- Begin short story -

Scene: Me, standing on the side of the road, clicking away. Woman runs out of her house screaming.

Woman: HEY YOU! STOP DOING THAT NOW!!!

Me: ……

Woman: I’M TALKING TO YOU! GET AWAY FROM MY COWS!

Me: ……

- End short story -

Wasn’t that a lovely story? I enjoyed it.

I think she screamed at me for minutes, but I couldn’t hear her very well.

So, what exactly are your rights as a photographer? You’ll be surprised to know, that in the US, you can literally take pictures anywhere. And if people tell you otherwise, chances are, they’re WRONG.

Due to the woman’s anger, and fear of getting shot on a public street, I got back into my car and told my hubby to speed off. I have a fear of cows now. And farmers.

Below is a great article from a few years ago. Read it over if you are wary of clicking away in public places, and get undeserved dirty looks from strangers.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-08-11-photography-rights_x.htm

The only two things you aren’t allowed to take pictures of in the US are military bases, and shooting a telephoto lens into someone’s house. That’s basically it. And I usually make sure to stay away from peoples’ homes, and if I do get a photo of a house, the street name/house number have to be removed for privacy.

And of course, I respect the rights of cows to refuse being photographed.