Amy Allcock

As someone who can often be found snapping pictures in public I was deeply disturbed to find out that photographers in Australia were met with police resistance while taking photographs of a gas storage cylinder of a Shell oil refinery. I could see the need for police involvement if the photographers had illegally trespassed on Shell property to take the photographs. However, I fail to see the harm or threat in photographing that which is in plain view. If I can stand on the street corner and see it why can’t I photograph it? The photographers and the club that they belong to have chosen to ignore the directive issued by the police and I applaud them for their resistance. Taking pictures of private property is one thing but when so-called private property is part of the public landscape photographers should be able to photograph it without fear of police persecution.