September 17, 2010

Russell Brand Arrested After Alleged Photographer Attack

Paparazzo places actor under citizen's arrest at Los Angeles airport.

Russell Brand was reportedly arrested after getting involved in a physical altercation with a member of the paparazzi. People magazine reports that the "Get Him to the Greek" star got into a "tussle" with a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and the paparazzo then bizarrely took it upon himself to place the actor under arrest.

Airport police were called to the scene after a "report of a battery involving a celebrity and a commercial photographer," and the alleged victim made a "private person's arrest," according to a police statement. Brand was then interviewed by airport police and taken into custody for suspected battery, Us Weekly reports. He and fiancée Katy Perry did not board their scheduled flight to Las Vegas. The star will be booked at the LAPD Pacific division, a spokesperson told the magazine.

At press time, Brand's camp had yet to issue a statement on the matter.

Brand had been arrested 11 times before Friday's incident, including for public nudity at anti-globalization protests in 2001. In his best-selling memoir, "My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs and Stand-Up," Brand recounted a slew of sordid tales, including his addiction to sex and heroin. However, in all his prior indiscretions — and there are many — Brand has not been known to act out with any sort of physical violence.

Adam Lambert Gets into Brawl with the Paparazzi

He’s usually the cool guy  who will chat with the paparazzi and nicely pose for pictures, but Adam Lambert too values his privacy – which explains why he got into a beach brawl with the paps the other day.

Judging by the photos that have surfaced online, Adam was out at the beach, planning to have nice day all for himself.

Somehow, the paps managed to track him down, even if he was in disguise, decked in shorts, a tank top, oversized shades and a huge straw hat.

In fact, the only thing that could have given him away for the glam rocker fans know on stage and in magazines was the fact that he had a mani-pedi in black polish.

As they started taking his picture and provoking him, as Adam himself says on Twitter, he lost his temper and got into a minor scuffle with one of the photographers.

While some pictures show that Adam grabbed the guy – either in an attempt to take his camera or to force him to leave – they don’t say who won, that is, if he managed to get away from the unwanted attention.

In the aftermath of the minor incident, Adam took to his Twitter to explain what had happened – and to point out that this kind of intrusion in his personal space is simply not ok.

“Eeew paparazzi killed my peaceful afternoon on the beach! #howisthisok?” Adam asks in his first tweet. He then goes on to explain what happened.

“They’re real good at provoking, but there ain’t any pics or video of the b.s. they spew out... Haha well... I lost my temper for a sec but wow it felt great lol MIAMI!!!” the singer further says.

Then, after seeing the pictures the photographers managed to snap of him, he tweets again to say they’re “hilarious” and to jokingly apologize for the unglamorous straw hat.

“Hahha the photos are hilarious !! Lol please everyone forgive me for that hat. - I was attempting a disguise- clearly failed. Hahah,” Adam notes on the same note.

JustJared says the incident took place on September 16, on South Beach, Fla., but doesn’t mention who started it or how it ended. Neither does it say whether the paparazzo in question is thinking of pressing charges, as they usually do in such cases.

September 14, 2010

Photog turns tables on Gibson

Embattled Mel Gibson had an odd encounter with the paparazzi in Los Angeles on Monday, as he attempted to film a snapper in the back of a car on his camera phone.

A smiling Gibson stepped out of his Mercedes after spotting a paparazzo on his tail, and walked back up the street to confront the photographer filming all the way.

But he wasn't expecting the barrage of pertinent questions, which was hurled at him as the two men filmed each other.

In the footage, which debuted on new U.S. show Access Hollywood Live on Tuesday, the actor/director asked the snapper to wind his window down so he could get a good shot of him on his phone, and asked, "What's the matter, got nothing better to do?"
The photographer obliged and decided to use the opportunity to quiz Gibson about his summer legal woes with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, who accused the Braveheart star of lashing out at her in a fight.

The snapper asked, "I just wondered if you really hit Oksana," and then added, "Do you think you'll ever make a movie in Hollywood again?"

The paparazzo continued, calling out Gibson for remarks he has allegedly made against Jews, blacks, Latinos and homosexuals, adding, "Do you ever think you'll ever get anybody of any race or any creed or sexual orientation ever to work for you for free from all the different colleges you asked for free interns from?"

The smile never slipped from cool Gibson's face as he fixed his camera phone on the snapper, and the actor responded by stating, "You got a lot of dialogue, don't you."
The snapper asked, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?", prompting Gibson to retort, "Not to you, I just wanted to film you... Thanks for following us around."
And when the snapper revealed he was a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild, the Aussie actor cracked, "Wanna job? I guess you need one."

Before walking away, the movie star added one final salvo, asking, "What's it like sniffing other people's laundry?"

But the snapper got the last word in, shouting after Gibson, "Hey, do you think I can have my money back for all the tickets I had to pay for those movies? I'm filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of the whole world."

September 13, 2010

Photographers Rights- Photography in Public Places

1. You can make a photograph of anything and anyone on any public property, except where a specific law prohibits it.
i.e. streets, sidewalks, town squares, parks, government buildings open to the public, and public libraries.

2. You may shoot on private property if it is open to the public, but you are obligated to stop if the owner requests it.
i.e. malls, retail stores, restaurants, banks, and office building lobbies.

3. Private property owners can prevent photography ON their property, but not photography OF their property from a public location.

4. Anyone can be photographed without concent when they are in a public place unless there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
i.e. private homes, restrooms, dressing rooms, medical facilities, and phone booths.

5. Despite misconceptions, the following subjects are almost always permissible:
* accidents, fire scenes, criminal activities
* children, celebrities, law enforcement officers
* bridges, infrastructure, transportation facilities
* residential, commercial, and industrial buildings

6. Security is rarely an acceptable reason for restricting photography. Photographing from a public place cannot infringe on trade secrets, nor is it terrorist activity.

7. Private parties cannot detain you against your will unless a serious crime was committed in their presence. Those that do so may be subject to criminal and civil charges.

8. It is a crime for someone to threaten injury, detention, confiscation, or arrest because you are making photographs.

9. You are not obligated to provide your identity or reason for photographing unless questioned by a law enforcement officer and state law requires it.

10. Private parties have no right to confiscate your equipment without a court order. Even law enforcement officers must obtain one unless making an arrest.

No one can force you to delete photos you have made. 

When confronted, threatened with detention or the confiscation of equipment, ask the following questions:
* What is your name?
* What is the name of your employer?
* May I leave? If not, what is the legal basis of my detention?
* If equipment is being demanded, what is the legal basis for the confiscation?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_place#Restrictions_on_state_action_in_public_spaces_in_the_United_States http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography_and_the_law
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nomorefreephotos/discuss/72157604655395007/ http://www.krages.com/bpkphoto.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2006-08-11-photography-rights_x.htm