Plane Spotting

[dane714]

DFW Perimeter Road
Grapevine, Texas

(Note...I asked the airport police ahead of time for permission to take pictures....to my surprise, they said it was ok.)

[SandShark]

Well done. That's interesting about your asking the aiport police for permission. Not to start a debate on the issue of photographer rights and civil liberties, but I'm wondering what action they could/would have taken had you not asked permission. Do you think they would have prohibited you from doing so? Were you on public or private property?

[dane714]

Originally Posted by SandShark

Well done. That's interesting about your asking the aiport police for permission. Not to start a debate on the issue of photographer rights and civil liberties, but I'm wondering what action they could/would have taken had you not asked permission. Do you think they would have prohibited you from doing so? Were you on public or private property?

These were taken along the airport perimeter road, which is probably airport property. I asked one officer if it would be ok, and he radioed the other cops along the perimeter that I would be there and to not hassle me. I was surprised at how nice he was.

When taking photographs, I usually operate under the premise that it is easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission, but this is the post 911 era. I could easily see how someone taking pics of landing aircraft could look very suspiscious. I just didn't want to end up on the six o'clock news.

[SandShark]

You are certainly right about not wanting to make the 6 o'clock news. No one wants that, unless it's because of being named Photographer of the Year! :D

I've never been in a questionable situation where I might have to ask permission to take photographs of something. I imagine it's going to happen one day, since you hear about photographers being questioned by authority figures quite often, especially around "sensitve" sites.