PPG: Photography Not Allowed (25)
Earlier today I read an article on Boing Boing about a photographer who was harrassed for taking pictures of the PPG buildings in beautiful Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. You may recognize the PPG building as being Dr. Claw’s lair from the Inspector Gadget movie that starred Matthew Broderick.
I live in downtown Pittsburgh exactly three blocks away from PPG plaza, and I was curious to see if I too would be stopped by security for taking photos. After enjoying a gyro and strawberry smoothie at the nearby Three Rivers Arts Festival, I strolled through PPG with camera in hand. PPG plaza consists of a 40 story building surrounded by five smaller buildings of similar design. Between the buildings is an outdoor plaza that features an ice rink in the Winter and a series of interactive water fountains in the Summer. I began taking my pictures at this plaza. (You can view all of today’s photos in the gallery.)
At the plaza there were a couple of parents taking pictures of their children running through the water fountains. From what I had read, PPG permits “eye-level” photography so I wasn’t surprised to see that these parents were having no problems. I decided to test the waters a little by taking pictures of the tops of the buildings. I snapped about five photos from this vantage point without incident.
I then proceeded to Third Avenue which runs between a few of the buildings. Here I took notice of two security guards relaxing outside a parking garage. Standing on the street about twenty feet away, I took two pictures of the towers around us before one of them shouted, “No pictures of the buildings!”
I could not believe it. Not that I don’t believe everything I read on the Internet (of course I do), but some things are just too stupid to believe if you don’t witness them for yourself. I mean, there I was standing on a public street taking pictures of a building in plain view from anywhere in town, and I was being told that this building was off-limits to photography. I wasn’t peeking through windows on a ladder, and I wasn’t crawling through the building’s ventilation system with a hidden camera in my shoe.
After they told me that photographs weren’t allowed I simply asked, “Why?” To which they responded, “You’re only allowed to take pictures at eye-level.” This was almost word-for-word the same thing that had been told to other photographers in the past. Obviously these guards went through training. I can just imagine the training video they must have been shown, with an Usama Bin Laden look-a-like snapping photos from behind a bush with a disposable camera. Clearly these men were keeping us all safe from al-Qaeda.
I simply responded by saying, “I don’t think so. This is public property.” I then took a picture of them followed by another picture of the building. They yelled at me, “Don’t move! We’re calling the police!” One of the security guards ducked into his security booth to place the call.
As I quietly walked away, one of the security guards yelled at me to come back and wait for the police. Realizing that I had done nothing wrong, and realizing that the private security guards couldn’t detain me, I walked home.
Once home, I googled my way to The Photographer’s Right - A Downloadable Flyer. The PDF version can be obtained here. I read through the flyer to ensure that I was in the right. Sure enough, we still live in a democracy-like nation and sanity still exists in (some) of the laws. Realizing that these PPG security guards could benefit from a little light reading, I printed a few copies and headed back to PPG plaza.
When I returned to PPG, I kind of expected to see the building swarming with feds. Instead, it was still swarming with little kids running through the fountains. I approached the two security guards and offered them my literature. The guards, whose names were Dave and Clarence, weren’t interested in my gift of knowledge. Instead, they directed me towards the security office to speak with their manager.
At the security office I met a gentleman by the name of Gary. After listening to my story, Gary summoned Paul, the supervisor of security. In the five minutes it took for Paul to arrive, Gary and I had a nice conversation. I don’t mean that sarcastically; Gary was actually a nice guy. He explained that there’s been a policy since 9/11 to not allow photographs of the buildings for security reasons. As the article on Boing Boing pointed out, it makes no sense that photographs would be allowed at eye-level but not of the tops of the buildings. If I were to place a bomb outside the building, it would probably be in a place that I could reach. Gary even admitted that the policies don’t always make sense to him, but that the guards would lose their jobs if they didn’t carry out the instructions they were given. Of course I can’t get too angry with the guards; they’re just doing what they’re told.
When Paul arrived, I explained my story once again. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: “I’m looking for more information on your photography policy.”
