 Ken Cole |
Banned Tripods Last night I was at Union Station in Washington, DC and wanted to take a few shots of the wonderful ceiling in the main lobby of the train station using a tripod. I was told by the security guards that the use of tripods were not allowed inside. He said it was OK to take hand-held photos inside but tripods were not allowed. Obviously taking pictures weren't the reason for the ban so I asked what made tripods different. The two guards couldn't tell me. Has anyone else run into this? Can anyone else tell me why using a tripods would be banned? I'm just curious as to the reasoning...
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karenemichaels.com - Karen E. Michaels Contact Karen E. Michaels Karen E. Michaels's Gallery |
Alot of places in DC ban tripods, mostly for the liability factor. Tripods can be tripped over. I travel with a monopod and that usually also has to be checked when I go somewhere in DC. Peace, karen
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Tripods are not allowed in many areas like that because they can impede pedestrian traffic. When I visited Washington, DC last summer, someone here had warned me about tripod restrictions. I contacted the Capitol Police to see if there were any permits or anything that I could get. They said that the rules were originally intended to keep film and video crews from blocking pedestrian traffic. They said that in most areas, I wouldn't have any trouble using a tripod as long as I didn't get in anyone's way. And for places where tripods or all photography were restricted, there were no permits to get around it. The only place where I actually ran into any tripod trouble was at the Air & Space Annex out at Dulles Airport. I had a tripod in a case hanging from my backpack, and at first they didn't want to let me in with it. I promised that I had no intention of using it in there, and after I took it off my bag and stuffed it inside my friend's backpack, the guard was satisfied. Also, most of the Metro stations have signs posted that NO photography is allowed. I got away with a couple of shots when no guards were around, but they do take that seriously. Chris
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Ken Cole |
Impeding traffic and the liability issue of tripods in a public building makes sense, I guess. If that's the case, then it is an issue in any city, not just in DC, right? I am quite new at using a tripod so am still learning the nuiances of traveling with and using the contraptions. Thanks for your quick replies!
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Christopher A. Vedros |
DC tends to take rules and security more seriously than many places, with good reason. I don't know how much trouble you'll have in other cities, except for high traffic areas like museums and such. Chris
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Ken Cole |
Yes, I agree that DC is very security conscious and should be, but I don't quite understand how using a tripod could be a security threat. The issue isn't indoor photography in a major public building (which to me COULD raise a security question) but it specifically is photography using a tripod. My guess is it is more related to safety and liability than security.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
I agree. When I mentioned security, I was referring more to the camera ban in the Metro stations, the White House tour, etc. Terrorists have been known to pose as tourists when surveying possible targets. Oops! "White House", "Terrorist", and "Target" in the same post. This is likely to trigger some alarms at the NSA. I'd better defuse this. "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I AM A REGISTERED REPUBLICAN AND A STRONG SUPPORTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH. I VOTED FOR HIM, TWICE. I SUPPORT THE PATRIOT ACT AND I'M GLAD YOU ARE MONITORING COMMUNICATIONS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON MY COUNTRY. I AM NOT A TERRORIST." That should cover it. ;-) Chris
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BetterPhoto Member |
Hey Chris---YOU'RE BUSTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many places around the country have banned tripods. Even worse, I had my shoulder support (gunstock mount) confiscated at O'Hare in Chicago two years ago. The security officers said it could be converted to a rifle too easily. When I discussed this with an FBI agent in Washington on arrival, he told me that they had never seen one converted to a firearm, but the chance could not be taken. $160.00-gone forever. As for museums, I've never been in one that allowed photographs to be taken. Chicago doesn't allow photography with tripods in the subways, either. Have fun and keep shooting,
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Many museums will allow photographs without flash. I'm not surprised about the gunstock mount - what were you thinking? Yeah, I'm sure they're keeping an eye on you now. ;-) Chris
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BetterPhoto Member |
My only problem with it was that my gunstock mount was made by Bogen, not Browning. It had a platform for a receiver and a cable release for a trigger. I will not replace it. Yep, yep, yep. I'm a terrorist.
