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Karola O'Connell, center, watches as neglected dogs are removed from her Spook Rock Road home Dec.10, 2008. Ramapo police and the SPCA were at the home after a complaint of abused and neglected animals.

Vincent DiSalvio / The Journal News		   Click here for more photos
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BREAKING NEWS: Theft against photographers increase as economy sinks
Photographers are becoming victims of crime in increasing numbers with thousands in equipment taken, or victims threatened with injury.

In the most recent incident, photographer Greg Mango of the  Post was accosted while sitting in his auto at a stake out on Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Street by a teenager armed with a gun on Sunday afternoon.

The thief, one of two attempted to take Mango’s laptop while he was editing pictures for the Post. The thief showed a gun in his waste-band, but then lunged for the computer in Mango’s car and a wrestling match ensued with Mango even offering cash for him not to take the computer. But as they wrestled, witnesses gathered and the thief ran away empty handed. Police are now searching for the suspect.

Aaron Showalter, working for the Daily News on Gates Avenue on a stake-out, was at first robbed of his cell phone as he sat in his car waiting for a photo. As he chased after the thieves, another thief smashed the car window as he chased after the thieves and took his cameras.

Debbie Egan Chin of the NY Daily News suffered a theft in her car of her police scanner, a G-9 camera and other items. Her trunk safe saved her remaining equipment from theft. Andrew Theodorakis of the News also was robbed of a camera body and a Canon video camera while parked in Park Slope.

Other thefts have been reported in the past, including Director Todd Maisel being the victim of an attempted robbery last year while shooting pictures at a gun arrest in East New York, Brooklyn, as 20 cops stood nearby.

Photographers are being urged to use caution as economic situations are making our jobs more dangerous.

Plans for NPPA R2
Region 2 is planning at least two gatherings in the region for the year. The first one will occur sometime
in August in Syracuse. The date will be announced soon. The program will be called, "Navigating the Downturn,” the brain child of NPPA national that we can bring together the entire NY region.
The idea behind the program is to bring speakers and those knowledgeable about our business to talk about how we might be more flexible in our professions to survive the economic downturn and come out strong and healthy.

We believe this program will be of great use to our members and any photographers who are either
having a tough time in the business or are just starting out. The schedule for these events will be announced soon.

Resolutions to be introduced at NPPA Las Vegas meeting
Region 2 Director Todd Maisel will be introducing three resolutions for consideration by the NPPA national board of directors. The purpose of the three resolutions is to attract new revenues to the organization through charges for entries to the contest that are in addition to those that are free; give paying members deserved advantages in the national contest over those who are not members; and to provide a way in which NPPA regions, committees and national may seek out national grants that require a tax free status of 501c3 designation.

Here are the three resolutions for your consideration. Your input is both requested and desired to help make our organization a better running and self sustaining group that will work for its members into the next millennium.

Resolution #1
Region 2 NPPA calls for a resolution that would give NPPA members a decided advantage in entering the NPPA Best of Pictures contest. So this resolution reads: Whereas members pay $110 per year to be a member and non-members pay nothing,

Whereas the contest is not conducted for free and NPPA expends a substantial amount of member funds to pay for the contest, Whereas sponsorships are down as are memberships and we don’t offer quite enough for those dropping out to stay with us,

Whereas non-members entering maximum of 20 photos causes the contest judging to be extensive, expensive and a long process,

Be it resolved that NPPA members shall have 20 entries for free and non member no more than 10 single entries for free.

Resolution #2
Region 2 NPPA calls for a resolution that would allow members and non members to enter as many photos as they want, provided they pay extra for any overages and shall pay $5 extra for each additional entry over the established limit.

Whereas the NPPA expends substantial amounts of NPPA membership money to pay for the annual
BOP contest,

Whereas the annual contest has become the premier contest in the country, if not the world and is therefore desirable to enter,

Whereas this resolution gives members and non members the freedom of choice to enter as many photos as they choose and then pay for additional images,

Whereas this resolution could potentially earn additional funds to help pay for the contest judging whose costs continue to rise, Whereas this resolutions represents only a “luxury fee” that does not remove the free entries that members are currently entitled to receive,

Whereas this additional funds may be used to pay for plaques and possibly for contest prizes,

Therefore, it is resolved that any overages will be the choice of members and non-members alike and those funds shall be used as the contest committee deems best.

Resolution #3
Region 2 NPPA calls for a committee to be formed that will build bridges with NPPA Foundation and then, work with NPPA Foundation to create grant proposals. This resolution also calls for the Executive Director to complete and or work with others grant applications and complete no fewer than three (3) grant proposals that will help to fund the myriad of programs currently run by NPPA National.

Region 2 calls for this committee to be made up of four members, with the Executive Director to make up a fifth member. The Executive Director shall either write grant proposals with the assistance of the committee. Whereas most foundations require grant applicants to apply as a 501c3 and not a 501c6, Whereas the NPPA Foundation was created to serve the members of NPPA and to benefit the students and members of this organization,

Whereas the NPPA Foundation is made up of esteemed colleagues of prestigious publications and news organizations that understand the needs of our industry,

Whereas the NPPA has suffered substantial losses due to membership drop-offs and reductions in both sponsorships and advertising,

Whereas the NPPA needs to provide more “bang for the buck” to justify members continuing to pay $110 per year due,

Whereas the industry and its members have suffered greatly due to the economic downturn in the industry,

Whereas substantial funds are available, both public and private, to fund job retraining, continuing education for professionals and provide a learning environment for those in this industry,

Whereas this work would help in obtaining grants for any number of programs run by NPPA including the Convergence, Northern Short Course, Flying Short Course, Southern Short Course or any other program in which tuition and accommodations are necessary for participants.

Whereas our members have less personal wealth as a result in this economic downturn and therefore the money will be used to offset the costs for participants in our programs, Let it be resolved that this committee’s efforts will be focused on creating at least three grant proposals during the 2009 fiscal year and that the Executive Director will follow the directions of this resolution.

 Resolution will decide Governance of NPPA
A resolution that will be going to the board of directors of NPPA will change the governance of the board to nationally elected positions and then make regional directors into chairpersons like a committee with no vote on the board.

The resolution can be read at this locations:
Bylaws
http://www.nppa11.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nppabylawsdraftsde.pdf

P&P
http://www.nppa11.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nppappdraftsde.pdf

 Parking permits in NYC at a stand-still – be careful
Unfortunately, there is nothing new to report about press parking in New York City. While the NYPD has not been going after NYP vehicles on a wide-scale basis with parking tickets, the issue of parking permits has apparently been sidelined.

There have been no official meetings with any city officials on this matter, six months after the permits expired. The leadership of the NYPPA has only recently been collecting statistics on who has the expired permits and who requires them. Please let the NYPPA know you need these permits.
Contact: parking@nyppa.org

The NYPPA, the lead organization in the effort to regain the permits, plans on meeting with officials at some point. We at the NPPA encourage our members to stay on top of NYPPA leaders to take meaningful action. Current policies have contributed to the parking permits being allowed to expire without complaint to city leaders – This is especially important since it is an election year.

In the meantime, photographers are urged to park in NYP zones with NYP plates, park carefully and in great numbers at events, pay for parking where you are the only NYP plate, use mass transit whenever possible and fight your tickets with the help of the NYPPA where tickets seem to be still being considered based on one being a member of the media covering a legitimate event.

Calendar Items
Photo Opportunities at J&R
You want to make some money? Well, some celebrities will be showing up at J&R Music and Computer World in the coming month. J&R is our friend, so when you show up there, tell them you are a NPPA member and they will get you to the front row for a photo.