Paul: “We do not permit photos of the buildings for security purposes.”
Me: “But I was standing on public property when the photos were taken.”
Paul: “These buildings are private property and management has had this policy for years.”
Me: “Doesn’t U.S. law trump building management policy?”
Paul: “This is private property and we can control who takes pictures here. If you really want pictures of the buildings, I can get you in touch with management and they will review your request.”
Aha! Pictures of the buildings are allowed if you are an authorized photographer. This got me wondering if this issue has more to do with copyright law then it does with security concerns. After all, the PPG buildings are Pittsburgh’s most unique buildings. Why wouldn’t they want to control who has the right to photograph such an exceptional set of structures? If Paris can claim copyright restrictions on photographing the Eiffel Tower, and Chicago can prevent you from photographing public art then why can’t PPG cry copyright over their buildings too?
Things have gotten ridiculous in this country. Driven by an unrealistic fear of terrorism perpetuated by a group of “anti-evil-doers”, people are saying and doing stupid things. Not so coincidently, the enforcement of intellectual property and copyright laws has become obscenely silly too. With security forces on one side, and legal forces on the other, it’s a bad time to be a photographer in the United States of FUD.
I left PPG with the number for Grubb & Ellis Management Services. I was told that if I wanted more information on the policy I would have to speak with them. If anybody is interested in pursuing this themselves, Grubb & Ellis’ PPG branch can be contacted at 412-434-1900. Stay tuned for installment #2 when I receive their response.
Thanks for your comment at b.la. I lived in Pittsburgh back in the nineties while I was attending CMU (and visit relatives there regularly). I was run off by security twice there, once in 1991 and once in 1992. They claimed that the bulidings were private property and I was not permitted to photograph them. The second time (I was technically trespassing as I’d entered one of the non-public buildings) they threatened to confiscate my camera and call the police.
While I’m sensitve to the issues owners of tall buildings must face with regards to security, a young woman with a bright red Cannon Snappy Camera in ‘91 was hardly a security threat or threat or their trademark as I was not using a professional grade camera. Plain and simple, they’re dicks. Either the owners of the building or the management of the security staff enjoys hassling folks… I can’t think of any other explanations that fit. They were hassling photographers long before 9/11. I think someone needs to sue them using the same law that makes people swim in pools on private property - it’s an attractive nuisance. They didn’t have to put up a photogenic building!
I’ll see if I can find those photos, I should scan them and put them on the web. I think I also took pictures of one of the security guys.
This is an excellent post and I’m glad you went to the trouble of not only testing it for yourself, but posting the info for others to investigate.
I also posted about the flickr group (http://www.flickr.com/groups/canttakepictureshere/) where photographer share similar stories and photos from all over the globe. I’m going to link to your story there, too.
Nice one, you both. I’m one of the admins of the Group on Flickr. This is nuts. Please keep us posted.
[…] e was forbidden from taking photos of a building right in the neighborhood where he lives. here’s what happened. At the plaza there were a couple […]
“…why can’t PPG cry copyright over their buildings too?”
Because standing buildings are clearly and explicitly excluded from copyright law.
You are absolutely right in pursuing this matter. I personally abhor people who try to stop us from practice the public art of photography…after all, we aren’t paparazzi. Good show! Keep us posted.
You rock, man. I’ve been harassed by those guards a few times. It actually got me to search for and print out that same “photographer’s rights” thing and carry it with me. Since I’ve kept a few copies in my bag, however, no one has peeped.
Kudos for going through all those levels to call them on their ridiculous policy.
If you can only do photos at eye level, be sure to get wide angle lenses that will cover the entire building in the frame without tilting the camera,
Hi Robert:
Yes, use a wide angle lens and then Nasa technology (which is probably available someplace online!) to turn the photo into a normal perspective.
Bob
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Those who are willing to sacrifice essential freedom for security deserve neither.”
Of course, your rights mean very little in a case like this - if you’re suspected of being a terrorist, you’re screwed. Just one example:
http://www.bordc.org/news/innocent-detainee.php
And how many cases like don’t you hear about?
