Reporter Arrested for Photographing Senators, Donors at Democratic Convention

Once again we see a heavy hand coming down on those daring to use a camera in public. This time it was Denver police arresting an ABC News producer for taking pictures, on a public sidewalk, of Democratic senators and big contributor.

A police official later told lawyers for ABC News that Eslocker is being charged with trespass, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order. He also said the arrest followed a signed complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel.

Nothing like trespassing on a public sidewalk. This is just one more in an alarmingly growing series of people taking photographs being hassled by authorities. Maybe it's the memory of how video has captured police in brutal activities, or perhaps it's a thought that power brokers should be able to hide from public site even when out in the open. But it's bad.

SFMOMA Bullies Photographer?

Supposedly, San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art had a photographer forcibly ejected from the establishment because the man had the temerity to take photographs, even though the museum's own web site made it clear that it was permissible! The link comes via boingboing.

In that vein, I'll applaud Boston's Museum of Fine Art for generally allowing photography and only prohibiting it for specific exhibitions. One of my own favorite photos came from shooting a piece of modern sculpture on a first floor gallery.