Here are some photo ops you should check out:

Thursday, May 28
Steven Pasquale, a star on Rescue Me as the character Sean Garrity, will be signing autographs in honor of his CD, “Somethin Like Love.” On

Wednesday, June 3, 6 p.m.
Vanessa Williams will be signing autographs in honor of her new CD, “The Real Thing.” Vanessa, as you recall, is a former Miss America, turned actress and also a great singer. Vanessa Williams will also be signing autographs .

Friday, June 5, at 12:30 p.m.
Michael Wadleigh,  the director of Woodstock, will be at J&R to sign autographs in honor of his
“Ultimate edition DVD” on sale for $47.99.

Pre-order any of the 40th anniversary edition Woodstock DVD's or Blu-rays and receive a free T-shirt to have signed. Enter to win the below. The contest will end on 6-5 WHV has collaborated with Fender Guitars to produced very LIMITED series of the Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix played during his performances. (see attached image and below). This is a fully-working guitar ($600 value) beautifully engraved with the logo of our DVD release

Saturday, June 6, at 1 p.m.
The Indigo girls will be performing and signing autographs  in honor of their new CD, “Poseidon and the bitter bug.”

EVENTS
NPPA attorney, Mickey Osterreicher, will ride to honor Jack Kemp memory
By Mickey Osterreicher, Esq.
As some of you may know I shattered my left heel in December and spent the winter on crutches and in a support boot. Since walking normally again was still questionable – doing the Ride for Roswell was on the back burner. I have been back into my shoes for a few weeks although my ankle still swells.
Saturday, May 2nd was the first day I was able to get into my biking shoes. It was also the day that Jack Kemp succumbed to a very aggressive form of cancer. Not one to write things off to coincidence I thought it a sign. It is in his honor that I a riding in the Peleton this year.

I had the good fortune and privilege of being Jack’s photographer for many years while he was in Congress. It was more than a chance of a lifetime to travel with him during his 1988 presidential campaign and also to cover him in San Diego when he was named Bob Dole’s Vice-Presidential running mate.
I am writing this posting as I return from his memorial service in Washington where his family and hundreds of friends, relatives, team-mates and dignitaries paid tribute to a gracious competitor and passionate politician.

In listening to his children and having watched him close-hand it was evident how much he cared about the things he believed in – family, community, faith, equality – just to name a few. As Jack's eldest son spoke of his love for his dad, it was both comforting and haunting to hear Jack's same gravelly voice as Jeff quoted some of his dad' favorite phrases - “A rising tide lifts all boats.” “No door closes that another doesn’t open.” “Never, never, never give up” (quoting Churchill).

This year’s donation request is not so much about what a cancer research hospital does or how terrible a disease cancer is because everyone knows that both Jack and Roswell are truly Buffalo treasures. It is about how cancer touches all of us and how important it is to never, never, never give up searching for a cure while treating patients with dignity.

No matter what your political persuasion I trust that you recognize he was one of the rare politicians who could advocate his position without derogating his opponents. Something I am sure he learned from his days as a quarterback. Today after having lost one of Buffalo’s great natural resources I ask that you honor him while supporting another of Buffalo’s gifts to the world – Roswell Park.

Jack always said to me when I was taking his picture shaking hands with supporters – “Mickey, hurry up! I can’t hold this intelligent pose much longer!” That handsome, wholesome look is forever etched in my memory and I shall treasure it forever.

Please support me as generously as possible, as I ride on behalf of cancer patients and in honor of Jack Kemp. Go to http://giving.roswellpark.org/netcommunity/MHO and just click on the "Donate to My Ride" button to make a donation. Thank you so very much.

If you'd rather donate by check, please include my name in the memo area and send to:
The Ride For Roswell, PO Box 644, Buffalo, NY 14240-0644.

Marc Hermann to be honored at NPPA gala in Las Vegas
Marc Hermann has been chosen to receive the NPPA's  prestigious Special Citation.  He will be honored at the Honors and Recognition Banquet, where the award will be presented, on Saturday June 13th 2009, at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

The awards banquet will be held in conjunction with the NPPA’s Convergence09, which takes place
June 6th-June 13th. 

Convergence09  will feature an extraordinary educational program further information about the event can be found at http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/workshops_and_seminars/convergence/
2009/visual_journalism_workshops.html

The awards banquet will take place Saturday evening, June 13th. In addition to this year's service award winners the NPPA will honor our Best of Photojournalism winners, as well as our regional photographers of the year. The Awards Banquet by itself is $65.00. Only attendees who purchase their tickets in advance will have their award on hand at the event.

Registration is available online by following this link http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/workshops_and_seminars/con vergence/2009/.

EXHIBITS
Rescue 2 of Brooklyn featured in photo show - Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Photographer Andrew Hinderaker will exhibit photos of FDNY’s Rescue 2, entitled “The Rescue,” with an opening reception at Pratt Institute Media Arts Gallery, Steuben Hall, 3rd floor, 200 Willoughby Avenue in Brooklyn from 6-8pm. For more information, go to http://andrewhinderaker.com

Busted: An exhibition of those arrested here - Thursday, May 28, 2009
Held in conjunction with the publication of Busted (powerHouse Magazine Issue 5), The powerHouse Arena will host an exhibition of art that celebrates all that goes wrong when you're up to no good. The exhibit will be held from May 26 to June 21 at the Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main Street in Dumbo Brooklyn. The opening will be on Thursday, May 28, 7-9 p.m. with music by Estaw. Come join us to point and laugh at all the failures, fiascos, and hilariously embarrassing situations captured by these talented artists. Busted promises the most eclectic mix of “nogoodniks,” anarchists, and frisky kids ever caught between two covers. Among those exhibited will be Steven Hirsch who has become infamous for his photos of people facing charges at Manhattan Supreme Court. To RSVP: rsvp@powerHouseArena.com

The Stumping Grounds: From Demoines to DC - Thursday, June 4, 2009
 Photographer Allison Joyce will feature her work from the campaign trail entitled “The Stumping Grounds, from Des Moines to DC on Thursday, June 4 at 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Pochron Studios, 20 Jay Street in Dumbo. It will be featured one night only, so join Allison for some great photography and some
friendly conversation.

Alan Tannenbaum’s New York in the 70's. - Thursday, May 28, 2009
You are cordially invited to the opening of a photography exhibition and book launch of the new edition of Alan Tannenbaum’s first book, New York in the 70s. The exhibition will contain many of his images of 70s and early 80s in New York City that have never before been printed. It's happening at the Not Fade Away Gallery, an exciting new space at 12 East 20th Street near Union Square. It will be on the second floor.
The opening will occur on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
RSVP to 212.333.7728 x301 or nfarsvp@susanblondinc.com
April Stories
Photographer arrested for taking photos at accident Is cleared and cops believed to have been disciplined
A seasoned spot news photographer who was arrested on February 15 after he took photos of an accident scene on McGuiness Blvd in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, has had the charges dropped thanks to the Daily News attorneys.

The incident occurred when officers demanded that he stop taking photos at which point, he moved back and waited for the gurney to be brought to the ambulance. A total of six photos were taken, at which point police, by order of a sergeant, handcuffed the photographer and demanded to know how to delete his memory card.

Despite giving complete cooperation, being respectful, the officers issued him a summons anyway for disorderly conduct that read “for taking photos.” The arrest led to investigations by NYPD Internal Affairs and outraged letters and correspondence by the Daily News over the incident.