The whole policy and idea behind it (if you can even say that there is an idea behind it) is stupid.
I’m not originally from the Pittsburgh area, but I’m currently living in Monroeville, and I just graduated from a college about an hour north of here. I went ice skating at PPG for the first time this past winter. I took a camera along, which is pretty normal if you know me. I took several pictures of my friends and different things at the ice skating rink. Then I decided I wanted some pictures of the buildings too because they were so cool looking. I had NO idea there was a policy that would prevent me from doing so. I took several pictures, but it wasn’t long before a guard approached me and told me I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the buildings. I really didn’t understand, but I listened to him. It’s a shame they have to have such a stupid policy.
Some of my pictures from that day (pre-security guard) are here… http://www.pbase.com/cmbare/pittsburgh
Yeah, the same thing happened to me and a friend about three weeks ago. This is utter craziness. We had pictures of all the mini PPG buildings but once I pointed my camera to the top of One PPG Plaza, the old grumpy guard ACROSS THE STREET said “No pictures!”
I didn’t know what to say…I just walked (in shock) down the street. My friend was in just as much shock.
My 8 year old son was harrassed today by one of the guards for learning to use his point and shoot camera and I was “corrected” twice later the same day.
I must have had the same guards as Brent. on the 24th my wife and two kids and my mother-in-law were in the Plaza and I was taking pictures of my wife and kids and trying to get some good shots. If any are familiar with the PPG Plaza and fountain, the waters shoot really high and my 3yr old stands looking up at them, it is a really cool shot and I got several of them.
I noticed one security guard looking at me kind of open mouthed and a little slow-looking. I nodded a hello and took another shot of my son and the water. Just as I finished a shot of my wife and son, this other guard screams from behind me, “DELETE IT!!”
Now I was about to mace this moron until I realized it was some kind of security guard. I thought I was being attacked by some homeless mental patient. He gets in my face and screams again,”DELETE IT!!”
So I ask why?
He say”you are taking pictures of the buildings.”
I said “I’m taking pictures of my wife and son.”
He says, “Let me see.”
THinking this is a little voyeuristic but if it will get this idiot off my back, I show him, and low and behold there is a picture of my wife and son.
He shouts at me, “Look there is the building.”
At this point, I’m a little dumbfounded. It is impossible to not get a shot without some piece of building in it, we are surrounded by building.
So he begins to tell me about terrorism and starts rattling off about 9/11, 2003, I think he even mentioned London but at this point he was just getting too wierd for me and I thought about macing him anyway, so I jsut said we are leaving. The funny thing is that he never actually made me delete the pictures. So I figure he’s either incompetent or he just likes harassing people that look arabic, eventhough I am mexican/american.
The funny thing about it is that I get the terrorism thing and if he had approached me nicely, I probably would have deleted the pictures and been truly understanding but since he was so obnoxious and rude, I decided I will email them to as many people as I can and make sure they do the same. I hope officer Hawkins gets some kind of week off so he can have the stick removed.
good on you. pittsburgh is now on my list of cities to visit if/when i visit the u.s. (since it sounds like y’all have such nice architecture
Hi Mr. Michael Amor Righi just wanted you know that when I google my own name “Michael Amor” your name suddenly appear but with Righi. I am from the Philippines currently leaving in Italy for a while.
Thanks. Bye. and good luck.
PS.
I read a little about your story of harrasment in PPG building. Its not fare.
Did you get a response from Grubb & Ellis? I would be very interested in seeing what they have to say.
Sent this today. Don’t know how much, if any, they will print.
. . . .
October 24, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Letters to the Editor
Dear editor:
Want to photograph the White House, Pentagon, or any airport runway? Snap away! Want to photograph Philip Johnson’s architecture in PPG
Plaza? Do so only at the risk of getting accosted by PPG’s Pinkerton squad, as the “PPG” in PPG Plaza apparently stands for “Pittsburgh’s Paranoid Guards.”
