This video which seems to have been released by Houston Mayor Annise Parker as a part of the…ahem… Run, Hide, Fight series is nuts. I understand the need for awareness and diligence toward creeps (not just in the USA and not just terrorists) but this ummm “awareness” is over the top – particularly with regard to photographers.
After watching the video and others in the series, there are basically two groups that appear to be the focus.
1) people planting bombs – a multitude of examples including vests, backpacks, people trying to gain access to do this; and…
2) people taking photos – of public spaces? and exits? and… huh?
Seriously? Those are the two groups we should fear? I’m particularly referring to roughly the 1:45 mark where the specific vilification of photographers or “people with recording devices” is a big WTF.
So, in short, yes Mayor Parker we should keep a collective eye out for nutjobs. I’ll all for awareness, but I hate fear mongering. And pull your head out.
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Wanna know more about photographers rights? Check out this post or this post AND… very importantly…tune into the next chasejarvis LIVE episode on August 29th in collaboration with ASMP.org where I’m hosting a world class panel that’ll discuss the current and future state of photographers rights…the good, bad and ugly about some changes in our landscape.
(Thx Trey for link)
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This isn’t the only city thats affected. Singapore, we too are affected. Photojournalism has become something that is getting harder and harder to achieve. After the 9/11 attacks, we caught a terrorist videotaping a train station where our navy personnel gather, in the end, suspicion is cast over photographers and videographers alike.
Aint complaining, just something that would be nice to be discussed on how we can take such measures to prevent such a misunderstanding and what can we, as photographers – both professionals and hobbyist, do to assert our rights?
Might not be able to attend the 27th Aug CJLive because of time zone difference. But yeah, some thoughts
Yes, if you see a cute girl wearing a Kafayi carrying around a camera, you should totally report them because they are a terrorist. Meanwhile in unrelated news, half the population of Williamsburg have been transfered to Guantanamo.
Seriously? The republicans really are trying to turn us back to the 1950’s… this feels just like a Red-Scare film…
I live in Houston, and guess what Brent; Mayor Parker is a liberal Democrat and the first openly gay mayor of Houston. You’re fear mongering just as much as her video.
Brent’s comments are a prime example of why this propaganda is so dangerous. We all have a personal worldview. And, that worldview can sometimes cloud the truth, causing us to jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. This propaganda plays on our emotions instead of logic, where sound rational decisions can be made.
Personally, I find their portrayal of a suspicious photographer quite offensive and dangerous. Because of some political-correct nonsense, they choose to “educate” the general public to fear attractive girls with cameras and a notepad. Could she not simply be a journalist student? This nonsense would leave the average person suspicious of every street photographer. Just try explaining to a non-creatives why you enjoy street photography, it’s bound to confuse them.
As I see it, the main problem is; As free and great of a country we live in, we seem to have an obsession with punishing the majority of our society, i.e. the innocent, (with propaganda, excessive laws, & regulation) in reaction to a fear of the small minority of criminals in our society . . . which in turn has led to higher crime levels in America, in comparison to other nations. The problem is propaganda like this is reactionary (relying on people’s perceptions of reality), instead of stopping crime at the root.
Republicans? Brent, Brent, Brent – do some research before regurgitating your liberalspeak.
It’s all about fear mongering and misinformation ! People with camera have rights in public spaces!
Wow, as if there isn’t enough paranoia in the world.
It seems that they just want to make everyone afraid of each other.
if you see a person trying to move away from a tv set or intentionally avoid commercials, trying to leave an air-conditioned space or doing something that might resemble thinking: make the call, be afraid, stay at home, spend money you don’t have on things you don’t need to socialize without talking, meeting or seeing anyone, believe in authority, don’t question it. be productive. vote for us.
The terrorist photographer is super hot…
Government videos never change. This is just a modern version of the propaganda ones from WWII among others. This echoes of what I’ve heard and read it’s like for photographers over in London trying to take pictures of buildings. Crazy. And yes, the photographer chick is quite good looking.