As a result, the charges were dropped and it is said by insiders that officers involved were disciplined, though details of this are not known. Photographers who recently covered a homicide in the same neighborhood reported that police from the 94th Precinct treated the press “very nice and they were very respectful.” The photographer involved said one of the officers involved in the original case saw him and steered clear of him and the rest of the press. ENOUGH SAID.

The photographer involved said he will not be pressing civil charges as he was not injured, did not lose any images and charges were not pursued.

NPPA members can get NYPPA support on parking tickets
This is to clarify any misunderstandings with regard to parking summonses issued to you while on legitimate news assignments.

You may submit your summons for adjudication under the press parking guideline if you meet the following criteria: you must have valid press credentials issued by the New York City Police Department. You do not have to be a member of the New York Press Photographers Association, so NPPA members are okay with submitting to us. Before submitting any summons, check the Violation's Code. No Code 14 (such as no standing any time) summonses are accepted by the Parking Violations Bureau for adjudication, nor are violations for parking in crosswalk, bus stops, hydrants or double parking. Also,
if you are parking in front of your own home, you are not on assignment – the court will rule against you.

All other summonses should be sent to: JERRY ENGEL, 123-60 83rd Ave (8F), Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Should you have questions feel free to contact me JERRY ENGEL, Chairman Credentials Committee, NYPPA, at: casey2je@aol.com

Parking permits for press in peril
Parking permits in NYC that have been issued for the past 50 years to the press to park at or near their assignments are in peril because of legal questions regarding whether to issue them to bloggers who say they are press too.

The NYPPA is now preparing a legal strategy that would make our parking permits a permanent part of the press card issuance. Stay tuned and watch for updates at NYPPA.org and this website too.

Amtrak NPPA in agreement over new policy
Attorney’s for Amtrak and the NPPA came to an agreement recently that gives photographers the right to take photos in public areas of Amtrak stations and stops police from demanding that photographers delete images that have been taken.

This agreement by Amtrak followed a TV appearance by R2 Director Todd Maisel on the Colbert Report with host Steve Colbert on Comedy Central, which makes fun of Amtrak’s photo “policy” calling Amtrak's photography contest "their most cleverest ruse since their so-called timetable." Right after the story about Duane Kerzic who was arrested for taking photos in the station, Kerzic was offered a generous settlement and NPPA was engaged in negotiations for a new policy statement with the railroad. He has since settled, terms of which are sealed.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/217341/february-02-2009/nailed--em---amtrak-photographer

NPPA Chief Counsel Mickey H. Osterreicher, Esq., engaged Amtrak Police general counsel
David J. Domzalski and hammered out an agreement that was mutally agreeable. Osterreicher
said that Amtrak had no justification for their unconstitutional actions against photographers in public train stations in which some photographers have even been arrested for not deleting images taken legally.

Despite Amtrak at first trying to justify their actions, NPPA extended a “proverbial olive branch” to Amtrak, in an effort to work out a deal that will be acceptable to all parties. As a result of repeated lawsuits, the Colbert show and efforts by NPPA Counsel Osterreicher, an agreement was reached.

Click here to see both new policy and police policy guidelines.

As the NPPA tries to attain freedom to take photos in our public stations, incidents continue to occur. Including one that happened just days ago in Seattle where a couple were ejected from a train, simply because they took a picture of a sunrise over a train station from their window.

We urge members to continue to report unconstitutional behavior by employees of train systems, police personnel and others, but at the same time, utmost respect for these individuals must be maintained as most of them have good intentions that are only meant to protect the public and fellow employees. Members should also maintain respect as anything they say can and will be used against them and visa versa is true too.

R2 Director Maisel speaks to students at College Media Advisors session
todd_photoR2 Director Todd Maisel spoke to a session of the College Media Advisors conference at the Marriott this past month, where he discussed press freedoms and the problems of covering news in an age of paranoia and curtailed civil liberties.

Maisel, an adjunct professor at City Tech, addressed students and college professors on various incidents throughout the country in which the press have either been targeted by law enforcement, or have been restrained from taking pictures in public places. Pictures from the RNC, both past and present were shown to students the professors.


If you missed NSC in VA You missed important info
The NPPA’s Northern Short Course proved that you no longer are you safe with your current skills,
as the industry continues to change and morph into multi media. NSC sessions gave attendees those
vital skills and the ability to network with those who will help you be successful.

Included in the sessions was one run by Maisel with NPPA General Counsel Mickey Osterreicher, Esq
on press freedom and rights of photographers to take pictures in public places.

There was a huge emphasis on multi media and improving skills that photographers already possess. Participants met the successful visual journalists in our business that will help you make your chosen profession a financial and journalistic success – especially our friend John Harrington.

NSC get togethers are excellent for networking and feature special sessions – with this year,
Tom Sperdutto setting up a full photo studio in the midst of our networking session in the McLean Hilton. See photos from networking sessions by Tom who also did two sessions of studio work with numerous participants and models that come straight from the US military.

Some of the featured speakers were Scott Anger, Stephen Crowley, Gail Fisher, Brenda, Ann Kenneally, Melissa Lyttle, Jason Reed.

Stephen Crowley of The New York Times joined the Saturday speaker series line-up and he proved once again that he is one of the great shooters of our time.  Based in Washington, DC, Crowley has covered breaking national and international news.  Crowley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2002, with four other photographers at The New York Times for work produced during the war in Afghanistan. Efficient workflows with Nikon systems and software was led by Nikon’s Mark Suban, learn how to customize the latest Nikon DSLR cameras using in camera menu settings to help you become an efficient shooter. 

There were also numerous classes on Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, multi media software and many other important topics to make participants more employable and to keep people up on the latest technologies and software tools.

Our hat’s off to Michelle McLouglhin who did a great job as Chair; Bill Auth, Logistics Chair; Natalie Nigito, Registrar; Will Yurman, Multimedia Chair; David Handschuh, who put together the educators panels and seminars; Tom Costello who provided expertise as AV production and as R3 Director; Tom Kelly III, contest chair; Steve Falk, contest co-chair; Tom Kelly IV, assistant contest chair; Bob Davis, TV representative; John Walker, portfolio critiques; and of course Damon Kiesow our R1 Director and an invaluable volunteer to the betterment of this program. Also applauds to our many student volunteers for their many hours of service.

Finally, we salute the many sponsors who supported this program including Nikon, Canon, Olympus, JVC, Adobe, Thinktank, Roberts Photo, Penn Camera, Adorama, Panasonic, and many others.

Next year, R1 will host the NSC in Cherry Hill, NJ, which is close to NYC and a relatively
inexpensive venue.

We are working hard to figure out how to bring NSC to New York City, so stay tuned.

Calendar Items
J&R is your source for cameras, computers and entertainment
You’ve got to be crazy not to take advantage of your NPPA discount at J&R. Call J&R Corporate department to find out how. See schedule of events: And take advantage of specials on great camera gear and get your NPPA discount. NPPA members get a special corporate discount for their purchases on anything from cameras, computers and just about anything in the store. J&R is a friend of photographers.

Here are is a few calendar dates for events at J&R:
Donnie McClurkin will be signing autographs of his new CD “We all are one Live in Detroit” on Thursday April 2 at 12:30. His CD, “We all are one,” is in the store for $14.99.

Cyril Neville will be performing and signing autographs on April 18th at 2 p.m. as part of Record Store Day. His new album, Brand new blues is $12.99.