This past weekend, after a fifteen-year absence from the city that I enthusiastically for several years called home, I came downtown to see
what had changed during my long absence. As always, I gravitated to PPG Plaza, a favorite urban space, that architecturally still did not
disappoint. As I started taking photos, initially of the amusingly incongruent mid-October sight of short-sleeved workers decorating a giant
artificial Christmas tree framed by live trees still draped in their natural autumn gold, then of the towers and their beguiling reflections of
reflections, a security guard politely asked me not to take any photos of the buildings above eye-level “for security reasons.” Huh?? So, I moved into the middle of the public street (empty on a Saturday) and started photographing the buildings from there. The guard approached me again and insisted that I stop due to “9/11 security concerns.” I replied that while I was in a public street, I could take photos of anything that I pleased and added that if he had a problem with my taking photos, he was welcome to call the police. He mumbled something and walked away. As I later strolled across the square, I snapped off a few more photos and another, bigger, guard quickly approached. Affecting a snarl and menacing tough-guy tone (it was tough to keep from laughing as this second guy was straight out of corporate-goon central casting), he warned me not to photograph the buildings from the square with an unspoken “or else.” Not wanting to provoke a confrontation, I stepped two feet to my left, into the street and off of PPG property, and finished my
photography of the buildings. Goon guard then lumbered away.
Assuming that PPG has the right to limit photography of the exterior of their public buildings from a public space, what is the point? A search of the Internet provides shots of the PPG complex from every conceivable angle. Numerous books and postcards feature the architecture.
Further, one can take photos of the buildings by taking a single step off of the curb, or, as is more likely useful to the Allegheny County al
Qaeda operatives who are no doubt plotting against PPG at this very moment, from Mount Washington, giving any jihadist-to-be a perspective
highlighting the PPG complex’s location on the skyline as well as a pleasant ride on the Duquesne Incline.
I have no problem with reasonable security precautions. On the contrary, as a very frequent flyer who works in Washington, DC (and who lives
close enough to the city that from my yard I heard the plane hit the Pentagon the morning of 9/11), I have always been in favor of tough and thorough security procedures. Please . . . search our suitcases, sniff our shoes, keep our pop bottles off of the plane, scrutinize our work
IDs every single day . . . whatever is necessary to keep us from being blown to bits. On the other hand, paranoid and silly rules that chip away at our rights yet have no conceivable protective purpose merely serve to erode the spirit of cooperation, compliance, and respect for the
rules that do offer real protective benefits.
Moreover, as a long-time and ardent defender of all things Pittsburgh who is proud of his Pennsylvania past, I am disappointed with and
embarrassed by my experience because it makes Pittsburgh look paranoid, provincial, and frankly, just ridiculous. To wit, several non-Pittsburghers to whom I related this story responded to the effect that it was just another example of a Podunk midwestern town embracing draconian but do-nothing measures to fuel their fantasy that they are important enough to be a terror target bull’s-eye. Sheesh. On the bright side, at least the PPG guys did not run into Sienna Miller.
Best regards,
John Geracimos
Alexandria, VA
(formerly of Shadyside)
I am shocked… I am sitting in my car as I write this (thank you Mayor O’Connor for free wifi access, and may you rest in peace…). I am parked in Market Square, only feet from 2PPG Place. I met the pawns of the Barney-fifedom moments ago myself. For me, the pudgy guard who intially approached (let’s just call him that - “Pudge”) informed me that I was not allowed to have my tripod, but said nothing of my camera. To the same end, when I asked “why?” he simply replied “security reasons”. I responded “…but I am on a public sidewalk and this building is within public view”. “No! This is private property and you aren’t allowed to take photos!”
I’ve been here twice and was approached before, as well. The Christmas tree is up and it is ringed by lit trees all around. It’s quite beautiful in an otherwise drab, colorless urban night scene.
The first time I was here, the guard who approached was quite nice and said “…only eye level photography is allowed”. I said “…ok, I am taking pictures of the tree. He radioed this in to “command central and I heard the report over 5 or 6 radios surrounding me from different distances.
