SightPhoto Blog

It was bound to happen. Photographers being confused with terrorists. After all, what good reason would a person have for photographing in public places, other than for the purpose of having images (well composed and exposed, I'm sure) to be used in the planning of an attack?

ABC News has a story about New York City authorities contemplating a ban on photography in the subway system. Photographers would be able to apply for a special permit, which would allow them to practice their craft underground. Pretty ironic that when Bruce Davidson made the photographs for his groundbreaking Subway book in the early '80s, even having the nerve to photograph on the trains was considered the equivilant of being a combat photographer on the front lines. Now, it might mean special PR-department permission, like be let in to photograph mustard being made at the French's plant. Or, you could take the easier route, and simply be a properly equipped terrorist with a camera cell phone, as one of the experts points out in the ABC piece.

We all hope that reasonable efforts are being made to curtail terrorist activities. But, some NYC officials have made an impressive logical leap: terrorists might do something bad in the subway system; therefore, let's ban all photographers. Maybe the terrorists really are winning.