Citizens should be allowed to take photos while standing in public spaces near federal buildings, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The lawsuit challenges regulations that prohibit photography on federal property.

The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, names the Department of Homeland Security along with the Federal Protective Service, an unnamed federal officer, and Inspector Clifford Barnes of the Federal Protective Service.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Antonio Musumeci, 29, a software developer from Edgewater, N.J.

According to the complaint (pdf), in November 2009, during Mr. Musumeci’s lunch break, he was filming Julian Heicklen, a libertarian advocate, while he protested outside the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Federal Courthouse in Manhattan.

Mr. Musumeci recorded while Mr. Heicklen distributed pamphlets, and he kept recording as Mr. Barnes approached the two. Mr. Musumeci stepped back about 10 feet to keep recording on his hand-held camera as Mr. Barnes arrested Mr. Heicklen.

Mr. Musumeci was also arrested, and Mr. Barnes and another officer confiscated his camera’s video card. He was later given a ticket for violating the regulation barring photography; the charge was dismissed in March.

The lawsuit seeks a court order to bar federal officials from harassing or arresting people taking photos while standing in outdoor public areas by federal buildings. “In our society, people have a clear right to use cameras in public places without being hassled and arrested by federal agents or police,” said Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Ringed Nudibranch at the California Academy of Sciences, display tank for California Nudibranchs.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is offering a special event for photographers. I have been to many aquariums. The more popular the aquarium the busier it is with visitor and guests. Sometime I wished that I had the aquarium to myself so I could film the exhibits without the interference of people walking in front of your lens or bumping you as you hold your camera still for that long exposure shot, because most aquariums don’t allow tripods, because tripods can trip and injure clumsy visitors.

Another plus to a photographers only night, is you can bring flashes, light boxes and any equipment that may require to plug in. Most of this equipment is prohibited at any other time at aquariums.

Sometimes the addition of people in the image make the photo. Here is an example that I took a couple years ago at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The addition of people made the image.

For more information read below or got to Aquarium of the Pacific Events.

Now is your chance to take the photos you have always wanted. Back by popular demand, on this night, the Aquarium will be available to photographers for the sole purpose of getting their dream photos without having to worry about the general public either getting in their shots or being bothered by their equipment.

Take your time, set up your shots, and enjoy. In order to create the best environment for our photographers, we will be limiting ticket sales. We highly encourage you to purchase your tickets online ahead of time to guarantee a spot or you may be turned away at the door.

Normally, lights begin to dim as 9:00 p.m. approaches, but on this night, the lights will remain on in all the exhibits in order to provide the best opportunities for photography.*

Cost: $23.95 per person, $18.95 for Aquarium members. No other discounts or special offers will be accepted for this evening. Please wear dark clothing for less chance of reflections and smaller likelihood of coming out noticeably in other people’s photos.

They are partnering with local camera shop Tuttle Cameras and offering free lens rentals during the event. Nikon and Canon lenses will be available for check out with a valid driver’s license. Lighting will also be set up at a couple different stations throughout the Aquarium to allow photographers that don’t have that equipment the opportunity to try it out by mounting it to their camera’s hot shoe.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Included in your ticket price is a photography workshop before shooting doors open. The guest speaker will have a custom workshop designed to be useful to you on this special Photographer’s Night. It will not be camera/brand specific. There will be more details about the speaker and workshop closer to the event. Seating is limited. If you would like to attend the workshop, please RSVP in advance by calling the Guest Support Center at the Aquarium with your confirmation number if you already purchased your ticket for the event, or simply add the reservation when you call to purchase.

PHOTO CONTEST
In addition to offering this unique night, anyone who wishes to participate is automatically qualified to enter a special photo contest. This is a great opportunity to share your best shots of the night with the Aquarium of the Pacific. Simply upload your favorites to our Aquarium of the Pacific Flickr Group and tag them with pnc01312010 to enter. Aquarium staff will judge entries. Entry deadline is midnight February 14, 2010. Grand prize will be a behind the scenes tour for four with particular focus on great photo ops.