Tonight, as Pudge sauntered over, he brought a huge chip on his shoulder along with him. That, and another, more zealous little guy who told me that the STREET was also private property and that PPG property ended “in Market Square”, to which he added “…that’s the only time I’m going to tell you”. Moving off of presumable PPG property, to the front of an adjacent building, I pointed he camera skyward, composed my series of shots and fired away at the building. I’m shooting long exposures, so no flash gave me away. As I walked back to my car, I shot along Market Street (a pedestrian zone) TOWARD Market Square, away from PPG, and was again approached by Pudge. He walked within 15 feet and said “Excuse me…”, to which I turned, smiled, and said “Yes?”
Pudge glared at me through his high-index prescription lenses, remarkably like “Milton Waddums” from “Office Space” (”Excuse me… I believe you have my stapler…”) and said “Put that tripod away!” “Why?” “Look, you aren’t legally allowed to have that tripod here.”
I laughed: “According to whom?” “According to my boss!”
“Who is your boss?”
“You don’t need to know!”
I shrugged “…ok.” and continued peering AWAY from PPG through my viewfinder. Now I see another guard, this one female, walk up on scene, though I stopped engaging Pudge in the matter. I asked him his name and he said “You don’t need to know that!” and I aimed the camera at him, released the flash and took a shot (only then realizing I had a 5″ exposure set *damnit*). The flash startled him enough to send him walking away, and then he grew bolder, turned and said “Sir, who do you work for?”
“You don’t need to know that. I am a private citizen on public property.”
This must have incensed him, especially in front of his smoky-voiced, lovely assistant, and he radioed “Security - we have a situation… this guy down here has a tripod and he refuses to put it away! (seriously, what evil could my tripod do?) “Alright… we’ll send someone down”. Good Lord - who else needs to weigh in?
I began walking away, to my car and he called out loudly “You WILL be arrested, sir! You WILL be arrested!…” and then “lovely” called out after me “That’s the second time he’s been down here.” and she followed me around the corner, where she stood smoking a cigarette, no doubt to enhance that voice, and watched me for several minutes.
I found “the Photographer’s Rights” after my first run-in with the goof troop and only found this account just now. I think I’ll call a civil rights attorney tomorrow and determine exactly what our legal rights in this matter are. I will repost if I learn anything worthwhile.
Jason Hewitt
www.jasonworx.com
(U.S. Navy veteran with an inactive White House & Presidential Access Top Secret Clearance - some security threat to lil’ ole PPG…)
North Hills, Pittsburgh, PA
This week, following the harrassment I outlined above, I contacted the following:
- A Pittsburgh Port Authority Police Officer
- Pittsburgh Police Zone II Headquarters
- Office of the Mayor
- Office of City Planning
- PPG Industries Public Affairs
- PPG Industries Security Director
- PPG Place (Hillmon Group) Security Manager
- My Attorney
Most people I spoke with had no idea how to approach my concerns. The police were certainly of no help whatsoever, exception being the unnamed Port Authority Officer parked outside of a downtown T-station as I left downtown for home. I explained what had happened to him and he rolled his eyes and shook his head and affirmed “they can’t do that… they can’t tell you what to do over there, because even if they own the property, there’s still a public easement…”. When I mentioned the noted “security concerns”, he said “oh yeah, well, I get that, but I’d call their security office…”.
The mayor’s office has not (officially) responded.
The representative to whom I was forwarded in the office of city planning has not returned my calls to confirm the property rights/lines of PPG Place.
The Director of Security for PPG Industries was extremely empathetic and gracious. He explained that in 1999, PPG Industries sold PPG Place to the Hillmon Group and now occupies the building as a tenant.
The Hillmon Group employs Grubb Ellis as a security agency. He apologized on behalf of PPG Industries and said that he would call a couple people on my bahalf, one of which he forwarded me to - the Manager of Security, PPG Place (Grubb Ellis employee).
The Grubb Ellis Security Manager, Ron Shaulis, is a former Commander of the Pittsburgh Police Department. He’s also former Navy, so we had common ground to communicate from. He acknowledged from the start that we had different perspectives on the issue, but that he felt it was a good thing to be able to communicate openly about our differences, in an attempt to find resolution.
