Anyone take photos while on the train?

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Photoggirl

Guest
Anyone ever take photos of passengers or crew while riding on the trains? Would love to see some if you have. Im a photographer and Im planning on taking photos of interesting passengers or crew, to just document life on an Amtrak.
 
I strongly encourage you to ask Crew members permission first! Some crew may not like to be photographed for personal reasons. So just ask them, "Hey! Is it ok if I take a photo of you"? If not don't take it personal I can think of at least half a dozen reasons they may not want their photo taken. Passengers as well.
 
Just to verify, you're going to ask those people for permission before taking photos of them, right? And you can find photos of Amtrak passengers and staff basically anywhere. It might save you some time to just go on google and search for "people on Amtrak" or "Amtrak on board crew" or something like that. Just a tip.

EDIT: You beat me to it by like two seconds.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
With Street Photography, which is basically what Im talking about doing, its basically taking candid shots of people going about their lives so no I dont ever ask for permission because it ruins the moment. However if asked I would delete them.
 
With Street Photography, which is basically what Im talking about doing, its basically taking candid shots of people going about their lives so no I dont ever ask for permission because it ruins the moment. However if asked I would delete them.
Yeah, I would not recommend just taking photos of random people on the train without asking. I get that asking might "ruin the moment", but a lot of people might get upset if they see someone taking a photo of them without permission, especially if you're trying to do it subtly and not get their attention. At minimum you should let them know afterward that you took the picture and ask if they're okay with it. But I do not think it's a good idea to just take a bunch of photos of people and only delete them if the person happened to notice and specifically asks you to delete it.
 
With Street Photography, which is basically what Im talking about doing, its basically taking candid shots of people going about their lives so no I dont ever ask for permission because it ruins the moment. However if asked I would delete them.
Yeah, I would not recommend just taking photos of random people on the train without asking. I get that asking might "ruin the moment", but a lot of people might get upset if they see someone taking a photo of them without permission, especially if you're trying to do it subtly and not get their attention. At minimum you should let them know afterward that you took the picture and ask if they're okay with it. But I do not think it's a good idea to just take a bunch of photos of people and only delete them if the person happened to notice and specifically asks you to delete it.
I agree with this fully. Especially photographing employees. ALWAYS ask permission of the employees you want to photograph. Many employees don't mind. But there are a few that do mind. I heard this story here on AU from a member who recently passed away. Someone took a photo of an employee who was on their cell phone conducting company business, that person posted the photo online. That employee although on a phone call related to company business was brought up on charges and got in trouble. That person that took the photo didn't ask if they could take a photo. They did and that employee got in trouble.

DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OF EMPLOYEES WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THAT EMPLOYEE!!!
 
I feel that a train is a public place, and it is fine to take pictures of people. Who knows, maybe their computer is taking a picture of me?

IMG_6602.jpg

IMG_6957.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoB
With Street Photography, which is basically what Im talking about doing, its basically taking candid shots of people going about their lives so no I dont ever ask for permission because it ruins the moment. However if asked I would delete them.
Yeah, I would not recommend just taking photos of random people on the train without asking. I get that asking might "ruin the moment", but a lot of people might get upset if they see someone taking a photo of them without permission, especially if you're trying to do it subtly and not get their attention. At minimum you should let them know afterward that you took the picture and ask if they're okay with it. But I do not think it's a good idea to just take a bunch of photos of people and only delete them if the person happened to notice and specifically asks you to delete it.
I agree with this fully. Especially photographing employees. ALWAYS ask permission of the employees you want to photograph. Many employees don't mind. But there are a few that do mind. I heard this story here on AU from a member who recently passed away. Someone took a photo of an employee who was on their cell phone conducting company business, that person posted the photo online. That employee although on a phone call related to company business was brought up on charges and got in trouble. That person that took the photo didn't ask if they could take a photo. They did and that employee got in trouble.

DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OF EMPLOYEES WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THAT EMPLOYEE!!!
There's also the risk that you happen upon a very strict and/or angry employee (Amtrak has many) who makes a big deal out of it, and then you could be in real trouble. I've heard multiple stories about people who got detained or even kicked off the train for taking pictures of staff and even Amtrak equipment. That's of course highly unlikely, but you could very well get a pretty unpleasant talking to from the employee or maybe the conductor.

My point is, at the end of the day, isn't it just simpler and better fir everybody to just ask before taking a photo?
 
With Street Photography, which is basically what Im talking about doing, its basically taking candid shots of people going about their lives so no I dont ever ask for permission because it ruins the moment. However if asked I would delete them.
Riding on Amtrak is not the same as walking down a public street. It may be called public transportation but it's on private property. Offering to delete easily recoverable photos means nothing in the digital age. In my view the best way to handle this is to ask people early in the trip if you can have permission to photograph them later in the journey. That gives your subjects the option to decline your request while giving you the ability to catch those who agree in a relaxed and casual state.

