If you see something, shoot it...

[TeamPooka]

...with the video camera on your phone.
Obviously now the citizens literally have to police the police in modern America. Walter Scott and his family are only getting justice because a citizen shot that video. If you see something going down with police using force, then you really should try to capture the event on video. Stay safe doing it. You don't have to reveal your identity with the video, no one knows who shot that video of Scott being murdered. It's the only weapon for truth almost everyone has in their pocket and hand at all times.

[AtomicKitten]

1. hear, hear

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. There are a couple things to know

1.- You are acting at that point as press, so short of a warrant, that video cannot be demanded. If that happens. call a lawyer. I know, easier said than done. And once you have that safely tucked away find a way to get it uploaded fast. They know you got it, it could be a problem. Not that healthy.

2.- Keep a safe distance. You have no idea how many times we have to abide by this, but I carry long glass, so it makes it easier. Anything within 15 feet, and you could be charged with interfering with an officer. Anything hot we tend to stay at about 30 or so, see note on long glass. Better telephones have some zoom capability... use it.

3.- It sounds silly, but never, ever get behind an officer. They hate it, it is partly officer safety, but they hate it. Sometimes they will be nice and tell you... but...

4.- If you are witnessing something like what happened in that video... keep your head on a swivel... it is a tactical situation. Keep shooting, but remember to stay safe. It is not just officers who get tunnel vision... this actually takes practice, so do this every day... better practice now, and not have to learn that lesson later.

5.- And for god sakes, shoot in landscape, this portrait work really misses a lot of the surroundings. This is why you will see this rarely done by professional photographers. If you can keep the camera steady (it takes practice), please do.

6.- You are entitled to photograph anything in a PUBLIC space... but not in a private space, UNLESS you have a clear, unimpeded view from a public space, such as a road. This means, no getting a peek though the bushes.

Chiefly, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS


http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

[TeamPooka]

3. +1000 Great info! I did stress safety. Thank you. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. You welcome

and if you do this regularly, become well known to other photographers... who do this professionally.

It really depends on the region, but at least in mine, we all watch out for each other in dynamic situations.

[bvar22]

5. Hi, Nad.

Good to see ya, and thanks for the info.

Didn't we have a DUer down in Florida who used to photograph the cops (before we had video cells). He used one of those big SLRs. I remember he was being dragged through the system/courts.
Do you remember his name?

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Raging in Miami

[bvar22]

13. Thats IT!!!!

I wonder what happened to him.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. He stopped posting,

after yet another encounter.

I think this is one of his last posts

http://www.democraticunderground.com/~RagingInMiami

[niyad]

20. hi, nadin, good to "see" you again.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. And I fear I will go back to lurking

a few responses, and I found myself not hitting send.

[Lars39]

7. Do videos from IPhones have imbedded personal info like photos?

I know you can somehow turn that function off on photos, but do you have do the same with videos?
Glad to see you back.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I think what they have is GPS embeding

if you post to facebook they will.

Given the ID of the person who took that video is unknown (for the moment, he will have to testify), somebody probably scrubbed it.

That said, any digital anything will have the usual message header that you cannot see, like the IP and all that fun.

[Lars39]

9. Ah, ok. Thanks!

[uponit7771]

10. +1

[herding cats]

12. Thanks for the tips!

Good info for all of us to know.

[Ed Suspicious]

18. Perfect! Especially the landscape advice. It provides context. You need context in these

situation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. It absolutely drives me up a wall

I admit though, I use a professional camera, so I have to learn how to use my cell phone to do any kind of videography. Most Cell phone footage is of slightly low quality. I have to downgrade my video, or Youtube will not play nice with others. We always keep two versions of video we upload, the HD quality highest quality original, movie quality video, and the severely downgraded video.

This I s'pose is also a piece of advise. If you downgrade the video, keep the original.

[nolabear]

11. The man who shot the video has just come forward and was interviewed on msnbc.

He answers a lot of questions. He was concealing the fact that he was filming and was really afraid to come forward until he saw the police report. He seems like a quiet, worried citizen. It must be an awful thing for him to be involved in. I'm grateful he got involved anyway.

[jtuck004]

15. Get someone behind YOU to video YOU. The evidence will be important in case you

are not able to testify.

Because the only way out of this is together. Too bad, that.

[Hoppy]

16. N.J.A.C.L.U. has a free app in which videos of police corruption can be forwarded.

Your video is simultaneously recorded and forwarded. It is not yet approved by Apple.


Your state chapter may have a similar app.

[2naSalit]

17. And then there's Meerkat...

instant live stream...

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/new-technology-changing-the-face-of-politics-416157763910

Not sure if it also saves the video someplace out in a cloud or something so that if someone takes your phone from you it can't be deleted by them but this could be a good AP for such things as catching killer cops in the act and having an auto-save system so they can't delete the evidence.

[Sedona]

22. upload to the cloud immediately if you have something

it can't be confiscated.

[TeamPooka]

23. also emailing it to yourself or texting the video to another person.

I know some settings can auto upload a video to Youtube etc.