TALKING POINTS:
He has a different set of opinions on art and its merits than I do, but was also very kind to me. He is of the opinion that “there is no purpose for a photo of a back alley doorway or a parking garage…” other than for some untoward purpose. He explained that [his] security policies were in place to ensure the safety of some 10,000 people working in the complex (which we all understand…). Then, he said this odd thing: “We have to protect the image of PPG… several months ago, we had some people doing vulgar things in the fountains outside… …pornographic things…”.
I expressed that, while I had no desire to do anything like that, that the issue of whether those people had acted in an illegal manner in their “art” was separate and apart from their right to photograph the structure(s) from within the public easements on the property. The thing that is oddest about this rationale being the basis for a security concern is that 1) it’s based on an interpretation of artistic merit; 2) it is not the purpose (as far as I can tell…) for Grubb Ellis Security to protect the “image” of PPG Industries. He said that part of his organization’s purpose is to “make sure people don’t come and pose in front of [the buildings] for something and then give the impression that PPG supports their cause.” - THIS is the HEART of the confusion… the people with the power have no idea what is within their jurisdiction.
He apologized on behalf of the security force and explained that he would be happy to “schedule a time when it would be more appropriate” for me to come down and shoot. He left an open invitation for me to take them up on and said “we’ll even help you out, if need be”.
While I appreciate everything that Mr. Shaulis did - especially to call and speak with me at length regarding my concerns, and to offer to “help” me in my endeavor, I am reminded of one of my favorite historic quotes:
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin
The last person to call me this week was the photographer/public affairs representative for PPG Industries - now a tenant in the building his company used to own. He explained that even HE has the same issues with security. He is regularly tasked with taking photographs of dignitaries and corporate officers/visitors on the building grounds and he has to schedule it with security, get written approval for his shoots, and carry the written approval on his person. He offered to re-approash his superiors and to revisit this security policy after hearing my account and referring him to read this and other similar forums for run-ins with PPG Place security personnel. He also re-affirmed that we are in the right - we have every legal right to be there and to take photos of whatever we like, whenever it suits us.
I learned through the process that in the purchase transfer of the building, PPG Place DOES include the adjacent section of 4th Avenue; HOWEVER, public easement pre-empts property rights. The public has a right to go on, into, around, between, over, etc. the publicly allocated space around the grounds of PPG Place - granted for one and all.
Lastly, my attorney (of a powerful 1 Oxford Center firm) got very fired up over hearing this. He said he will be looking into the issue himself. He said “If you didn’t have a kid at home, I’d tell you to let the police come down and arrest you”. Believe me… I thought about it.
Jason Hewitt is an asshole.
Well, I’ve been called worse by smarter people. I guess you’re probably right… always nice to hear from a fan!
jason “asshole” hewitt
I had an issue last night in my hometown of Peoria. I was shooting a stock photo of a friend at a public not-for-profit hostpital parking deck last night. A security guard came over and rather nastily demanded that I delete the photos and that photography on private property is not allowed. He said he would have the model and I arrested if we were to come back into the parking deck. I didn’t see any posted hours signs (it was 8 p.m.) I feel that I am in the right to take photos. Isn’t it implied that a parking deck has an easement for public use?
It is private property and they have an absolute right to control the photography that takes place ON THE PROPERTY. Once you are on the property they can tell anyone to stop. There are placards on the sidewalk that clearly mark where the property ends and the guards will clearly tell you that you are free to photograph the buildings from there.
You CAN take photographs if you get permission from the property managers, ask them nicely and in writting.
This happened to me in Charlotte this past weekend. I was taking some pictures of what I think is either a college or a Bank of America building and was told by a security guard \
hmmm that got cut off… ‘no pictures’ so I moved to the street and took some more!
Your name reminds me of a navy lieutenant I knew in philadelphia in 1980, before I went back to my country and he went on a mission to saudi arabia. And since then I am looking for him, to say hello at least and see how is he doing.