Originally Posted by
WEPIV
Jill, that is alarming as (at least for Florida and the US) it used to be anything seen easily from a public area can be photographed. The rare exceptions were regarding privacy issues like children at a school.
This is what we were taught in media law at UF in the late 80's, but who knows what all has changed since then. (I figure you guys found this out doing one of the PBS docs with Wes...?)
As a former photojournalist, I was always happy to know that we could shoot almost anything from any public access. I remember the cases involving the paparazzi and Jackie Kennedy Onassis as well as some actress photographed topless with a long lens from a wooded area adjacent to her property. Two cases where the law did not side with the photographer and rightly so. There was also a case in Jacksonville where a photojournalist shot the interior of a house fire where you could see the outline of one of the victim's bodies after it had been removed. Also ruled an invasion of privacy.
Why a farm can't be shot from a public road is beyond me. In my old days, I would happily shoot anyway and have it challenged in court (while working for a paper so they'd pick up the legal defense bill)!
I'm much happier shooting mostly pretend stuff now....