Anne Akiko Meyers will be performing and signing autographs on Saturday April 18th as part of Record Store Day at 1 p.m. Her CD, Smile, is $13.99.

Shinedown will be performing an acoustic set as part of Record Store Day at 1:00  on Saturday April 18th The CD, “The sound of madness,” is $13.99 www.jr.com

SOHO exhibit ends this month
Frances Roberts has a photo (see attachment!) in the Soho Photo Gallery's 11th Annual International Krappy Kamera® Competition. The photo of the Staple St. bridge, downtown Tribeca, was shot using a polaroid camera modified to be a pinhole camera. I than made a polaroid transfer image onto watercolor paper.

The exhibit runs through April 4, 2009

Gallery Hours are: Wednesday thru Sunday, 1-6 p.m., and by appointment Soho Photo Gallery is located at 15 White Street in TriBeCa, three blocks south of Canal Street between West Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Subways:  #1 to Franklin Street or the A, C, E, N, R or #6 to Canal Street.
The phone number is 212-226-8571.

THE NEW YORK PHOTO FESTIVAL 2nd Edition, May 13-17, 2009 in Dumbo
 The second annual New York Photo Festival will take place from May 13-17 in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn under the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. The community has become a mecca for the arts
as numerous galleries have sprung up throughout the community.

This years exhibits will be curated by William A. Ewing, Chris Boot, Jody Quon, and Jon Levy.
See www.newyorkphotofestival.com

These world-renowned curators all bring their personal visions of the most provocative and intriguing developments in contemporary photography to the main pavilions of the 2009 edition of The New York Photo Festival. “The NYPH’09 Festival Curators were selected for their decisive and innovative approaches to curating, editing, sequencing, and showcasing the varied work of the medium in ways that continually surprise and inspire those of us in the photography industry and the creative cultural public at large,” say Power and Evers. All over the place! features the work of historical figures Ernst Haas,
Jacob Holdt, Edward Steichen, and contemporary photographers Manolis Baboussis, Matthieu Gafsou, Oliver Godow, Tiina Itkonen, Anna Lehmann-Brauns, Juraj Lipscher, Virginie Otth, Philipp Schaerer,
Joni Sternbach, Robert Walker, and Patrick Weidmann.

About the New York Photo Festival:
Founded by Daniel Power and Frank Evers, the New York Photo Festival is the first international-level festival of photography to be based in the U.S. With the ambition of documenting the future of photography in all its forms, this new, annual event has selected a group of internationally respected curators who will deliver their personal vision of the newest and most important trends in contemporary photography. Last year’s inaugural festival proved sold 15,000 tickets, 2,500 VIPs and artists, 1,000 members of the international press, packed seating for all day and evening programming events at St. Ann’s Warehouse (450 capacity), 20 countries represented in curated and satellite pavilions, 49 media partners, and over 3,000 submissions from 87 countries for the New York Photo Awards www.newyorkphotoawards.com.

The festival was made possible with the generous assistance of Two Trees Management. For more information, please contact Viviana Morizet, Media Coordinator, New York Photo Festival, 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201; Tel: 212-604-9074 x121, Fax: 212-366-5247,
email: viviana@nyphotofestival.com

Photo Contests
Contest results for BOP, NSC for R2
It was a great year for Region 2 members who collected several prizes in this year’s BOP contest judged at the Poynter Institute in Florida this past month. Some of the Region 2 winners included Ron Antonelli of the NY Daily News, Shiho Fukada shooting for the NY Times, Todd Heisler for
the NY Times, David Goldman for the NY Times, Brendan Smialowski for the NY Times,
Al Bello for Getty, and Gary Hershorn for Reuters.

The Northern Short Course saw big wins for David Handschuh of the Daily News, Michelle Gabel /
The Syracuse Newspapers, and William Lyons of the Staten Island Advance and Todd Maisel of the
Daily News. Congrats to all the winners.

Bay Ridge photo contest “Brooklyn Neighborhoods”
Gallery 364 "Bay Ridge's First Fine Arts Gallery" is pleased to announce the April Art Competition, entitled "BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS.” Judging for this event is on Thursday, April 30th, 2009
7-10 p.m.

If you are interested in submitting work for this competition, for consideration please call Georgine for an appointment to show your work, or email jpegs for review. No URL's please. You will be notified by email of acceptance. The entry fee is $25 per piece, for work accepted, with a limit of 4 pieces per artist.

All art must be ready to hang. All art will be for sale. Gallery 364 retains 30 percent of all sales. Gallery 364 will award: One "Best In Show" $150 Prize (Winners will be announced at Opening Reception)
One "Honorable Mention" $50 Prize.

Deadline for submissions: Sat. April 25th, 2009
Artists Opening Reception: Thurs., April 30th,, 2009 (by invitation only)
Contact Georgine for more info: Gallery 364, 364 72nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209 or
call 917-767-3848.
February Stories
BREAKING NEWS: Man charged with taking pictures has that charge dropped, but two other charges continue to court at behest of NYPD
A trail enthusiast was arrested and charged with taking photos in the subway, disorderly conduct and blocking the empty platform on Feb. 15. The arrest came to light with NPPA and then appeared in the
New York Times on Feb. 17. Upon further investigation, police dropped the photography charge against Robert Taylor because NYPD officials admitted the officers “misinterpreted the law.” This occurred despite police officials claiming that officers understand the law, and therefore didn’t need to restate it to the rank and file.

Charges of disorderly conduct and blocking the “empty” platform will stand, officials said, despite
public outcry.

We call upon the NYPD to send a memo to police throughout the city reminding them that photography is legal in the subways and in all MTA properties that are open to the public.

Over the past year, NPPA has logged several complaints by mostly rail fans who have been threatened with arrest for taking pictures in the subways. One press photographer was threatened with arrest this past year, so he left without argument. However, 1050.9 of the MTA rules and regulations clearly states that photography by anyone is perfectly legal.

See New York Times story by Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Jim Dwyer at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/nyregion/18about.html?_r=1

The NPPA will follow up on this story in future editions of www.NPPA2.org

BREAKING NEWS:
Photographer arrested for taking photos at accident
A seasoned spot news photographer was arrested on February 15 after he took photos of an accident scene on McGuiness Blvd in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Officers demanded that he stop taking photos at which point, he moved back and waited for the gurney to be brought to the ambulance. A total of six photos were taken, at which point police, by order of a sergeant, handcuffed the photographer and demanded to know how to delete his memory card.

The photographer, whose name is being withheld at this time, complied, but officers arrested him anyway and charged him with disorderly conduct.

The case is pending with the NYPD who is investigating the incident because deleting the card was exercising “prior restraint,” was damaging both evidence and property, and was illegal by virtue of the fact that administrative code dictates to police that officers are not to interfere with news gathering. The officers also failed to follow General Order #1, and that was to inform the precinct commander, duty captain and DCPI. None of the proper procedures were followed in this incident.

Stay tuned for updates on this incident.

Amtrak responds with willingness to work it out.
Other letter tries to justify bad police behavior against photographers
There is a new willingness on the part of Amtrak to work better with photographers while maintaining safe and secure conditions for their millions of daily riders. As the NPPA tries to attain freedom to take photos in our public stations, incidents continue to occur. Including one that happened just days ago in Seattle where a couple were ejected from a train, simply because they took a picture of a sunrise over a train station from their window.

This offer of conciliation by Amtrak is on top of a TV appearance by R2 Director Todd Maisel on the Colbert Report with host Steve Colbert on Comedy Central, which makes fun of Amtrak’s photo “policy” calling Amtrak's photography contest "their most cleverest ruse since their so-called timetable."

