However, I do strongly support “militant” photographers when it comes to security guards and concerned soccer moms in the States enforcing laws that do not exist. For instance, I’ve been personally told that I can’t take pictures inside DC’s Metro rail system. Not only is that not true, it’s clearly stated in Metro’s policy documents that photography is allowed. I’ve gotten the same flak from security guards at the World Bank, who told me I can’t shoot their building from the sidewalk, even from across the street, standing in a public park. We all know there is no law against this. I can’t tell you how frustrated that makes me!

On the other hand, some photographers do take it too far and attempt to resist or be rude to others in the process of defending their values.

It’s important not to be too much on either side. Both privacy and freedom are important.

I’ve heard various stories related to this, usually hinging on whether the view was clear from public or not. Jamming the lens up to a crack in the curtains, or holding the camera up over your head to get a view over a fence are different than taking a picture of a row of buildings that happens to include people visible behind wide-open windows. Google’s “street view” map-related service had images of people in their homes, via windows that were left wide open, for example. I don’t know the law that would be applied in each case, but for myself, hopefully my common sense (and common decency) happens to lie within those legal bounds. I’m no paparazzi, that’s for sure. —Jeffrey