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OnlyFootprints
Total Likes: 130 likes
| | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 1 on 8/9/2017 8:56 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by laurel Hello everyone, I was just curious of who actually asks for permission to photograph/explore a location, and who just finds their way in without it? If you ask permission, what tools do you use to find the owners of the property? How do you contact them and what do you usually say? I found a property that I would love to explore (it's an abandoned church), and would love to take some photos. However, the location is on a busy highway, and I know I will get caught snooping. I'm not sure how to really go about asking permission. I did find the names and contact information of the church's owner, and thought it may be better to ask permission first, but on the other hand, the front door is wide open.
Thanks guys (and girls).
| Here is my take on this, and please take into account I'm in Los Angeles where everybody wants money , insurance, for access to property. Or they want to sue the shit out of you when you get caught trespassing. 1- Asking permission: Depending on the location this usually ends with a fat "No". Especially with bigger locations like old hospitals, commercial buildings etc. The owners are crazy worried about liability and (out here) are looking to cash in on any Hollywood films or commercials. The risk here is that once you ask and get denied , now you're on their radar should you try and enter the location without permission. I have had 2 locations give me the OK to access, but now that social media has made everyone a photographer/explorer the rate at which these spots get blown out has created a real headache for property owners. 2- Finding the owners of a location- Google. It's pretty simple to track down a property owner if you know the address of where you want to explore. The only exception are the smaller towns and more rural areas that don't have as much of an internet presence.
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| Rinzler
Location: New Jersey Gender: Neither Total Likes: 857 likes
Nomad
| | | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 2 on 8/9/2017 10:08 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Ive been told yes more times than no. Having a state job or a job that is more respected, most of the times will get you a yes. Say you work for the state highway division, police officer,firefighter,etc as opposed to McDonalds or Walmart. Or even having shitty insurance will decide the factor since sometimes the owner will require you to buy insurance. I used to work for state corrections in Texas and I was able to get permission for 5 hospitals, various prisons, theaters, etc. I believe I was only told no once or twice? Now I'm back up in New Jersey and most of the time I can get a yes more times than no. But then there are some places where permission will never be granted, unless you know somebody who works there or for the company. Power plants, underground stuff, etc. I recently got told no for BCT but thats the type of place where you have to know somebody. Like OnlyFootprints said, it also depends where you are located. Getting permission for stuff in LA will never work, unless you offer up thousands of dollars. Same with NYC, Boston, etc. Unless its a private owner who doesnt really care. Sometimes finding who owns it is easy. Look for a sign outside the location, go online and check the address, or if its state owned, just look for the website and start annoyi...I mean emailing people to see who is the right person to talk to. Normally you can always find out who owns it with the help of the internet. Once you ask for permission and get told no, if you do decide to go anyway, don't get caught. You can guarantee the owner will press charges if the police don't.
[last edit 8/9/2017 10:10 PM by Rinzler - edited 1 times]
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| Aran
Location: Kansas City Gender: Male Total Likes: 1844 likes
Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.
| | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 5 on 8/10/2017 6:08 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | I've asked permission before. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they say no. Sometimes they say "yes, but stay out of [certain area]". On one hand, you could get (mostly) unrestricted legal access to a site if they say yes. On the other hand, you lose the "I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be here" defense if they say no. It's up to you which one is worth what risk. In your particular situation, I think it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. Walk quickly and confidently, but approach from the back until you get close. Most people are apathetic about tresspassers who act like they belong. If all goes well, the owner never has to know.
[last edit 8/10/2017 6:13 AM by Aran - edited 1 times]
| "Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there. |
| DarkAngel
Gender: Male Total Likes: 275 likes
His operating system is unstable.
| | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 6 on 8/10/2017 6:22 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by KD20 A good tool for finding private owners is the county auditor's site. Usually, the location is searchable by owner name, address, or parcel number. The address of the owner is usually listed so, if nothing else, you could at least mail them something if you can't find something more convenient like an email address. I've typically had good luck with asking permission. How you present yourself goes a long way. As for what to say, I usually go with the photography or history angle, telling them I research similar buildings as a personal project.
| This. Find out the address and then look it up on your county assessment page. Should tell you who the owner is. Then you just have to find their contact info if possible. Personally, unless I know it's 100% abandoned, I ask on anywhere I go. Not worth it, especially in places like Alaska, Texas, and several other states where you can get shot if the property owner is there and feels threatened. Btw, if you do ask and get told no, there is zero way to get out of a trespassing charge. So weigh your options.
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| laurel
Location: Arkansas Gender: Female Total Likes: 14 likes
Twitter: @laurshaye
| | | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 10 on 8/11/2017 4:21 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by Rinzler Ive been told yes more times than no. Having a state job or a job that is more respected, most of the times will get you a yes. Say you work for the state highway division, police officer,firefighter,etc as opposed to McDonalds or Walmart. Or even having shitty insurance will decide the factor since sometimes the owner will require you to buy insurance. I used to work for state corrections in Texas and I was able to get permission for 5 hospitals, various prisons, theaters, etc. I believe I was only told no once or twice? Now I'm back up in New Jersey and most of the time I can get a yes more times than no. But then there are some places where permission will never be granted, unless you know somebody who works there or for the company. Power plants, underground stuff, etc. I recently got told no for BCT but thats the type of place where you have to know somebody.
| Oh wow, good idea. And what kind of insurance can you get for exploring?
| - Laurel Twitter: @laurelexplores |
| Explorer Zero
Total Likes: 2026 likes
| | | | Re: Getting Permission to Visit a Location < Reply # 17 on 8/11/2017 7:07 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by laurel
Yeah I've been having a hard time finding things on google for the locations I've been finding. I do live in rural Arkansas so that's probably why... I did find the address to the place I want to visit. I'll just keep trying to search on google. It'll probably take some deep searching since I'm not in the city necessarily.
| Don't forget Google Earth you can fly over just about anywhere, be mindful of the imagery dates. I'll respond to the other advice by saying: Posted by DarkAngel Personally, unless I know it's 100% abandoned, I ask on anywhere I go. Not worth it, especially in places like Alaska, Texas, and several other states where you can get shot if the property owner is there and feels threatened.
| There is some degree of truth to this. Youre not likely to get capped by one of us Texas rednecks just for being on our land, in broad daylight. You may get stopped, held at gun point for the sheriff's deputy, but in most cases just yelled at and run off. If you really want avoid being shot on sight (on site) don't back a cattle trailer up to someone's loading pens or a tanker truck up to someone's oil tank battery. Or prowl around on active homestead type properties after dark. Theres an old sign that says: "anyone found here at night will be found here in the morning" it does indeed apply in some places. Posted by Peptic Ulcer The most successful approach I have found when asking permission is to tell the person you are writing a book about historical buildings.
| Well thats just lying to people isn't it? I guess everyone has to decide the ethics of this for themselves, but its basically lying unless you really are writing a book. Not worth compromising my principals to get in for some pics that way. Posted by Steed I have a lanyard with a security card showing my name, face, and the newspaper I work for. It's worked for getting me on a couple roofs when there were protests below.
| Now THIS ^ is social engineering folks, letting people such as passersby come to their own conclusions about who, what and why youre there. It is not the same as outright lying to people at least in my book. When I photographed a building implosion near a DART rail station a few years ago we spotted some guy just strolling down the tracks with a camera and an orange transit authority vest from some other city. He didn't belong there and the DART transit cops challenged him but he flashed some ID and they looked at each other and let him go. I suspect it was a social engineering ruse that worked. Anyway he got better close up shots than I did
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