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/217341/february-02-2009/nailed--em---amtrak-photographer

The Colbert Report focused on the arrested of photographer and NPPA member Duane Kerzic who was arrested by Amtrak police for merely taking photos on a train platform while he was on waiting for his connecting train. Police officers demanded he delete his photos, and when he refused, he was handcuffed, held for over an hour and then issued a summons for trespassing  when he was a ticketed customer. A day after the Colbert Report, Amtrak made Kerzic a generous settlement offer, subject to a
non disclosure clause.

Amtrak Police general counsel David J. Domzalski said in his most recent letter to NPPA that Amtrak was creating more specific guidelines for its employees and police to help avoid unnecessary incidents with photographers who are both tourists and members of the media. He said he would also seek to avoid any “prior restraint” against the media and strongly recommends that media contact Amtrak before going to stations to take photos or do their news reports.

http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/02/trains.html

Amtrak counsel previously responded to letters from the NPPA Chief Counsel Mickey H. Osterreicher, Esq., and later the NYPPA, with nothing more than justification for their unconstitutional actions against photographers in public train stations, some photographers have even been arrested for not deleting images taken legally. Despite this response NPPA extended a “proverbial olive branch” to Amtrak, in an effort to work out a deal that will be acceptable to all parties. Amtrak has responded that if negotiations fail, the NPPA will join with other photo organizations to fight Amtrak police who are threatening photographers with arrest for taking pictures in Penn Station.

See nppa website story at http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/01/amtrak01.html

One photographer was given the choice by Amtrak Police to delete his pictures or be arrested after having taken photos on a public platform in Penn Station recently. A second was arrested, as was one of the two who refused to delete his images. Another photographer was confronted by MTA police who ordered him to delete images, or be arrested. This occurred despite there being no official laws against taking photos in public areas of Penn Station.

One of the three won his case that occurred in February and collected thousands of dollars in compensation in June for his unlawful arrest for criminal trespass. In the most recent incident reported by rail enthusiasts, a photographer and his wife were ejected from a train outside Seattle after train crews told him Homeland Security laws prohibit photography in train stations. Police later detained him and let him go as they had no law to prosecute him with. He was forced to miss his train and stand and wait in a desolate train station.

Because of this earlier victory, we are optimistic that Amtrak and New York City will back off from this illegal “policy” of making laws – similar to that which was tried by the MTA more than two years ago when MTA Corporation Counsel Mary Mahon admitted to the ACLU at our behest that there was no law nor anything in the law that allowed a ban on photography. (CLICK HERE FOR PDF OF LETTERS). New Jersey Transit, which uses Penn Station, also backed off from banning photography on its system after a united outcry led by NPPA. (CLICK HERE FOR PDF LETTER)

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_
Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1093554048391

Incidents must be questioned
In February, 2008, a photographer was arrested for taking photos in Penn Station. He settled with Amtrak and the city for $8K after his arrest was found to be illegal. See last month for details on this and other stories related to this issue.

http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/08-04-19_FORBIDEN_SIGNALS/-Thumbnails.html

Stay tuned for further actions from NPPA and other organizations that will unite against this Amtrak “policy.” We believe Amtrak will come to their senses, but you never know.

ELECTIONS!
Thank you from your Director and AD
 todd_photo

 mark_photoRegion 2 Director Todd Maisel and Associate Director Mark Dye were elected to another term
to represent our region.

Unfortunately, very few people voted in this election and we regret that so few region 2 members exercised their right to vote.

Maisel will continue his work with NPPA, in conjunction with his duties as an officer NYPPA.
He is staff at the New York Daily News. Dye is currently working as a full-time freelance photojournalist in the greater NYC area and is also a member of the New York Press Photographers Association.

R2 Director leads tour for Indonesians at News
Four Indonesian participants in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Program were hosted by R2 Director Todd Maisel for a tour of the New York Daily News recently. They are accompanied by two State Dept. contract interpreters, Mr. Josi Katoppo and Ms. Sih Cornelison.

The visitors were journalists representing both print and electronic media.  Their U.S. tour provided opportunities to meet their professional counterparts and others to discuss journalistic practices, press freedom issues and, in particular, the elements of investigative journalism.  One of the participants, Ms. Linova Rifianty, is a respected photo journalist who would benefit - along with her colleagues - from meeting her American professional counterparts (particularly women)  for an informal exchange.
 
Maisel conducted the tour of the Daily News operations this past month, showing them the photo departments, city desk, archiving ops, studios and other vital parts of the newspaper. They were also offered any assistance necessary from him and the NPPA while they stayed in New York City and the United States.

Bill Gold, Program Officer of the United States Department of State, Office of International Visitors, offered his thanks and said he would reach out to the NPPA for future visiting journalists to share their views on freedom of the press and news operations.

Ticket for parking on Cadman Plaza dismissed
Post Photog towed off sidewalk during assignment
New York Post photographer Paul Martinka reported that he won his summons against the city after his vehicle was towed from Cadman Plaza on the sidewalk where other press vehicles were parked during the arraignment of three cops for alleged sodomy charges.

Martinka was towed in December and others were ticketed. When DCPI was informed of the towing, they ceased further towing.

Martinka had to get his car out of the Navy Yard tow pound, costing him $185. The Post paid the bill, but Martinka still had to fight the summons. After winning the summons, he was reimbursed by the city for the towing fee.The reason he beat the ticket was because of the letter we provided to him that was written by
a Parks Department inspector who said the press can park on Cadman Plaza when no other parking was available. This agreement occurred so that media did not have to park inside the park to cover events.
An NYP zone of three spaces is always taken up and another one on Jay Street is also always taken by vehicles other than NYP plates.

UPDATE: Photographer Dembow wins lawsuit With city on false arrest with
other photographer
Former New York Post Photojournalist Rick Dembow was successful in his lawsuit against the City of New York and the NYPD. The City of New York agreed to pay Rick Dembow the sum of $45,000 to drop his lawsuit prior to the beginning of the January 12th trial. The suit stemmed from claims by the well known photographer that two New York City police officers were negligent in their duties causing a permanent injury, false arrest, first amendment rights violations and numerous other charges.

Rick Dembow who has 20 years experience on the job with the NY Post and the NY Daily News responded to a routine hit and run incident on a city street in June 2004. The veteran news photographer was attempting to photograph the driver of the vehicle and the victim at the scene.

He noticed news photographer Peter Foley being arrested a short distance away for taking pictures of the same accident scene. As Rick Dembow attempted to photograph the arrest of Peter Foley, an officer was instructed to arrest and handcuff Dembow. This arrest resulted in an emergency room treatment and injury to Dembow due to the inappropriate actions of the officers involved.

Additionally, New York State Workers Compensation Judge Nance Kaplan ruled that the York Post must pay the photographer $20,000 in lost wages due to the assignment injury. The Post initially protested the compensation claiming the photojournalist was a freelancer and not entitled to any benefits. News Corp. sent Photo Editor David Boyle to testify against any compensation, but Judge Kaplan ruled against the Post. “This is a great day for all the working press photographers and videographers in the city. Any credentialed photographer that is threatened, falsely arrested, deprived of their first amendment rights or injured while on assignment, has every legal right to initiate a lawsuit against the NYPD,” he said.

