AgX wrote:
The answers to your questions sound like something almost assuredly decided by the laws of the specific jurisdiction in question, and the way those local laws are enforced (or not).

So ask the state police?

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
Can natural public lands be rented in order to make such shoots perfectly fine?

No

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
Is it likely that if caught shooting nudes in public places like a preserve (but clear with the intent of being remote) that one will be charged as a sex offender?

No, not likely, but possible. Depends on many factors such as state laws, local officials, and luck.

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
Particularly if a young person walks in on it?

Still not likely and the young person themselves are a lesser danger in this regard. Now, if it's not a young person but LE and they determine that it could possibly be within view of young people, then you've upped your chances of prosecution.

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
Can natural public lands be rented in order to make such shoots perfectly fine?

No.

Out of sight out of mind, is a good way to look at risk reduction. Keep the nudity from being viewed by people not involved is a good procedure even when you're in private places. (you could be in your own home and draw a charge if viewable - depending on levels of nudity, location, local officials, etc.)

However, it is possible to photograph people nude, in public spaces. Many photographers have done so. The above answers are for photographer/model teams with no expertise, and little organization or knowledge. Check out someone like Spencer Tunick for examples of large works involving public nudity.

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
So ask the state police?

I’m not sure the state police are likely to be either the ones responding to a call or the ones possibly prosecuting anyone. Questions of local ordinances, and the understanding of the risks surrounding them, are probably best referred to (county/city/township) lawyers well-versed in the laws in question, who practice within the jurisdiction in question.

Hunter  GWPB wrote:
The state police, unless they are the ones serving that municipality, aren't going to address local laws and ordinances. Ask the cop that is going to respond to the call.  The call, the interpretation of the call by the dispatcher and the officer's own personal attitude is going to shape his/her response.  The caller may call in a sexual assault in progress.  Their own hysterical response will shape what they say.  Or, like Amy Cooper, they are trying to provoke a more severe encounter.

Sex offenses are usually crimes that involve an unwilling participant.  Here is something regarding new York. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/P3THA130    But then, there is this:  https://www.shanephelpslaw.com/the-atti … r-public-/

New York permits topless women in New York City if it is non-commercial.  Does that extend to the rest of the state?  https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way … -legal-ish

Public nudity:
https://www.justia.com/criminal/offense … indecency/

That's Texas though. I don't expect anything reasonable there. Lol.

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:
That's Texas though. I don't expect anything reasonable there. Lol.

I would hope that it would be harder to find such a case in upstate New York.  You think it would be impossible?  I got a name for you, but I don't want to cross the line into politics on this thread.

Mad Hatter Imagery wrote:

So ask the state police?

If you're talking of actual Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, they are ultimately under the Federal gov through the dept. of the Interior.
Though the local agencies probably respond to incidents on BLM land they probably hate to do so since they don't administer them.
As to renting them, this is a guess but I would think there are movies filmed on BLM land and permits are pulled.
BLM lands can be pretty remote so I wouldn't think there is a great risk of a little kid stumbling onto you or anyone else for that matter, permit or no permit!!
John

Rhea Monson wrote:
The eleventh court of appeals ruled in 1954 ,--nudity without an act of lewdness, is not indecent exposure.  (Sadly enough, most cops, lawyers, and some judges don't know that.)

Do you have the citation available? I'd like to see what they found, since I often shoot outdoor nudes.

Rhea Monson wrote:
The eleventh court of appeals ruled in 1954 ,--nudity without an act of lewdness, is not indecent exposure.  (Sadly enough, most cops, lawyers, and some judges don't know that.)

Modelphilia wrote:
Do you have the citation available? I'd like to see what they found, since I often shoot outdoor nudes.

Just to keep the facts straight.  You might not like it but the Supreme Court has definitely ruled that the States may choose to ban public nudity.

"Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc., 501 U.S. 560 (1991), was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the First Amendment and the ability of the government to outlaw certain forms of expressive conduct. It ruled that the state has the constitutional authority to ban public nudity, even as part of expressive conduct such as dancing, because it furthers a substantial government interest in protecting the morality and order of society."

It's important to note that as a result of these powers, SPECIFIC LOCAL LAWS on the subject VARY GREATLY, depending on where you are.  In some states, just being topless in public is an act of indecent exposure.

John Silva Photography wrote:
If you're talking of actual Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, they are ultimately under the Federal gov through the dept. of the Interior.
Though the local agencies probably respond to incidents on BLM land they probably hate to do so since they don't administer them.
As to renting them, this is a guess but I would think there are movies filmed on BLM land and permits are pulled.
BLM lands can be pretty remote so I wouldn't think there is a great risk of a little kid stumbling onto you or anyone else for that matter, permit or no permit!!
John

I have never encountered BLM (Bureau of Land management) Lands in Pennsylvania.  Based on your comment, I checked out the Eastern Management unit (31 states) to see what might be available.

Maybe this is of some help to somebody
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files … iction.pdf
https://www.blm.gov/maps
https://www.blm.gov/office/northeastern-states

Public lands In Pennsylvania:  ( I am not telling you that all these places are safe to shoot nudes or recommending you so.  Results may vary.)
United State National Parks (tend to be historic areas with more tourists, but some with expansive forests and fields) National Forest (just the Allegheny that I know of)
Extensive State Parks  (partially open to hunting)
Extensive State Forests (open to hunting)
Pennsylvania Game Lands (open to hunting; some very large tracts with interesting features, most of the year these have few people; )
County and municipal parks
Along the Appalachian Trail and lots of side trails
Rails to trails and river corridors
Pennsylvania State University experimental forests and other lands (often often to hunting)

*(Rattlesnakes (protected species) and Copperheads are possible to encounter.  Black Bear are possible.)

*Regarding areas open to hunting: spring turkey season and fall hunting seasons would be dangerous, watch out for long range varmint hunters in the summer.  It is a good idea to wear a florescent orange hat whenever you are walking around in the woods and fields in hunting country here, no mater the time of year.  Never wear white in the autumn or early winter- you will look like parts of a white tailed deer. 

*Lots of ticks:  Try Sawyer tick repellent.

*know what you doing in some of these places.  The terrain is dangerous.

GRMACK wrote:
"In which state is it legal for women to be topless in public?"

And all of Canada.

Our Supreme Court noted that those laws only barred women from being topless and did not apply to men.  They ruled that was gender discrimination and struck down the laws.

GRMACK wrote:
Little quiz:

"In which state is it legal for women to be topless in public?"

A. Nevada
B. California
C. Utah
D. Oregon
E. Arizona

Answer made by 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is opposite of the 9th Circuit Court that controls the other states.

https://www.abc4.com/news/in-utah-women … in-public/

Sort of fun to poke at my Mormon friends with that one as they all think it's CA or NV, but not 'their' state.

Austin, Texas woman can be topless in public, too.