I feel that a train is a public place, and it is fine to take pictures of people. Who knows, maybe their computer is taking a picture of me?
There is a world of difference between accidentally including a random bystander next to a friend and intentionally photographing an identifiable stranger surreptitiously. When I'm on private property in an area that is not normally visible from a public street or sidewalk I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Rather than just assume I won't mind it's better to ask and keep things honest and pleasant.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It is a sensitive subject, rather like photographing children without permission these days...

My understanding of "the law" in the UK is that you can take photos of people without their permission, but I agree that "natural" rather than posed photos are hard to come by once you ask permission.

In some ways, you are using subjects as free raw material for your "documentary"... How will you feel if others use your work for their own ends, without your permission?

Ed.
 
I feel that a train is a public place, and it is fine to take pictures of people.
Yes, the train is a public place.

But it is one thing to take a picture of the train with people boarding or the entire car length with the back of people’s heads. It is totally another thing to focus exclusively on the couple in seats 7 & 8 or the family in the Family Room without their permission.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I take random pictures of folks once in a while in public settings. I have a long lens and am very seldom seen. I want no one posing for the camera. Busy street corners, county fairs, rodeos, general outdoor venues. Have some wonderful photographs. I would ask first on a train however.
 
It is a sensitive subject, rather like photographing children without permission these days...

My understanding of "the law" in the UK is that you can take photos of people without their permission, but I agree that "natural" rather than posed photos are hard to come by once you ask permission.

In some ways, you are using subjects as free raw material for your "documentary"... How will you feel if others use your work for their own ends, without your permission?

Ed.
If a Street Photographer took photos of me and posted them online Id have no problem.
 
Last edited:
Lots of opinions, not a lot of actual policy, which can be found here:

https://www.amtrak.com/photography-video-recording-policy

The relevant bit:

3. Ticketed Passengers on platforms may photograph or video record during the time they are preparing to board or immediately after alighting from a train. Equipment is limited to hand-held devices. Such photography, including equipment set-up will be done in a reasonable, safe and timely manner.

4. Ticketed passengers on board trains may take photos or video record on a train when it does not interfere with passengers or crew and in accordance with any directions given by Amtrak onboard train personnel.
You're good, unless a crew member tells you to stop.

That isn't to say that you *should*, that's a matter of personal preference and manners. Nor is it to say that you won't have a problem with some unruly crew member that doesn't understand their employers photo policies. Take pictures on and around trains, and you'll have an incident. Mine was on WMATA, I was in the right, and the police concurred with me once they arrived. After raising hell with management after the fact, I got some meaningless apologies and promises to train their employees better.

But, as long as you follow crew directions, you have the policy on your side, which should (but doesn't always) count for something.
 
Lots of opinions, not a lot of actual policy, which can be found here:

https://www.amtrak.com/photography-video-recording-policy

The relevant bit:

3. Ticketed Passengers on platforms may photograph or video record during the time they are preparing to board or immediately after alighting from a train. Equipment is limited to hand-held devices. Such photography, including equipment set-up will be done in a reasonable, safe and timely manner.

4. Ticketed passengers on board trains may take photos or video record on a train when it does not interfere with passengers or crew and in accordance with any directions given by Amtrak onboard train personnel.
You're good, unless a crew member tells you to stop.
So far as I am aware Amtrak cannot give one passenger permission to photograph another passenger against their will. I guess that's where the vague concept of "interference" comes into play. If a stranger happens to notice you photographing them covertly they may react in a seriously adversarial manner that could cut the trip short for both of you. Anyone who assumes all strangers are fair game regardless of disposition is either really good at hiding their efforts or they probably haven't been doing this very long. I've seen careless folks lose the use of expensive looking cameras and phones over confrontations about respecting privacy and invading personal space. Better safe than sorry I would think.
 
From a legal perspective, you don’t need Amtrak’s permission to take pictures of somewhere that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

They permit photography on their trains (within the above quoted guidelines), and I don’t need a random stranger’s permission to take their picture in the common area of a train.

As you and I both correctly note, none of that is worth a bit when someone takes offense at your photography and takes a swing at you, damaging your gear or worse.

But that’s a personal decision for the OP to take. Everyone takes risks in life, it’s up to them if they want to take this particular one. For whatever little it’s worth, the law and Amtrak’s policy are on their side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoB
How you use an image matters. It is generally ok to photograph where people have no expectation of privacy. Personal use or news stories is one thing, commercial use or selling products with an image or peoples images for a profit, and you get into whole different ballgame. That's when "model releases" usually come into play.
 