Some officers on the street do not adhere to the strict guidelines as laid out in the Patrolman’s Guide, to proper procedure for media incidents. Despite numerous memorandums from the Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information notifying the rank and file not to obstruct news photographers while on a news assignment, the guidelines are sometimes ignored or unknown to officers. "Most photojournalists who have had their rights abused by the NYPD rarely seek legal advice, more than likely due to an unfounded fear that it’s pointless in fighting the system" Dembow said.

“Ultimately it doesn’t matter what fabricated excuse the NYPD uses to interfere with a photographers news gathering rights. It only matters what a jury of your peers feels is just and the reality is, there are not very many reasons at all a police officer has to legally arrest, detain, obstruct, injure or threaten a working press photographer that is not trespassing on his, or her assignment,” Dembow said.

Currently Rick Dembow is the president of Tabloid City Picture Agency, an international celebrity photo agency he formed eight years ago servicing the tabloid industry. If you’re a credentialed photographer and would like any advice on initiating a claim against the NYPD, or your newspaper for lost wages due to an incident or injury while on assignment, feel free to contact Rick Dembow at photo@tabloidcity.com

Hal Weiner, long time NPPA member Recovers from heart surgery at NYU
Hal Weiner is recovering from surgery for replacement of the aortic valve, on the Jan. 20th at NYU Medical Center in Manhattan. He is said to be recovering well, but he is having gastric issues and is expected to remain in the hospital for a while longer. You may email him at halweiner@nyc.rr.com Hal is still recovering as of this writing at NYU. Unfortunately, with heart issues, sometimes comes other problems that pop up to complicate recovery. We are with you Hal.

Newsday firings, buyouts – a letter
Newsday had 20 photographers.  They were all told they could take "Voluntary Separations" OR if they didn't they would be fired.  There were medical benefits offered to those who took the "voluntary separation," so that made it the "best" of two evils.  Newsday announced that they could all apply for a "few" positions as "Visual Journalists."  This is a bogus argument because all the photographers have been shooting stills and video for the past three years.  Newsday has been training photographers in video for that long - it was good training by great people, because they realized the importance of video years ago. AND their video was credited on the web as "Visual Journalist (insert name of photographer)."    

They also said there would be a couple of "assistant editor" positions which the photographers could also apply for. There would be no seniority involved in who was chosen.  Clearly this process was about doing an end-run about seniority in the photo department - all other buyouts in the past were by seniority -
the newest hires would go first, if older photographers didn't take enough of
the buyouts.

The union raised complaints about the process, and so Newsday compromised a bit: The "video Journalists" were hired by seniority, but the assistant editors would not be.  So they changed their minds, and only hired TWO video journalists, and then hired FIVE assistant editors.  So they got to keep 5 of the younger photographers and only two of the older ones, thus winning on the seniority issue.

About 6 months ago, Sam Zell sold Newsday to Cablevision and as with past Cablevision acquisitions, revamping of the paper was deemed necessary. For the sake of accuracy, Newsday was sold by Sam Zell to Cablevision about 6 months or more ago, and it was Cablevision who did all this.

Bottom line is, 13 photographers were fired, and 7 got to stay, in different capacities. For the record,
I worked there for 41 years before taking the last buyout last March.

Ken Spencer
Retired, Newsday

Calendar Items
J&R is your source for cameras, computers and entertainment
You’ve got to be crazy not to take advantage of your NPPA discount at J&R. Call J&R Corporate department to find out how.

See schedule of events: And take advantage of President’s Weekend specials on great camera gear and get your NPPA discount.  

Spike Lee will be signing autographs of his latest film Miracle at St. Anna Friday February 13th at 7:00 pm

Miracle at St. Anna DVD $17.99
Blu-ray $24.99

As a writer-director, producer, author and educator, SPIKE LEE (Director/Producer) has revolutionized the role of black talent in cinema. He is a forerunner in the do-it-yourself school of independent film. Lee’s most recent work, “When The Levees Broke,” a groundbreaking documentary focusing on the plight of Americans stranded in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina, has garnered rave critical review and is considered by many to be the definitive account of that catastrophic event.

In 2006, Lee premiered his 19th feature film “Inside Man,” receiving acclaim from critic and audiences alike. His recent critical and box-office successes have also included such films as “She Hate Me,” “25th Hour,” “The Original Kings of Comedy,” “Bamboozled” and “Summer of Sam.” Lee’s films “Girl 6,” “Get on the Bus,” “Do the Right Thing” and“Clockers” display his ability to showcase a series of outspoken and provocative sociopolitical critiques that challenge cultural assumptions not only about race, but also class and gender identity.

His debut film, the independently produced comedy “She’s Gotta Have It,” earned him the Prix de Jeunesse Award at the Cannes Film festival in 1986 and set him at the forefront of the Black New Wave in American Cinema. His second feature, the hit “School Daze,” helped to launch the careers of several young black actors. Lee’s timely 1989 film “Do the Right Thing” garnered an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film and Director awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Lee’s “Jungle Fever,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Clockers” and “Crooklyn” were also critically well received.

DON’T FORGET, GET YOUR NPPA DISCOUNT FROM J&R.
www.jr.com

Northern Short Course Thursday, March 19 - Saturday, March 21, 2009
Join us at the Hilton in McLean VA
northern_short_coursePlease join us for this year’s Northern Short Course in McLean, Virginia this year. If you want a ride, call Todd Maisel at 646-872-5374 or email at toddphoto@aol.com.

No longer are you safe with your current skills, as the industry continues to change and morph
into multi media. NSC gives you those vital skills and network with those who will help you
be successful.

Those who are short funds should start looking for partners to share a room at the Hilton or share a ride to Virginia with Todd Maisel or someone else. We will help you to find partners if you like.
Just let us know.

Both NPPA Region 2 Director Todd Maisel and AD Mark Dye will be driving to the NSC and invite anyone who needs a ride to contact us asap for the free ride out of New York and New Jersey. toddphoto@aol.com

There will be a huge emphasis on multi media and improving skills that photographers already possess. Meet the successful visual journalists in our business who will help you make your chosen profession a financial and journalistic success. Don’t forget also to enter the NSC photo contest
(see contests below). Remember there are the great parties that will last well into the evening.
NSC parties are the best – just look at last year’s event on nppa2.org.

Go to www.northernshortcourse.com

EDDIE ADAMS: VIETNAM Thursday, March 5, 2009
Opening Reception and Book Launch
Alyssa Adams and Umbrage Gallery will be hosting the opening the first book ever published on the work of Eddie Adams. Opening Reception and book launch with Alyssa Adams and friends. 

The opening is on Thursday, March 5, 6-9 p.m. The Umbrage Gallery is located at 111 Front Street, 2nd floor in Dumbo. The gallery opening will highlight the new book, “EDDIE ADAMS: VIETNAM,” by Alyssa Adams with a narrative by Hal Buell. The photos are now on display at the gallery.

FDNY Photo Unit Exhibit to Open at St. John's University Queens Campus
St. John’s University’s Dr. M. T. Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery will feature “Official FDNY Photograph, Images from the FDNY Photo Unit,” on exhibit January 27 - March 7, 2009, on the University’s Queens Campus.

Photo Contests
While most contest deadlines have passed, here are a few that are left:

Northern Short Course 2009 Contest Still Photography and Multimedia
The Northern Short Course board announced the 2009 NSC contest is open for submissions.  
The long-standing contest is now digital, making it easier than ever to enter.  

