Southgate property manager Kathy Barrance said there had been a couple of incidents of tourists taking photos of obscure things.”It was just the facades of buildings, things that would be of no interest to put in a photo album,” Ms Barrance said. The new signs banning cameras state that “Southgate thanks you for not taking photos within the complex unless approved by management”.Ms Barrance said anyone found taking unauthorised photographs would be told to stop by roaming security guards.”It’s policy around Southgate for security to ask people not to photograph,” she said.Exceptions will be made for photos of such things as the Ophelia sculpture at the main entrance. “On the (Yarra) promenade, it’s fine, or if it’s of Ophelia,” Ms Barrance said.

Photo ban too much, says PM – Top stories – Breaking News 24/7 – NEWS.com.au

So Ms Barrance thinks that she knows what people should be interested in taking photos of. I mean seriously just because she cannot see the value in taking photographs that aren’t cutsey “family in front of tourist attraction” types doesn’t mean that there isn’t any value.

I’ve heard many stories of this sort of thing happening from various American examples of overzealous security to the famous eiffel tower copright issues. This is happening to the extent that some people have even published a guide to photographers rights. All I can say is that I really hope this kind of thing doesn’t start to be required here in OZ.

Asked if the restrictions were designed to deter terrorists from conducting reconnaissance, Ms Barrance said, “Yes, that type of thing.”

Photo ban too much, says PM – Top stories – Breaking News 24/7 – NEWS.com.au

Really there is no point here in stopping people take their photos. Anyone who thinks this is going to inconvenience terrorists is deluded, it just makes things harder for regular people, but maybe that is the point.

UPDATE:In the comments Adrian links to Andrew Nemeth’s list of Australian photographer’s rights.

Technorati Tags: photography, freedom, law

As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

WHat this means of course is that usually a discussion also ends with comparisons to the Nazis, of course sometimes a discussion will start with comparison to the Nazis and fascism, and while the comparison might feel uncomfortable at first when you watch this video about the police riots in Portland in 2002 you might begin to feel less uncomfortable with the comparison as the video continues.
This video is a heartfelt statement decrying what the author fears is the future for America (and by default probably elsewhere as well). It is without doubt one sided, but then so is the media in these events. This is definately a video worth watching, I wasn’t there to see what happened but I was in Seattle in ‘99 and what the press said there was not what happened. Maybe here too.
So watch the video, see what you think and maybe Godwin’s law is wrong when you are actually talking about fascism.