tsa

A man with a camera and a backpack in an orange jacket stands in an empty airport terminal, gazing out large windows, with departure gates and clear sky in the background.

Flying with Lithium Batteries: What You Need to Know

As many of us, including myself, prepare to travel this summer, we -- as photographers -- tend to carry a lot of lithium batteries for our photography gear. After all, we aren’t going to check our precious and pricey cameras, lenses, and other equipment. Naturally, batteries are a necessary component of any photographer’s kit, whether they be camera batteries, lithium-ion AA or AAA batteries, or something else.

What Happens if Film Goes Through Airport CT Scanners?

The United States Transportation Security Administration has rolled out the use of computed tomography (CT) scanners as the latest "threat detection" equipment scanner for airport security. As these are different from X-ray machines, what happens to film if it goes through one?

Beware: New 3D Airport Scanners Will Wipe Unprocessed Camera Film

Airports around the United States are getting futuristic new CT scanners that give the TSA an instant 3D view of carry-on luggage contents, but the new scanners are a development film photographers should be wary of -- they can reportedly wipe out your unprocessed film with a single scan.

Camera Battery Explodes at Airport, Sparking Panic

Orlando International Airport received a scare yesterday when some travelers heard what appeared to be a loud gunshot. After the commotion had settled down, it turns out that one person's lithium ion camera battery had exploded.

The TSA Sets Up an Instagram Account to Show Off the Things They Confiscate

What do a loaded gun, a stun gun disguised as a pack of cigarettes and an inert grenade all have in common? Pictures of all of them are to be found on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) new Instagram account, where the government agency is doing its best to show the public the kinds of dangerous things its employees are confiscating on a daily basis.

Ex-TSA Agent Had Numerous Cameras for Sale on eBay When He Was Arrested

A number of years ago, a TSA agent named Pythias Brown accidentally left a camera out of some luggage he was screening. Not wanting to be reprimanded for his mistake, he decided to avoid any problems by secretly taking the camera home. This event opened his eyes to how easy it was to pocket passengers' belongings, and he began to steal more and more items in increasingly brazen thefts.

Why You Should Be Extra Careful When Bringing Camera Gear Through Airports

You've probably heard people say that you should keep your camera gear with you at all times when flying, as there are multiple points in the travel process at which your valuable equipment could get stolen or damaged. In case you're not convinced, check out the video above showing an investigative report that ABC News recently did.

To test airports that have a history of theft, Brian Ross of ABC's The Blotter left 10 iPads inside the plastic bins at security checkpoints. At 9 out of 10 airports, the screeners followed protocol and immediately contacted the owner using the contact info prominently displayed on the iPad. In the 10th case, an agent was filmed taking the iPad out of the bin before it vanished.