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BetterPhoto Member |
My only problem with it was that my gunstock mount was made by Bogen, not Browning. It had a platform for a receiver and a cable release for a trigger. I will not replace it. Yep, yep, yep. I'm a terrorist. LOL
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
My experiences have been similar... I was told, outside the US Capitol (but while on their enormous lawn) that tripods were not allowed to be used anywhere on the Capitol grounds (I was carrying it collapsed over my shoulder.) At Longwood Gardens in PA, tripods are allowed, but 9-12 only, by permit, while monopods are allowed all day (which sort of supports the idea of crowd/safety issues.) Mark, on the museum note, a local example for me---The National Gallery of Art doesn't allow tripods, but does allow you to take pictures of any non-visiting, museum-owned collections (which is most of the museum!) Someone needs to make a very narrow-footprint, but tall, tripod, just for indoor use in these areas that claim safety concerns (ie, the wide-spread legs of a regular extended tripod potentially tripping people.) With no interior breezes to worry about a narrow footprint would be stable enough for many shots... oh well... (I still think I might head down to Union Station sometime, for pictures with tripod, until told otherwise ;)
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Robyn Mackenzie |
Interesting thread! I was in Rome a couple of years ago, and went to St Peter's late one evening to take some night shots of the basilica and the Christmas nativity scene in front of it. There were barricades set up across the square a couple of hundred metres from the entrance to the basilica. Pedestrians were allowed through into the area, but I wasn't allowed to use my tripod past the barricades. Hand-held shots were OK. At the time I was there, there was me, the guards, and maybe six other people around, the closest of whom was 100 metres away, so there was no question that the tripod would have been a danger to other people. I was pretty disappointed that I couldn't get the shots I was hoping for! There was no flexibility there... :o) Robyn
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BetterPhoto Member |
I like art museums. Most art museums won't allow photography due to the nature of the establishments. I'm sorry that I said all museums. Have fun and keep shooting,
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Keith Allen Ervin |
Actually you can use a camera in the DC metro system with the exeption of the Pentagon stop. You can't use a tripod though. I've gotten away with a monopod used during a pretty slow time on the platform.
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
I was part of a BP meet in Dallas/Ft. Worth two weeks ago. We were not allowed to use our tripod in a watergarden area down by Union Station.
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Ken Cole |
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Ray W. Beaudry |
As someone said on another post, I have to jump in with my 2 cents worth. I have been living in the Washington DC area since 1958. I beieve that I have spent more time in the Museums on the Mall than any other member of this post who doesn't live in this area. As long as I have visiting the museums and photographing in the museums their has ALWAYS been a no tripod rule. Unfortunately, many Americans pay no attention to the rules of ediquette, so rules must be made. The banning of tripods has its roots in common sense not "paranoia" and "terrorists". Thanks, Ray
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Jerry Frazier |
Actually, if you get a permit, you can use a tripod all day long. Tropod's are not banned. They are just banned for non-permitted shooters. Get a permit, pay your fees, and you can do what you want. At least that's what a DC pro photographer told me just recently.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
My last visit to the NGA proved otherwise. Tripods are simply not allowed, period, per the staff's instruction to me that I had to either check it, or leave it in my car. (On another visit, shooting outdoors, I hit sudden rain and I was not allowed to walk through the museum to the opposite exit (where I parked) with the tripod!) Visitor photography is permitted, within the permanent collections. Yet, in NYC at the Met, I was able to get a tripod permit. Pays to check in advance!
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Ray W. Beaudry |
Chris, Being a seasoned citizen and have had the experience means nothing to youngsters today.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Here's my problem; I've never tried a weekday visit! Apparently the weekend security staff doesn't bother telling you to try back during the week ;) This response is from the staff at NGA, via email: "Hello, and thank you for your interest in the National Gallery of Art.
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Bunny Snow |
I packed a light weight tripod and a monopod when we went to China in 2005. Having researched in advance, the problem of using a tripod on the streets (because of the huge population) and people tripping over them, I basically carried the monopod and only used the tripod aboard ship. We we visited Prague, Czech Republic, in 2004, I was told I could not use my tripod in one of the cathedrales. So, I turned my tripod into a monopod by bringing the legs together and angled my light to capture the texture of a bas relief. Then, the guards told me no pictures! However, almost every tourist there was taking snapshots. Our guide told me that I looked like a professional with my "long" lens (28-105 mm) on my Nikon (manual film camera) and that professional photographers were not allowed. There are many restrictions around the world with tripods. This is one good reason for buying both the image stabilizer and the monopod. Just don't use them at the same time. Bunny
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