Lonely Planet community blog

The portability and power of today’s cameras make it easy to snap a picture anywhere, anytime. The trouble is certain people and places have rules about what you can and can’t shoot. They can change at will and, as many travellers will have experienced firsthand, they’re not always well communicated.

It’s a subject that crops up a lot on the Thorn Tree forum. Members were recently discussing the ban on photography in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, sites that are off limits for shutterbugs in New York City, and whether certain areas in Iran would invite problems for the camera happy, while yoda9999 wonders if you can take pictures inside Middle Eastern airports.

And with the rules changing from moment to moment  (or being invented outright by zealous employees), how’s a sojourning snapper supposed to keep it all straight?

USA Today columnist Andrew Kantor has a neat list of resources for photographers in the States, and there are plenty of guidelines that cover important general knowledge and street smarts, like this UK photographers’ rights website, and the popular (take it with you to wave at people), the Photographer’s Right Flyer.

We haven’t found a definitive, global list that keeps you in the know about what’s off limits and what isn’t, and frankly, we’re not sure it’d be possible to maintain one. 

If you end up with shots that you somehow weren’t supposed to end up with, you might care to share them on Strictly No Photography, a photo sharing site for, erm, stuff that you’re not allowed to take photos of. There’s also this Flickr group, You Can’t Take Pictures Here!

Have you encountered unusual or unexpected photo taking policing on your travels? Where were you and what weren’t you allowed to photograph?

[Photo by Draconian Rain]

Hide 3 comments

1. November 30, 2009 pagoo Report this comment

   Well I was in Romania this spring and stopped to take a picture of a plastic bag dump. A man came out of the office and started yelling at me no photos. I guess they are sensetive about their bag problem (and they certainly do have one-they are all over the place). I snapped a few shots and sped off. I did add them to that Flickr group a few months ago

2. December 12, 2009 vanillaseven Report this comment

   It’s kinda frustating when you saw a very interesting object to shoot, but you not allowed to.

   Here is one of the places

   http://vanillaseven.com/2009/12/12/send-me-to-korea-10-jeju-glass-castle/

3. December 22, 2009 appalachian Report this comment

   i was in krakow and saw a beautiful building, aimed my camera… and a uniformed man ran over, yelling at me in polish. then, english, no photos allowed… when i went by i saw that it was a polish embassy.. thought it was strange that i couldn’t even shoot the outside.