Trespassing on Private Land....

[casil403]

Oh so hard not to do sometimes when you see the shot! :wall-an: I was wondering if you do it or how you feel about it?
I admit, I have done it on occasion with farmland/reserveland if I see the abandoned farmhous/barn/grainery etc. with amazing potential and I can gain access ..I most always feel a twinge of guilt about it too. :headslap:
I was just wondering about what other people do about it...especially when there is a shot to die for if you could just get closer.
I would go and ask the owner but:
1. There are usually no houses to be seen in the vicinity of where I shoot.
2. It is usually around 6-7am when I am ou tand see the best shots
I did however ask my neighbours if I could shoot sunrises from their rooftop patio before doing so and they said by all means to go ahead anytime...I will give them a framed shot when I get the perfect one.
Anyhow any feelings about this? :shrug:

[Iguanasan]

Friends of mine used to go abandoned house hunting once in a while but I wouldn't have the guts to do it. I don't even like going on people's lawns when I see pretty flowers in their yard. As much as I want the shot I would, unfortunately, walk on by.

[Bambi]

around here when you walk in the woods, odds are you will end up on someone's property without meaning to. I have gone on to property (like farmland) to take a picture.

[casil403]

Friends of mine used to go abandoned house hunting once in a while but I wouldn't have the guts to do it. I don't even like going on people's lawns when I see pretty flowers in their yard. As much as I want the shot I would, unfortunately, walk on by.

You know Ig...I'd bet if you knocked on the door and asked they would be flattered...I have done so a few times and usually they are quite happy to let you shoot. Did it last week with the first daffodil I saw...no problem...were really happy to let me shoot it to my heart's content. :) I always drop them a 4X6 in their mailbox with my card and a note of thanks too :)

[Bambi]

You know Ig...I'd bet if you knocked on the door and asked they would be flattered...I have done so a few times and usually they are quite happy to let you shoot. Did it last week with the first daffodil I saw...no problem...were really happy to let me shoot it to my heart's content. :) I always drop them a 4X6 in their mailbox with my card and a note of thanks too :)

I bet that if a man did that the owners might be more suspicious. Not that that's fair, but they might doubt his motives :)

[casil403]

I bet that if a man did that the owners might be more suspicious. Not that that's fair, but they might doubt his motives :)

Unfortunately true enough B.....Kinda sad if you think about it like that. :sad:
I really didn't when I wrote it. :o

On a lighter note...if I wanted to shoot some unknown neighbour's awesome motorcycle or car would that arouse the same suspicion? :laughing:

[Greg_Nuspel]

I tend to be hesitant, but I have entered onto land for a good shot out in the country. Matt knows no boarders :p so I'm starting to get braver. Most people don't mind since you're not shooting with a gun.

[Wicked Dark]

I'm sure I've done it inadvertently and have also on purpose, but not to the extent of obnoxiousness. If it looks like a private residence or a business and it's obviously occupied and/or used, I generally stay out. Abandoned is fair game and I use my head in terms of tresspass laws and safety. I suppose one day someone will take umbrage and confront me, but so far nothing.

[Iguanasan]

Unfortunately true enough B.....Kinda sad if you think about it like that. :sad:
I really didn't when I wrote it. :o

On a lighter note...if I wanted to shoot some unknown neighbour's awesome motorcycle or car would that arouse the same suspicion? :laughing:

Even if they weren't suspicious of me, they would certainly look at me funny. I once got down on the ground to take a picture of an interesting piece of grass and my neighbour was wondering what the heck I was up to. When I explained it to him he still kinda looked at me like I was "losin' it". :eek:

I'll trespass only as far as I think I can get away with without offending anyone which means one or two steps up their driveway or right to the front door if I think the house/property is abandoned. Otherwise, I tend to walk on by. I generally won't go out of my way to ask permission to take a few shots unless the owner is right there and sees me going by with my camera and it's an easy ask. I wouldn't like to think I'm bothering anyone.

[Mad Aussie]

"I do Karate and I shoot flowers" ;)


I can't think of a time where I've trespassed significantly at all. My conscience just won't let me.
However, by significantly, I mean, similar to Casil that if there is a shoot waiting for me, I see no one to ask, I see no harm in hopping the fence or stepping afew feet up someone driveway or something ... then I'll do that.
If people are going to be so damn pathetic that they would get upset over that then I couldn't care less to be honest.

I usually just switch to the zoom lens though and avoid any trespassing.

[Iguanasan]

"I do Karate and I shoot flowers" ;)
...snip...


Really? Me too! What a coincidence! :)

[Mad Aussie]

I prefer Aikido ;)

[ericmark]

When taking photos of the Aqueduct I noted a house with scaffold and realised it would take me right out of the trees and give me an A1 view. However I did not have the nerve to ask so left untaken.

However I did climb to top of batching plant to watch last concords take off. But only camera was mobile phone so not a good image.

[F8&Bthere]

Yeah this is tough. Generally I'd love to say I've got no inhibitions in getting the shot, but I do have many. Driving around my rural area at times I can see interesting shots- sunsets, farm structures, mountains, etc- but it seems more often than not there's something I don't really want in the frame- usually barbed wire fences, electric lines, roads. And the clearest perspective usually appears to be from inside the property, not roadside. If there is easy access and no home in sight I would probably go for it. As long as I don't encroach too far onto the property. Longer zooms can help "crop" out those distractions, but sometimes I'm wanting to go wide.

[Wicked Dark]

I trespassed very slightly today...a notice posted prohibitions against hunting, but not photography, so I got some lovely shots of a pond, meadow and farmhouse. Gorgeous colors. I'll post later.

[Stanley Bear]

Around here most farmland is fenced. And a new restriction to photogs is that if a fence is up, it is intended to keep people out. Saskatchewan has passed a trespassing law that will see many photographers charged if they fail to receive permission from the land owner to enter their property.

[Wicked Dark]

Wow. and people say Canadians are friendly. : P

[Mad Aussie]

Around here most farmland is fenced. And a new restriction to photogs is that if a fence is up, it is intended to keep people out. Saskatchewan has passed a trespassing law that will see many photographers charged if they fail to receive permission from the land owner to enter their property.
I think it's a credit to Canada that it's taken this long to apply such a law.
Over here that's been the case as long as I can remember. You are allowed to follow a dedicated path or direct line to someones front door though ... as long as you have a valid reason for doing so. I don't think "I wanted a photo of your swimming pool" would cut it :)

[Greg_Nuspel]

Matt always obeys the rules

[Bambi]

when I finally get my farm I will be sure to post signs: 'Photographers welcome' :)