Problems gaining access when using a HVX

n8ture

n8ture

Veteran
I've been travelling around Hawaii the last few days trying to find some good places to get some footage.

I've run into allot of places that won't allow me to enter because I have an HVX and that is deemed a professional camera and to enter I would have to pay a hefty fee to be allowed to shoot there.

Now I read for security purposes, large cameras are not allowed in the USS Arizona memorial.

Even a public botanical garden won't allow "professional" gear in without paying a commercial permit fee.

Maybe we should start a global list of places the HVX isn't allowed.

It's sad that my first trip to Hawaii and I'll not be able to share most of the places I've seen because I can't bring my HVX in.
 
Sorry to hear that Kevin.

I think if I could afford it, I would purchase both an HVX and either the XH-A1 or HVR-V1U as a tourist cam for just the reason you mentioned.

So, are you able to get any footage elsewhere? I would like to see more clips from you. How are you liking Hawaii?
 
The A1's just as big, I'm sure it would meet the same restrictions. The V1U is a little smaller, but I don't know if it's small enough to make a difference.
 
Art is the first death in the commercial world. But it makes sense to me - we are all touting the quality and professional features of this camera, so it would make sense that companies have seen that they need to charge you for it - if you can get footage good enough to be used commercially, then they want their cut.

That said, just the other day I was filming birds around San Francisco and I got people coming to me telling me I'm not allowed to film their building. Of course, that's a "terrorism" thing, but still pisses me off.
 
maybe take some parts off the camera? the lens hood, some how disguise it as an old VHS shoulder mount or something, idunno. That sucks Kevin. THe Arizona Memorial is pretty awesome too. I saw it a few years ago, October 2002 i think. October seems to be a popular time to go to hawaii.
 
Kevin,
Are they allowing people with high end digital/35mm still cameras to enter? If so, could they not be construed to be professional as well?
Jim
 
mrWr0ng said:
just the other day I was filming birds around San Francisco and I got people coming to me telling me I'm not allowed to film their building.
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You shoulda told them to kiss your grits. There's no California law that prohibits filming the exterior of a building from a streetside perspective while standing on public property as long as your crew is less then 3 people

You shoulda stood firmly in the middle of the street and rolled camera laughing & pointing fingers at them as you dared 'em to call the police. There's nothing they could have done about it because it's within your right.
 
ShannonRawls said:
You shoulda told them to kiss your grits. There's no California law that prohibits filming the exterior of a building from a streetside perspective while standing on public property as long as your crew is less then 3 people

You shoulda stood firmly in the middle of the street and rolled camera laughing & pointing fingers at them as you dared 'em to call the police. There's nothing they could have done about it because it's within your right.
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Oh, I did. The only issue is that I don't stick around too long, because they can still call the police who can go after you for "disturbing the peace." Even if you're being 100% within your rights, they'll always find a way to get you if they want to.

But I would always reply that I'm not doing anything wrong and I shouldn't be treated like I am, innocent until proven guilty & all that. Not that it matters anything, but i still remember 5 years ago when that sort of thing was okay.
 
Just plead ignorance. You had a lot of money and bought the best camera you could for sightseeing in hawaii....You are not a professional, just a befuddled tourist who does not know what they are talking about. Are they going to take away the memories of a befuddled tourist? I think not! hehe.....okay maybe this wouldn't work....
 
I had a Priest try to eject me from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem last July for filming professionally without a permit. I told him I was a wealthy hobbiest. Amazing that someone "sworn to poverty" knew an expensive piece of gear when he saw it. I held my ground, refused to leave and kept shooting. To add insult to injury, I made certain I shot the Ethiopian Coptic mass and not the Catholic mass. Then I shot a Greek mass. He kept following me so finally I got a few Catholic shots. Anyway, it was before I really knew the camera that well and I was shooting Scene File F6 in low light... guess what... noisy. So, I guess father whomever got the last laugh.

