Union Station Loves/Hates Photographers
We've reported a few times on the issues that photographers run into with security around the D.C. area. In fact, stories of photographers being wrongly told that they're not allowed to take pictures happens so often that there's a whole group on Flickr dedicated to fighting against it.
A few interesting stories have popped up this week, including the WUSA9 article about the Secret Service ordering a tourist to delete his photos at the National's opener on Sunday. Over on Flickr, a long discussion thread has started about the ongoing problems of photographers being harassed at Union Station. You know, that arriving point for many a tourist, camera in hand? Flickr user lightboxdc intervened when an Amtrak employee ordered a tourist to stop taking pictures of her friends near the arrival/departure gates. He tried to insist that Amtrak policy says nothing about non-commercial photography, but to no avail.
The continuing problem here, whether we're talking about Union Station, Metro, or even just standing on the street is that nobody seems to know anything about the rules they're enforcing. So many folks have encountered problems at Union Station that one Flickr photographer, erin m, has been trying to get a straight answer from station officials for months now. While she waited she scoured their web site for a clear policy, and though she didn't find one, she did find a whole page on their — oh yes — photo contest that includes images of Amtrak trains and stations. Yeesh.
Erin m finally did get a hold of the station manager two days ago, who told her all photography was prohibited without a permit. As discussion and confusion on the Flickr thread continued, she called again, this time to the Amtrak Media/Corporate Relations Department, where she was told that non-commercial photography in the Amtrak station is definitely allowed, and that the station manager and employees are wrong to enforce otherwise. Of course, the mall area of Union Station is owned by a different company, who reserves the right to prohibit photography. Confusion much?
It would be nice if owners and employees of these areas could just get together and straighten out their stance on the issue, rather than have photographers hear one thing, only to be confronted by security about their rule-abiding actions or have 9/11 thrown in their faces for any reason under the sun. We were somewhat amused by this statement from the Secret Service officer at the Nats game, "We have the authority to ask them to remove the picture from the camera," to which we have to say, "Then I have the right to decline," though we'll refrain from encouraging you to do so, to the Secret Service at least, lest we buy you a one-way ticket to Gitmo. (But we will direct you to this clever fail-safe.)
We'll offer you the following document again: The Photographer's Right (pdf) — which you may want to print out and keep in your camera bag. If you're approached by security telling you to put away your camera, don't lose your cool, but do ask to see the specific policy they're referring to. You won't always win, and in some cases there may be a decent reason for a strict rule, but standing your ground is the only way to push back so many illogical "security" rules being enforced that simply don't exist in the first place.
Photo of Amtrak train at Union Station by brownpau