It is a sensitive subject, rather like photographing children without permission these days...

My understanding of "the law" in the UK is that you can take photos of people without their permission, but I agree that "natural" rather than posed photos are hard to come by once you ask permission.

In some ways, you are using subjects as free raw material for your "documentary"... How will you feel if others use your work for their own ends, without your permission?

Ed.
If a Street Photographer took photos of me and posted them online Id have no problem.
I understand that, but not everybody feels that way. For example, I personally would not want someone surreptitiously taking pictures of me, and especially not if they were going to post it online.

All we're saying is that people have a right to know that someone is photographing them, and opt out if they want to. As Devil's Advocate said, maybe you could ask people early on in the trip if they would be willing to be photographed later on. That way they'd still be going about their normal business and you could get some candids. I'm just saying that I really recommend those people give their consent before being photographed, since it's their right to not want to.
 
From a legal perspective, you don’t need Amtrak’s permission to take pictures of somewhere that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

They permit photography on their trains (within the above quoted guidelines), and I don’t need a random stranger’s permission to take their picture in the common area of a train.

As you and I both correctly note, none of that is worth a bit when someone takes offense at your photography and takes a swing at you, damaging your gear or worse.

But that’s a personal decision for the OP to take. Everyone takes risks in life, it’s up to them if they want to take this particular one. For whatever little it’s worth, the law and Amtrak’s policy are on their side.
There's the legal perspective and the basic human decency perspective. People should be able to give consent before someone takes a photo of them, especially when it's a photo specifically of them (rather than a wide shot of say the whole train car which includes a bunch of people but doesn't focus on any of them), and ESPECIALLY when it will be posted online.
 
From a legal perspective, you don’t need Amtrak’s permission to take pictures of somewhere that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy.

They permit photography on their trains (within the above quoted guidelines), and I don’t need a random stranger’s permission to take their picture in the common area of a train.

As you and I both correctly note, none of that is worth a bit when someone takes offense at your photography and takes a swing at you, damaging your gear or worse.

But that’s a personal decision for the OP to take. Everyone takes risks in life, it’s up to them if they want to take this particular one. For whatever little it’s worth, the law and Amtrak’s policy are on their side.
There's the legal perspective and the basic human decency perspective. People should be able to give consent before someone takes a photo of them, especially when it's a photo specifically of them (rather than a wide shot of say the whole train car which includes a bunch of people but doesn't focus on any of them), and ESPECIALLY when it will be posted online.
As I recall, you have posted pics on AU with closeups of strangers.
 
Your view and perspective on how things should be are not aligned with current law. You have no expectation of privacy when you’re in a public space. There is (and has been, long before digital cameras or the internet) a thriving facet of the photography hobby dedicated to street photography that captures people as they go about their daily business.

There always exists the difference between “can” and “should”, but the discussion needs to be framed in the reality of today’s legal environment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoB
Please DO NOT take recognizable pictures of people anywhere without their permission, not in this modern world. It may be legal, but it is rude, inconsiderate, and could even be dangerous to someone (say a battered wife who has left her husband and he sees her picture and recognizes where the photo was taken?)

There is already no privacy anywhere now for decent people--please do not make it worse.

I never, ever want any stranger taking my picture, and I only want my friends doing it if they ask first. And no, I have nothing to hide--I just value my privacy highly.

Take as many pictures of as many trains as you want--most trains are more interesting and have more personality than many people, anyway.
 
From a legal perspective, you don’t need Amtrak’s permission to take pictures of somewhere that they have no reasonable expectation of privacy. They permit photography on their trains (within the above quoted guidelines), and I don’t need a random stranger’s permission to take their picture in the common area of a train.
I'm not sure the law is as "on their side" as you say. I think you could make an excellent case for a reasonable expectation of privacy at your assigned long distance coach seat or virtually anywhere in a sleeper car. I'll concede that it would be perfectly normal to get caught in a photo while walking down the aisle in a lounge or dining car but if you're sitting with your family in a booth on Amtrak while a stranger is focusing their photography on your booth from another booth that could be seen as an unreasonable invasion of your privacy. Photography law is clear cut in some previously well litigated areas, but in virtually any other situation it's still up to interpretation. Just to be clear I'm coming at this from the perspective of photographer liability, not Amtrak liability.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I specifically and explicitly used the phrase “common area of the train” for that exact reason.

We could probably have a vigorous debate about coach seats, most of the case law on expectations of privacy while aboard public transit centers around searches of police and luggage in overhead racks. Generally speaking, the courts have ruled that officers smelling or touching soft sided bags don’t violate an expectation of privacy, so a photo of something or someone in plain view at their seat is probably on the side of legal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DoB
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top