Share article:
Share article:

Land of the Free

Where exactly are you allowed, and not allowed, to photograph?
I get this question all the time. Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on the subject, and I'm sure to make some errors in discussing it, whether of commission or omission. Also, all of what I have to say only applies to the U.S. of A., where I happen to live.
The basic rule is that you're allowed to photograph most anything if you're on public property and you're not going to do much of anything with the picture.
There are exceptions to this. You're not allowed to photograph the personal activities of private citizens (for instance, through a bathroom window) whether you're on public property or not; you're not allowed to photograph "public" citizens (i.e., celebrities) if they are someplace where they have "an expectation of privacy," like when they're behind a high garden wall or lounging on a yacht anchored off the island of Skorpios; certain landforms and flora that are trademarked ar...

Read this story and all the best stories on The Luminous Landscape

The author has made this story available to Luminous Landscape members only. Upgrade to get instant access to this story and other benefits available only to members.

Why choose us?

Luminous-Landscape is a membership site. Our website contains over 5300 articles on almost every topic, camera, lens and printer you can imagine. Our membership model is simple, a Dollar-a-Month ($12.00 USD a year). This $12 gains you access to a wealth of information including all our past and future video tutorials on such topics as Lightroom, Capture One, Printing, file management and dozens of interviews and travel videos.

  • New Articles every few days
  • All original content found nowhere else on the web
  • No Pop Up Google Sense ads – Our advertisers are photo related
  • Download/stream video to any device
  • NEW videos monthly
  • Top well-known photographer contributors
  • Posts from industry leaders
  • Speciality Photography Workshops
  • Mobile device scalable
  • Exclusive video interviews
  • Special vendor offers for members
  • Hands On Product reviews
  • FREE – User Forum. One of the most read user forums on the internet
  • Access to our community Buy and Sell pages; for members only.
Share article:

You may also like

dnfba
Camera & Technology

What Camera Do I Choose Next? A Journey Through Needs, Wants, and Gear Lust

Finding the right camera feels like figuring out my creative identity —balancing what I shoot most with the gear that truly excites me.
Jon Swindall

Jon Swindall

·

November 20, 2024

·

6 minutes read


n
Camera & Technology

Sony Alpha 1 II and FE 28-70mm f/2.0 GM: Two New Excitements for Professionals

Two groundbreaking tools—the Alpha 1 II and FE 28-70mm f/2 GM—set a new benchmark for speed, precision, and creativity in photography and video.
Jon Swindall

Jon Swindall

·

November 19, 2024

·

7 minutes read