Proceed with caution, though.... For example, the article mentions that you can go into a mall and shoot photos. Maybe. Many stores prohibit people from taking photos, especially of their store displays and such, and many malls have policies, too, about taking photos within them. Yes, it may be considered a "public" place in one sense but in another if a mall is privately owned then taking photos on mall property can be considered trespassing.
Years ago when I was taking some photography classes I went to the local mall in the middle of the night and shot some night scenes of the lighted store windows and of the eerily empty parking garage. A day or two later I went to the mall itself during dayight and started shooting inside the mall. Security hustled right up to me and asked what I was doing and why. I was using film then, so couldn't just show them, but explained that I was doing this for a photography class assignment. They were OK with that, but then I again ran into the same issues in a couple of stores. A small digicam is going to go unnoticed but if you're walking around the mall with a big DSLR and a large lens, be prepared to be questioned!
On the other hand, if a store is really busy employees might not even notice what you're doing or might be indifferent to it. When I was in SF last month at the Apple Store on Market Street, I took photos in the store, especially of the beautiful glass stairs and no one confronted me or said anything. I suspect that in that store, they're accustomed to people going ga-ga over the store itself, its appearance and of course its contents!
Before taking photos of strangers it is always a good idea to ask if they mind. Be especially careful when it comes to taking photos of children..... Be prepared to explain exactly why you're taking the shot(s) and what you're planning to do with them. Offer to send a print or digital file to the person or people involved in the photograph. Respect others' privacy even in public settings.
