Good follow-up TH. - Justin Korn

As I commented earlier, the employee in question acted outside the rules set by MOMA and took it apon himself to have a person ejected DESPITE other people in the gallery performing the same actions. As "Director of Visitor Relations", you are not some type of low level employee, you are a person who is the public face of an organisation. - Johnny Worthington

I think it's SFist, SF Fist sounds like a completely different site... - Phill Price

Phill +1 - Johnny Worthington

I like that you also mentioned the general harassment photographers are facing everywhere. It concerns me that this is getting to be commonplace in our society. -

thanks Phill, I'll correct that in the post :) - Thomas Hawk

I am with JMS but would add the photograhy 'IS A CRIME' virus has also infected the UK and France. - Mel Buckpitt

increasingly I'm hearing stories of harassment in the UK. I think much of the recent harassment in the UK can be directly attributed to a public campaign on the part of the UK's Metropolitan Police to demonize photography. http://thomashawk.com/2008... - Thomas Hawk

Excellent followup. I can't wait to hear the response to this issue form Simon and the SF MOMA. - Jeff P. Henderson

powerful, thanks for sharing your experiance - sean percival

I attended the Ekka this weekend (Queensland, Australia's version of a state fair) with the intention of photographing it. I rang the organisers before hand and they said while it is not allowed, they will not enforce it. The Terms Of Entry signage outside also said photography or video is not allowed. Within 50 meters from the front gate, I counted at least 11 DSLR in use. If these rules are going to be created, they must be enforced or face this type of situation occuring. Luckily, I was not 'Blinted'... - Johnny Worthington

@tv the UK stuff is blown out of proportion and the met only covers London where u shoot daily without harm - Phill Price

It's nice to read a follow up story after everyones emotions quieted down. - Bob Gannon

Consider the fact that Thomas did take the time to follow-up. Reading other posts from over the weekend, I really think this got blown way out of proportion. It's almost surreal. - Charlie Anzman

Not sure what planet I was on yesterday but I completely missed this whole incident till I saw @stevenhodson 's post on it . I have had similar, but not as direct, experiences over the past couple of days...more to say about this on the blog later. - Karoli

I don't think this is blown out of proportion because too many photographers are experiencing harassment. Seriously people, we need to wake and up and start making some changes before our rights are taken away. I know this many sound extreme, but it all starts with a small act that no one says anything about or objects to. -

JMS... I guess the TWiP guys are gonna sell out of their 'Photography Is Not A Crime' shirts real fast! (I'm still getting a Hey Everybody!) - Johnny Worthington

@Thomas: Thank you for following up (and listening to your wife about the choice of language on your original post). Like Jeff and others, I also wish the museum would respond somehow. - David Muir

Shakespere does have a way with words, Gregory. I agree. Surely this could have been settled with a nice, civil letter to the management? Sticks and stones, you know? - Roberto Bonini

gotta forgive him at some point, or you'll be dragging it around the rest of your days. imo. - Josh Haley

Good post Thomas. I disagree Gregory. Because this incident has already received so much attention it requires clarification. Search google for Simon Blint... - Rafael Robayna

One of the things that bothers me about this whole affair is just the issue of Googling for Simon Blint. It turns up hundreds of references to Mr. Blint, calling him jerk, asshole and will likely permanently affect his future job prospects, From TH's account (which no doubt is truthful), his actions were objectionable and uncalled for. But Thomas does not have to worry about future job issues and searches in the same way. He is hiding behind an alias -maybe hiding is too strong a word but he is using an alias (as he freely admits), - Brian Sullivan

Very well said Thomas. - Shey, Jamaican of FF

You know, it looks to me like photographing people in public without their consent is actually illegal in Canada - see http://www.stevekwan.com/archive... and http://www.cbc.ca/technol... - due to privacy laws. Clearly unenforceable, and I know it doesn't apply in this case, but it's interesting. I bet European (and UK) laws are similar. - Owen Byrne

I don't know who's right and who's wrong here, but if I ever see Thomas Hawk in my neighborhood, I am staying the hell out of his way. Seriously, this kind of contretemps scares the shit out of me. I'm a teacher. What if some day one of my students' parents decides to blog about something I innocently said or did in class that happened to piss him off? How long before my home phone and kids' pictures are all over the web? If you think it can't happen to you, well, don't be so sure. - Nathan Rein

For those awaiting a response from SF MoMA - to my knowledge they haven't issued one yet, but people started posting comments on an unrelated post in the SF MoMA blog. Suzanne from SF MoMA ended up responding, but she said that she didn't know the scope of the complaints and couldn't weigh in, and could everyone please stay on topic? http://blog.sfmoma.org/2008... - Ontario Emperor

@Owen, As you pointed out, Thomas is in the US where it is Not illegal to take photos of people in public places. Usage of the image is where permission or release comes into play. For non commercial and news related uses permission and releases are generally not required. Of course there is always common courtesy. If someone asks nicely not to be photographed I certainly oblige. Thomas has stated many times that he fallows this mantra also. Of course that was not the case in this instance. - Jeff P. Henderson

@Jeff, I just brought it up because I take pictures myself, and I am in Canada, and I sometimes feel uncomfortable taking pictures of strangers and posting them on flickr (especially children or teenagers). But I never thought it would be illegal. - Owen Byrne

Good follow up. People really should be careful how they act in public. You never know who's got a camera. :-) - Jeremy Brooks

This has been a very interesting event to follow. I would love to hear a reaction from the MOMA to see if they are paying attention. - Michael

Quick note: fiasco means failure. - Alexei Tolkachev

Regarding MOMA's response, the only reactions I've seen were a comment in the MOMA blog and two verbal replies to Mona's post. It sounds like a response is being prepared. - Ontario Emperor

sometimes I think that the security guards need to pass around headshots of Thomas with a note attatched that says "Leave alone -- will cause bad publicity". The rest of the time, I just figure that they already have been passing around his headshot, which is why he gets stopped much more often than anybody else. - Wirehead

The reason he gets hassled more than anyone else is that he probably shoots photos more than anyone else. He carries his camera everywhere, so he's bound to run into people who object to it's presents or object to being the subject of his photos. I've seen him shoot and anyone that has knows he gets very focused on what he is doing, almost to the point of possibly not knowing who is around him or what is going on near him. - Jeff P. Henderson

(cont) What probably happens sometimes is that he will be busy shooting and someone will make an expression or gesture of displeasure to his activities or his presents. He might not even notice. The next thing you know the person gets annoyed and confronts him. I can easily see this scenario happening. - Jeff P. Henderson

Leather, Have to agree with you on the renegade photography part. This has always rubbed me the wrong way. I think Lane Hartwell gave a comprehensive summary and opinion here. http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008... But in this case I don't think that was the issue as he was clearly shooting in an area that he was allowed. - Jeff P. Henderson

For those who haven't read SF MoMA's statement, here it is. And it's not an apology. http://www.sfmoma.org/press... - Ontario Emperor

I have simple question how or what reasoning can any public figure of an art institute submit that suddenly denies an art patron their art patronage simply because they take photographs? Is there a sing that states "you lose your art patronage rights if you carry anything with a camera lens?" What we had here was miss communication between two art patrons f''ed up by a very naive public rep. - Fred Grott