Also new this year is the addition of two multimedia categories, Individual Multimedia and Team Multimedia.  New still categories this year include Campaign 2008 and Olympics. Enter now for your chance to be named the Northern Short Course Photographer of the year! ***This contest is only open to members of Regions 1, 2 and 3. 

http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/workshops_and_seminars/northern_ short_course/2009/rules.html

For questions or problems entering online please contact NPPA webmaster Stephen Sample at ssample@nppa. org For questions regarding rules and eligibility please contact contest co-chair
Tom Kelly IV at phototaker21@aol.com

Communication Arts competition - Deadline Friday, March 6, 2009
Categories for this photo contest include advertising, books, multi media, editorial work produced for sale, institutional, self promotion and unpublished works. The contest is sponsored by Communications Arts Photography. If selected, awarding winning work will be reproduced in the 2009 Photography Annual and on the Communication Arts website, assuring a prominent place on the industry’s premier stage. www.commarts.com/competitions

New “New Yorker" Photo Competition
Judson Memorial Church invites all photographers, amateur and professional, to participate in a competition that captures the modern immigrant experience in the New York City area. Subject matter should feature scenes relating to the everyday lives of individuals who have recently relocated to New York from another country.

The competition is designed to create a greater awareness and appreciation of the experiences, challenges, and opportunities facing New York's new residents. http://www.judson.org

There is no entry fee. If sending physical copies address correspondence to Judson Memorial Church, Photo Contest, 55 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012.
January Stories
Photographer, Rick Dembow begins trial and lawsuit against
City of New York and NYPD
Former New York Post Photographer Rick Dembow will begin his trial and lawsuit against the City of New York and the New York Police Department on January 12, 2009 at the Manhattan Supreme Court. The suit names the city and police in causing a permanent injury, assault, false arrest, first amendment rights violations, improper supervision of officers in the field and numerous other charges. Additionally the suit seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

The well known news photographer with 20 years on the job with the NY Post and the NY Daily News responded to a routine hit and run incident on a city street in June 2004. The veteran news photographer was attempting to photograph the driver of the vehicle and the victim at the scene when he noticed news photographer Peter Foley was being arrested a short distance away for taking pictures of the same accident scene. As Rick Dembow attempted to photograph the arrest of Peter Foley an officer was instructed to arrest and handcuff Dembow.

Shortly afterwards Rick Dembow sustained an asthma attack in the back seat of a police car where the windows had been rolled up despite the outside heat, as well as injuries to his wrist from overly tightened handcuffs behind his back. The news photographer was taken to a 19th precinct holding cell and then by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of an asthma attack, where he was left handuffed to a hospital bed.

“If I am successful in my suit and I’m very confident I will be, this will open the door for every
press photographer and network videographer in New York City to legally challenge the city and police department each and every time a member of the news media is threatened, arrested,
or injured while on the job. It’s time the police department is challenged with their responsibility
in protecting our safety and our rights, while conducting our news gathering endeavors on public streets with the proper credentials. For additional information please contact Rubenstein and Rynecki at 718-522-1020.

William J. "Sandy" Colton, 83, R2 and life member
BLEECKER, NY (December 26, 2008) – NPPA Life Member William J. "Sandy" Colton, a writer and photographer and historian who was the former photography editor of the Washington Star during the years of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson, and later an editor for the Associated Press, who was a correspondent for Stars & Stripes during the Korean War, died Christmas Day at his dream home in upstate New York, a log cabin he built with his wife and friends.
See NPPA website http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2008/12/colton.html

Amtrak cops threaten arrest if you don’t delete your pictures
One who was arrested - sued and got thousand

The NPPA will join with other photo organizations to fight against Amtrak police who are threatening photographers with arrest for taking pictures in Penn Station.

One photographer was given the choice by Amtrak Police to delete his pictures or be arrested after having taken photos on a public platform in Penn Station recently.

A second was arrested, as was one of the two who refused to delete his images. Another photographer was confronted by MTA police in Penn Station who ordered him to delete images, or be arrested. This occurred despite there being no law against taking photos in public areas of Penn Station. One of the three won his case that occurred in February and collected thousands of dollars in compensation in June for his unlawful arrest for criminal trespass. Because of this earlier victory, we are optimistic that Amtrak and New York City will back off from this illegal “policy” of making laws – similar to that which was tried by the MTA more than two years ago when MTA Corporation Counsel Mary Mahon admitted to the ACLU at our behest that there was no law nor anything in the law that allowed a ban on photography. (CLICK HERE FOR PDF OF LETTERS). New Jersey Transit, which uses Penn Station, also backed off from banning photography on its system after a united outcry led by NPPA. (CLICK HERE FOR PDF LETTER)

Cliff Cole, spokesman for Amtrak refused to comment on any of the incidents that have occurred, but he said Amtrak has a “policy” whose rules do exist. However, when asked to send them to us, he said they were not in any written form that he could send to us. He said “policy” states that those riding the trains and having a ticket can take amateur photos. He said photos can be taken on the trains as long as it doesn’t obstruct the safe operation of the trains as prescribed by the conductor.

Cole stated that press photographers, professional and commercial photographers ”MUST” first contact Amtrak before taking photos.

Mickey H. Osterreicher, Esq., chief counsel to the NPPA said, “I will be very interested to see their written policy but whatever that may be it is not a statute or rule, which must be done through the legislative or administrative process (respectively). That clearly has not been done.”

We regard the continuing actions by some in government against photography in our transit systems as pure paranoia – and we urge our members to cooperate completely and show respect to authorities who in most cases, mean well and are only acting in a misguided effort to safeguard both the public and themselves from terrorism.

We will oppose any efforts to ban photography in our transit systems or harass photographers from doing their jobs or just fulfilling their past times in any public place.

In this case, it is ironic that Amtrak holds a photo contest each year that encourages both riders and hobbyists to take photos of their transit systems and trains. To see the contest, please go to: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Page
&c=am2Copy&cid=1093554048391

A photographer went into Penn Station, looking like a tourist, using a point and shoot camera and got good images and no one stopped her, except to say hi and ask if she needed any help. Might be worthwhile to keep a point and shoot handy just to get your job done!!!

Incidents must be questioned (and put in writing)

In the first instance, Michael Bortzman who lives just outside of Philadelphia, had come into Penn Station on a layover on his way to Massachusettes. He made the mistake of deciding to take photos of the train on the platform. Bortzman was on a lay-over in Penn Station and killing time, so he decided to do the unthinkable – take pictures. This terrible threat horror to public safety attracted the attention of Amtrak Police who threatened to arrest him if he didn’t delete his images.
The Officers said a train employee said he was on the tracks. But the employee then told officers that he did not see him on the tracks, only leaning over the edge. Bortzman told the officers he
was not leaning over and they could look at his pictures. The officer handcuffed Bortzman and confiscated his camera and charged him with criminal trespass despite him awaiting his train,
which he then missed.

It took him months to get the camera back which was “held as evidence.” The Amtak cops destroyed the security tapes, despite his efforts to get them. When Bortzman went to court on a criminal trespass charge, it was dismissed. Bortzman sued and got his camera back in addition to $2,000 from Amtrak, $1,000 in Amtrak vouchers and $2,000 from New York City for not dismissing the charges sooner.

See his site at http://acm.jhu.edu/~sthurmovik/Railpics/08-04-19_FORBIDDEN_SIGNALS/-Thumbnails.html

In the most recent case, Duane P. Kerzic of New Brunswick and a member of NPPA, was approached by Amtrak Officers Smith and Rusbarsky – one with a dog and the other with handcuffs. Kerzic (www.duanek.name ) refused because he did nothing wrong. The officers then arrested and handcuffed Kerzic and charged him – not with the unspeakable crime of photography in a public place, no, but criminal trespass – in a public train terminal – for which he had a ticket.

