Street Photography and the Law – (Extra Bonus: The camera as a weapon)
“I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera.” -Gordon Parks
If you spend any time shooting street photography in big cities such as Chicago, chances are you will run into situations where security guards and police officers will attempt to restrict your liberty. Always keep in mind that photography is not a crime! Here is a short video on the general rights and responsibilities of street and social documentary photographers.
Also worthy of note, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that police must obtain warrants before searching cellphones in almost all situations.