtown tours, and was told that since 9/11, photography has been banned on the Library Tower site. But that's where the Bunker Hill Steps are, and the Graham sculpture. Public art on private property? How does that work?

The Community Redevelopment Agency told me that the Graham sculpture is public art but that the steps are not — which may be news to the man who crafted them”.

Now it happened again.  At least this time I did find out what the real policy is for taking photos around the Tower.  Yes, taking a photo of Bunker Hill Steps or anywhere near the tower can be banned. But as the Security Director of the US Bank Towers informed me,  a ban should occur after a judgment call is made.  And how did I meet him? At last Wednesday's Farmer’s Market.

(jump)

Last week I went to take photos of two vendors at the Farmers Market, both who also sell product at the Little Tokyo / Arts District Farmers Market.  They were busy when I arrived so I went across the street to take a shot of the crowd. As soon as I stepped on the curb near the steps at Bunker Hill, a security guard waves me away and says "You can't take pictures here." Explaining I wasn't photographing the US Bank Tower (better known as the Library Tower) or the steps, but across the street, he just answered "It's the policy of Homeland Security, and all the buildings in Los Angeles have this policy."

"All the buildings? I don't really think that’s the policy." I said, "Is there anyone to ask or write to what the real policy is?"

"No, they’re not available."

After he walked away, on the walkie talkie, I went to a spot that from what seemed not to be property to get a photo of the market. The guard followed me, and then told another photographer who was just sitting nearby, his camera not aimed at anything the same thing, "You can't photograph here."

So I went back across the street, with the first guard’s immediate supervisor <name withheld> followed me to tell me why I wasn't allowed to take photos. I responded: "We all know there's a security concern - but ordering people, polite or not - not to take photos of anything around the Tower, and that it's illegal even from the sidewalk seems overdone."  Then I asked what the policy was with public space being public space.

“It’s not public here.”

Because I’m writing notes, the walkie talkies are out. Then a suit stops to take a photo of the Bank of America seen in the distance beyond the steps. The  guards step in, but very politely to ask him what was the intent of the photo. A much smoother process.

Then Security Director of US Bank Tower <name withheld> walks up behind and me to introduce himself. He wanted to make sure I understood the concerns and that if the guards did say something innaccurate, that he would make sure it was looked into for future training adding they they are responsible for the perimeter around the Tower.

Everyone knows the concerns, I said, then asked "If security says it's illegal to shoot any public building, it's not really accurate then. What’s the real official policy?" He replied:  "That's true. It’s not illegal.  We train them to ask what the nature of the photograph is and depending on demeanor to make a judgment call." He noted that tower security also works with LAPD in it’s training and that there is an awareness of “community” around Downtown and don't want to discourage it.

For myself, and a few others, it was never asked what the intent of a photo was on or near the Library Tower property.  With Bunker Hills steps intended to be public space and a walk way,  chasing people away is bad for Downtown.

Photo: Tower security holding down the fort across the street from Bunker Hill steps while someone photographs beyond the steps.

Comments

[Bob]

Another one of those post 9/11 security measures that borders on stupidity. A potential terrorist isn't going to learn anything from a snapshot taken near or around the tower that can't be learned in some other way. But they know they can create a great diversion by having several accomplices attempt to take snapshots while they carry something else out.

As for the sidewalk bordering the street on the block that building occupies, that is public property. Private security has no jurisdiction to tell you what you can or can't photograph that can be seen from a public place.

[Don Garza]

Hey ,

I posted a link to here.

what happened?

CorciaLink
It is about the recent United States Court decision regarding photography in public places and ART so far is protected

[ed]

Bob: That's very true. While it's claimed that the property line extends to the curb, it all gets fuzzy. Thanks for the post.

Don: That linked case is interesting and I remember reading about it. It was an example of a street photographer who went as far to set up lights and took photos of people passing by to create portraits. One subject sued for royalties and lost. That's a little farther than I go.

[shannon]

i had a very similar experience recently when leading a tour, we were standing on olive and 5th (the curb outside of the gas company building) and the guards were adamant about us not taking pictures of the subway terminal building. we couldn't take pictures of ANYTHING while standing on their "property" (a public sidewalk).

let's just say my tourgoers were VERY tempted to click away at the gas company tower once we got to hill street between 4th and 5th just for revenge, but they didn't.

[Ed]

Shannon

That would have been an interesting site to see what a guard would do with a mass photo session. But your group made a stoic choice.

That's the conflict. To promote the city and downtown as friendly and warm, a beacon for tourism, a changing landscape for residents. Hey! No pictures!

I enjoy your site by the way.

[Scott Mercer]

These security guards are nothing but Little Napoleons with a chip on their shoulders. They should be called out on their crap. They can't prevent you from taking pictures from a public sidewalk. Period. If you encounter them and their misinformation, don't call them names, but insist on the rights that you do have, and were not taken away after 2001.