Ned Soltz
 
robot909 said:
Here is a link to a good document regarding photographer's rights...
http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm
I have copies of it printed out and ready to pull out in case of someone telling me I can't film something.
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Same here. I'm actually looking forward to someone wanting to call the police. Hasn't happened to me yet, but I know it will be entertaining.
 
THoff said:
Same here. I'm actually looking forward to someone wanting to call the police. Hasn't happened to me yet, but I know it will be entertaining.
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Maybe it's just me, or my experiences, but I've found that my "rights" don't mean crap when the police show up. Public property? Sure. Totally legit? Sure. But there's a thousand and one laws on the book and they can always find SOMETHING - and if you thwart the cop's first attempts, all it does is piss them off. If you do it long enough, they'll just arrest you for getting on their nerves - I've had friends arrested for "resisting arrest" with no other charges ever filed, so it doesn't matter.

Not that I don't advocate standing up for your rights, but be very careful, because, IMO, you will ALWAYS lose when the police show up. You never want it to escalate to that point.
 
It's all about intelligence and tact. if you act like an ass to the police, you'll get kicked like one. if you act like you have some sense, then they'll treat you like you do.

Cops only get pissed off when you come off to them like they are idiots spewing civil right laws and stuff. but if you used your education & articulation you can quickly get them on your side....

"hello officers, yea I'm here shooting these birds over here. They are beautiful and they only come out for a few weeks per year for mating in this weather. I'm an avid bird watcher and that species is a very unique one to this region of the united states. As I was filming for my personal use, the owner of that building came over rudely harrassing me telling me how I can't shoot their property. I attempted to explain the current law regarding public photography rights in the U.S. and more specifically California, but they were not interested in hearing what we the people have put in place to allow this activity. Once they became beligerent towards me, I encouraged them to call you to cme here and mediate the situation. Maybe you can explain the law to them since they are not interested in hearing it from me. As you can see I am not impeding any traffic, causing any public disturbances or generating any peace problems. I'm simply shooting the birds while I can. Thank you officer."

Now that's the kind of thing Shannon Rawls would say to the officers when they arrive. No permit needed if I'm all alone.

It's all about maturity when it comes to the Police.
 
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Oh, I got it! tell them you're just practicing becoming a big time film producer, and hope to make your first blockbuster after getting this new camcorder. Then give them the tape out of the camera when you're done. :D
 
Wow, all I can imagine is that once the cop hears "but they were not interested in hearing what we the people have put in place..." they're gonna just assume i'm a smarmy little prick. To cops, knowing the law is their job, not yours, and when you presume to say that you are allowed to do a certain thing in a certain place, they take it as you saying that you know more about the law than they do, and that's a personal insult which very quickly pisses them off.

In my experience, there is nothing that pisses a cop off more than knowing your rights, regardless of how you express that information.

I should preface this by saying that, as unimportant as it should be, I am black and that tends to put me in a very bad position to begin with.
 
Yea, well for what it's worth I'm black too. And I co-habitatie with the L.A.P.D. *nuff said* (again, as unimportant as it SHOULD be)

So I have practivced over the years how to deal with the police. In many vivid situations I am sure some of you can imagine *smile* Voice fluctuation and tone is important too. You can be smart, just don't come off as Cocky or Arrogant. You'll find yourself in the backseat very quickly. *smile* Intelligence is the best way to deal with the Police.

Ofcourse it does help that my Dad was a LAPD officer, my brother IS a San Diego PD officer, my sister in law IS a L.A. County Sherrif Deputy, and my father in law IS Sherrif Baca's field deputy, so i've been schooled at home and in the streets. *smile* My military background helps as well. And in most cases, those who get arrested, deserved to be.
 
lpcvideo1 said:
...Then give them the tape out of the camera when you're done. :D
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And snicker as you walk away with your P2 cards still in tact! Or tell them your FS-100 is a battery pack!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

I LOVE IT....
 
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