Needless to say, Kerzic is going to sue Amtrak.

Bennett Sell-Kline, was visiting from San Francisco in Penn Station when while changing trains, he was confronted by MTA police who ordered him to delete his photos, or be arrested. He thought quickly and pretended to erase his images rather than face arrest in a strange city.

We intend to fight these so called “policies” as nothing more than what the MTA did in 2006 when they couldn’t pass regulations to stop photography. Amtrak would turn photojournalists into criminals for no other reason than that they are professionals taking pictures – probably to cover themselves from liability.

Penn Station is a public train station and our position is that like other public facilities, freedom to take pictures should be preserved. We do not oppose officers asking questions and being respectfully questioning of photographers. But they have no right to say we cannot take photos and we will defend our rights to do so.

In the event you are arrested, please have your bust card recommendations ready CLICK HERE FOR COPY. Be courteous and remain silent. You are urged to make a voice recording of all conversations to protect yourself and to FOIA any security videos from the station early as tapes are erased 17 days after they are made.

Stay tuned for further actions from NPPA and other organizations will hopefully unite against this Amtrak “policy.”

Press being towed from Cadman Plaza despite city, feds giving permission
It would be nice if the city and feds were on the same page for parking at the Brooklyn Federal Court. On the day that three cops were being arraigned on charges of sodomizing a man in a Brooklyn subway station, Internal Affairs decides to tow our vehicles from Cadman Plaza, despite having permission from the Parks Department and US Marshal’s office to park on the sidewalk in
the park.

A letter from the city’s Parks Department, from Inspector Reed of the Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP), and distributed to members of the media, allows us to park on the sidewalk on Tillary Street adjacent to Cadman Plaza Park.  Previously, media parked inside the park, much to the dismay of Park officials. A compromise was reached as there is no other available parking because the Feds closed off all parking, including for members of the court, in front of the courthouse. In addition, an NYP zone on Adams Street has only three spaces, and is usually filled by federal employees.

The Brooklyn Federal Courthouse is usually the site of some of the biggest cases in the region. Calls to DCPI and Commissioner Ray Kelly’s office temporarily stopped the towing, but police were at it again days later. Therefore, we caution all photographers to try to find alternative parking, except when major cases are ongoing, and then, make sure you are blocked in by live trucks who tow drivers are much more reluctant to take.

For a copy of the letter, CLICK HERE. We don’t yet know if the letter will carry validity in the court, but we believe it will.

In the meantime, we are seeking additional NYP parking zones, hopefully to be set up along Tillary Street where concrete barriers currently sit to restrict vehicles from coming close to the courthouse.

ELECTIONS - USE YOUR VOTE TO SHOW SUPPORT
While there is no competition for the Region 2 Director Todd Maisel in this election, we urge you to vote for the associate director - either current Associate Director Mark Dye or William Cannon.

Dye is currently working as a full-time freelance photojournalist in the greater NYC area and is also a member of the New York Press Photographers Association. Cannon is currently the Multimedia Editor at the mid-sized Observer-Dispatch newspaper in upstate Utica, New York. He oversees the multimedia staff and coordinates the overall editorial content of our various online endeavors. He also serves on our corporate Ethics and Video Training committees.

Why cast your ballot? Your vote will help determine the direction of this organization and you may show your support for your current regional director. To cast your votes or see more on the candidates, go to http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2008/12/elect.html

Laptop travel can be easier with the right bag
If you travel with your laptop, your journey has just gotten a little bit easier with the introduction of Pathfinder’s computer bag that will allow you to pass through TSA screening without removing the computer and placing it in a bin by itself.

Three companies were racing to get similar bags out to the public after TSA changed the screening process in August for approved computer bags.  Solo introduced the CheckFast bag, Targus announced its Zip-Thru Corporate Traveler laptop case but Pathfinder got their Checkpoint Friendly  CompuBrief out first.  We tried one of their bags on four recent security screenings on trips out of New York to Louisville and Atlanta.

Loaded with a laptop, external hard drive, digital audio recorder, I-pods, small digital camera,  a card reader, cables, flash drives,  and a bunch of paperwork, I approached screening relatively sure that security personnel would question the computer remaining in the bag. I opened the bag, sent it through x-ray and re-zipped it with no hassle, no  problem and no delay. This was successfully repeated on my next three trips.

Pathfinder’s bag is made from a heavy duty, exceedingly durable black ballistic nylon and offers open, zippered and Velcro pouches divided into three compartments to organize your traveling mess. It’s priced around $150.00 and is available at Staples.

Canon says some counterfeit Batteries can hurt equipment
It has been confirmed that counterfeit Canon lithium-ion batteries and chargers for Canon digital cameras and digital video camcorders are in circulation. In addition, it has been reported that counterfeit batteries have been considered the cause of some battery ruptures.

In many cases, counterfeit batteries and chargers are not equipped with protective devices required to meet international quality standards. Therefore, when these batteries or chargers are used or charged, they can cause abnormal heat or leakage, ignition, rupture and other malfunctions in the batteries, chargers, and digital cameras and video camcorders. There is concern that, in the worst case, not only could digital cameras and digital video camcorders be damaged, but fire, burns, blindness and other severe accidents could occur. Thus, to ensure customer safety, we urge our customers not to use counterfeit devices.

Please be advised that Canon is not responsible, and will not be liable, for any malfunctions, damages or injuries caused by non-Canon genuine lithium-ion batteries and/or battery chargers including, without limitation, counterfeit devices.

Recently, both in Japan and overseas, counterfeits of Canon's genuine lithium-ion battery packs and chargers have been frequently offered for sale on the Internet. Accordingly, please use caution when purchasing Canon lithium-ion battery packs and chargers on the Internet to ensure that they are genuine Canon brand.

Canon's genuine lithium-ion batteries have security labels on their packaging that identify them as genuine Canon products. When purchasing battery packs, please refer to this information.

NY POST’s Gary Miller presented NYABJ 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Anthony Ramsay, President of the New York Association of Black Journalists announced that Gary Miller, photographer from the New York Post will receive the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award in Photography.

Every year NYABJ honors journalists for their outstanding coverage of issues regarding communities of color; here in NewYork and around the world. We also recognize the lifetime achievements of those who have paved the way for others, set an example of excellence in their lives and perhaps sacrificed some part of themselves to do it.

Miller will receive his award on Wednesday, February 25th in the Low Library Rotunda at 6pm.  Other honorees that night will include The Network Journal, Columbia University's June Cross and Community Service recipient Tawana Tibbs. NYABJ is a volunteer organization of more than 500 journalists and associates who are committed to diversity in journalism and to the community.  NYABJ also provides several scholarships to help some of those young people pursue their college education. www.nyabj.org

Photo Briefs
Hoy is gone
We regret to tell you that yet another paper has failed. The Spanish language newspaper Hoy, closed its doors and will operate only on the web.

Newsday lays off photogs
Numerous photographers lost their jobs this month at Long Island Newsday.  It is pitiful that financiers such as Sam Zell have helped hasten the destruction of the news business as we know it with leverage buyouts that have damaged us all. A few survived the layoffs because they worked to expand their skills through learning, classes, and attending things like the Northern Short Course and Multimedia Immersions sponsored by NSC.

Calendar Items
J&R New Years Sale
Entire block on sale for our great New Year's Celebration through January 5th.
Log on to JR.com to download valuable $15.00 savings coupon. See store for details.
Open New Year's Day 10:30-6:30 p.m.