RULES AND GUIDELINES
By purchasing a ticket, you agree to abide by the following:
•Tripods are allowed on this night only.
•You are allowed to bring flashes, soft boxes, and strobes. Power outlets are available on a first come first served basis throughout the Aquarium.
•You may bring screens to block off reflections or to control lighting.
•Please be considerate of other photographers. If you are shooting a popular exhibit, please limit your time and share.
•Please refrain from using flash or any lighting on the two sea dragon exhibits (they are marked with “no flash” signs).
•Please refrain from placing anything directly on the acrylic/glass that can scratch or burn. If you need the acrylic cleaned, see a staff member for the proper cloth.
•Please do not direct hot lights at the exhibits for extended periods of time as this can permanently damage the acrylic. All hot lights must be at least five feet from the acrylic.
•Photos taken are to be personal use only, no commercial photography. If you wish to use one the images for commercial purposes at a later date, you must contact the Aquarium for permission.
•No videography.
For more information or to purchase your ticket, please go to http://www.aquariumof…

For those who want to carpool, let’s meet at 4:00 (for those attending the workshop) and 5:00 (for those not attending the workshop), at the park-n-ride where the 91 and the 5 meet in Fullerton/Buena Park. Exit either freeway at Magnolia (head north), take a left at Orangethorpe, the park-n-ride is on the left.

Photo by © Andrew Reitsma

Twilight Shootout & Meetup!

Xavier Lanier and I got to talking a bit after last months meetup,
he expressed his keen interest in helping to organize a Shootout and get a
chance to meet all the local photogs and introduce them to
Notebook.com as a resource. Xavier has been in touch with HP
and is very excited about their new laptop the HP Envy 15 – HP
and Intel have joined him in hosting our after party! Read More…

Exhibition begins at the Richard Avedon exhibit at SFMOMA

Today on Monday morning re-cap, I will tell you about the Richard Avedon exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. A few weeks ago I blogged and invite for anyone in the Bay Area to take a trip to SFMOMA and see the Richard Avedon exhibit.

On Saturday my wife and I spent the day in San Francisco, and we took some time to visit the SFMOMA. We were excited to see the Richard Avedon exhibition, since the exhibit will close at the end of November.

Let me just start with this. I expected the museum to be more crowded then it was. Also, since my wife and I are members we did not have wait in line for the exhibit we were let right in, (Membership has its privileges).

Richard Avedon was born in 1923. He passed at the age of 81 in 2004, was an American photographer. Richard Avedon had a great career that span many decades. His most famous work was done with models of the fashion world. He also shot celebrities, dignitaries and common Americas in his series called the “American West”.

My personal take on the exhibit was inspiring. I love photography, and in was struck by the simplicity of his work. Granted it may not have been simple by any means, however they white background used in most of his portraits was a trademark icon that he used throughout his career. His work showed me how to use a simple white background to make a perfect portrait.

When you walk up to the images you can see the detail from every pore to crease and scar. Some of the images we not very flattering to the subject, but that were what he was looking for the real person and not the made up face or image that usually come from a professional photo session.

An example that I can give you, is the photo he has in the exhibit of Marilyn Monroe. According to the 87 minute movie about Richard Avedon, he said he spent hours in the studio photography the actress. She posed, smiled, flirted for hours in front of the camera. However when it was all over, she was like a little girl quite and sitting alone in the edge of a couch. According to Avedon, he would never taken the picture without her permission in this vulnerable state.

Marilyn Monroe by Richard Avedon at SFMOMA

Like I mentioned before if you have the opportunity to see the Richard Avedon exhibition go and take in the career of this great master of the lens. It will inspire and awe everyone…

Richard Avedon Collection at SFMOMA

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art will showcase an exhibit featuring the work of photography legend Richard Avedon. This event promises to be unforgettable as it is the only time that a U.S. museum will feature Avedon’s photography throughout his lifetime. The exhibit will include almost 200 photographs as well as a collection of vintage magazines.

Richard Avedon was a renowned photographer of high profile subjects such as politicians, artists, writers and movie stars. He was known for his unique style which rejected the traditional staged poses and instead sought to capture emotion in the faces of his subjects. This exhibit will span the length of his career, which began with photographs of street scenes and moved on to cover Paris fashion pictures and celebrity portraits.

To read more about Richard Avedon and his life and career, go to his Wikipedia page, click here to link to the page.

Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to view the Olafur Eliasson, Take your time: exhibit at the SFMOMA San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. It had many interactive and visual illusions.

Two exhibits that stood out were the 360º room of Color. The other was the BMW 2HR Art car. The car is a Hydrogen powered race car that has been wrapped with a wire grid and entombed in Ice. The BMW 2HR display was exhibited in a 3º F giant freezer.

As I returned to work and starting reading about the artist and the BMW 2HR I found myself immersed in the technology of hydrogen fuel and how it works. In an article I read it stated and very interesting “Environmental Paradox” that it takes “Dirty Energy” to make “Clean Energy”.

Photo by: Kirk Howard Copyright© 2007

While at Arata pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay with my newest nephew and his mom and dad, I snapped this image of a few gourds just laying around in the afternoon sunlight.

Photo by: Kirk Howard Copyright© 2007

~Cheers~