Sunday, August 27, 2011.
My girlfriend and I were out shooting for some upcoming photo club competitions. One of those competitions is themed “Patterns” and I thought, what better place for that than in architecture! So we went to Downtown Norfolk VA, in the financial district, to do some shooting. Let me also explain that she has some social issues with crowds, public spaces, anxiety, etc. Photography has been a useful tool in her therapy.
We parked our vehicle in front of the Bank of America building, 1 Commercial Place, Norfolk VA, and I started working with her. As a “new” photographer, I am spending time helping her learn the basics, etc. Anyway, we are on the public sidewalk shooting some buildings across the street. We turn to get some shots of the Bank of America building. While we are shooting, this little dude from a company called XSIG SECURITY (based in Baltimore MD) comes out and says that we can’t take pictures of the building. I remind him that there is this pesky thing called “The Constitution” and that as long as I am on public property, I can take pictures of anything visible to me. I immediately snapped a shot of him. (He was NOT amused). He threatened to call the Norfolk Police and have us arrested; I told him to go ahead, as I was not breaking any laws.
When we completed our shooting, I left my camera with my girlfriend and went to the security guards to ask for their names and a contact number. That female officer followed as I left her post. They told me that their supervisor, Carlton Hall, was coming over to “handle me.” When Hall showed up, I greeted him with an outstretched hand (as any gentleman would) and we talked. He stated that we absolutely could NOT take any pictures of “his” buildings from anywhere. Even across the river! I explained that we were just working on a project for our club, he cut me off and told me "(he) didn’t care if it was for Jesus Christ; that if (I) took any more pictures, (he) would personally have (us) arrested."
However, my girlfriend (who has some anxiety issues as I previously mentioned) was getting nervous, and was afraid that if we did not leave, we would spend the rest of the weekend in jail. So, at her behest, we returned home.
But I was pissed. Especially because I THOUGHT this issue had been settled last year, back when the rent-a-cops were operated by Wackenhut/G4. (Yes, I have been through this before with the security in that part of town!)
Not just because these idiots interrupted her photography therapy and my archetectural shoot, but because they think they are above the law. Actually, they seem to think they know all the law, and that they have the power over civilians. We use photography as a “therapy” to help her work through some of her issues, involving crowds, strangers, etc.
After getting home, I decided that I was going to return, and test their willingness to make fools of themselves; so I hopped back in my Jeep, and returned to the scene of the photography. After parking my Jeep, I was walking (about a block) to the Bank of America building, when I spotted a Norfolk Police officer on a Segway, Officer Lipski (as I recall). I hailed him, and explained the situation to him. He agreed with me, and said that they had issues with the rent-a-cops in that area before. He even explained to me that if it is in the view of the public, that the public could photograph it. Nice to hear from an actual police officer.
The officer then proceeded to cruise over to the rent-a-cops and explain the facts of life to them , and then saw Mr. Hall as well. He further explained that I could have THEM arrested for harassment and assault for what they said/did to us. He then told me to proceed with whatever shooting I was going to do, and reminded me to NOT step foot on the Bank of America property, to shoot from the sidewalk or the street (but to be safe if I was in the street!)
I was pleasantly surprised by the courtesy and sensibility of the Norfolk Police in this matter, as we have often read about police being real horses asses about photography. This Norfolk Police Officer renewed my faith that there are some decent cops who understand our rights as photographers and citizens.
I contacted XSIG in Baltimore the next morning, and their supervisor agreed that my girlfriend and I were completely right (as indicated by the Norfolk Police) and was a bit shocked at our treatment, especially by the supervisor and his comment. He assured me that it would not happen again. Not that I plan to go back there, but I may at some point…
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