This bug got me in trouble

[Night Owl]

I roll my eyes when folks question my taking pictures of airplanes. As if they couldn't find a photo online. And since when does a terrorist use a D200 with a 70-200mm VR? Jeez...y'all should be more concerned with that guy over there. He's pointing a freakin' Canon at 'em.

[Murph]

Jeff, most cops are not photographers, so they do not know the difference. We (Law Enforcement) are getting information daily to be vigilant, but most terrorist tracking, and id is close hold by the FBI, etc, and so your local cop uses his street smarts, and tries to determine "suspicious" behavior. Most older cops would not bother a photographer, the younger rookie cops are just trying to be thorough.

As for high end SLR's, no one from the FBI has told us much, so they go on what they know are cameras. Some get carried away, but seldom is anyone arrested, thank G_d, mostly due to older cops stepping in before the rookie gets carried away.

Originally Posted by jeffkohn

What I don't understand is how law enforcement and the general public have gotten it in their head that SLR's and tripods are crucial tools for terrorists. This notion strikes me as more than a little absurd, and seems to be a case of being vigilant about the wrong thing just because it's better to be doing something rather than doing nothign and feeling helpless.

I'd really like to hear people who have security concerns about SLR's answer some of these questions

- Wouldn't a 17x zoom point-n-shoot be a more effective and discreet tool for a terrorist (or pedophile) who wants to avoid drawing attention to himself?

- Do you have any idea how much data and how many pictures are already available on the web for pretty much everything under the sun? Ever seen Google Earth or the new photos in Google Maps?

- Has there ever been a case where high-end camera equipment was shown to be an enabling factor in a terrorist plot?

[JamesB]

Originally Posted by Night Owl

Where were you? Perhaps I know him. (the cop, not the bug)

I was at the Shell Station at Betway 8 and Westview. I think they were spring branch cops, not HPD uniforms and not PCT 4 uniforms.

James

[JamesB]

Originally Posted by tjavery

Very nice shot, James. The part that's nicely in focus is so crisp! What 105mm is that? Is that a Sigma?

I wonder how the cop would have responded if you told him that you were shooting the overpass?

yes it was the sigma 105mm.

the first few shots were bad because I left the camera in bulb mode from shooting fireworks that night. then by the time I figured out I had the settings wrong the cops were up on me. then I did not try to hard to photo the bug.

James

[TxManx]

All -

I'm trying to wrap my mind around why being questioned by a police officer is such a big deal...it's happened to me, it doesn't bother me.

In today's society, we *rely* on cops and other law enforcement to "protect" us, even though it's an insurmountable and impossible job. Their job is to be suspicious, ask questions, notice things, etc.

Yeah, I might miss a shot - and I might get frustrated, but if they don't go beyond asking questions and being inquisitive - I'd actually prefer they check things like this out.

What damage can a photographer do with a camera? Well - if you have a Bigma fully extended to 500mm, from about 50 feet away it looks like a freakin bazooka! LOL...

Peace!

Ken

[kenw]

Ken: ditto

try doing train shots around Houston....I've been questioned dozens of times: HPD, Constables, RR police, and all sorts of smaller-town cops. Now, the Metro folks seem to be a bit more clueless than some, but it usually goes fine.

and i never considered it a hassle or violation of my "rights". And it always ended well for all of us.

In fact lately I've been going out of my way to THANK them for asking. Lord knows they aren't being paid enough without some self-righteous photographer spouting all sorts of "my rights" in their face.

I've actually had more hassle from private citizens who were, well, let's just say "over zealous" and leave it at that....

[TxManx]

I've actually had more hassle from private citizens who were, well, let's just say "over zealous" and leave it at that....

Funny you should bring this up. I was people watching at Taste of Dallas this weekend.. It was interesting that people with P&S cameras didn't seem to have much problem taking pictures, noone paid the photographers any attention.

However, several folks with DSLRs would start to compose their shots, and those aware of them would move out of the frame as much as possible.

As though a larger camera would somehow take a different picture than a P&S.

[Night Owl]

Originally Posted by JamesB

I was at the Shell Station at Betway 8 and Westview. I think they were spring branch cops, not HPD uniforms and not PCT 4 uniforms.

That location would be Pct 5, if it wasn't HPD. All dark blue with red piping? If it was a beige shirt, it was likely SBISD PD.

[BlueStar-57]

Good pic of a katydid James. What a bug bugs you? jk

As for being confronted and everyone else confronted over DSLR's just think, there has to be a connection that is not being released to the public. Cell phones seemed harmless until they started being used to blow people up. Can't hide much in a PS camera yet, but can hide more in bigger ones. Things exist that the general public has no knowledge of in spy techniques, if they did boy would there be a real hoot over invasion of privacy. So yes just as a simple cell phone can be made dangerous, so can a camera. It may be doing a lot more than just being used to take a picture (and no not as a destructive device). Only our Governement believes in what you don't know won't hurt you, thats why they will tell you after the asteroids hits that it is coming LOL-but no joke. I saw one and it took 2 weeks after it safely passed that it was on the news that a near asteroid had passed by. They just know to look for a device that is big enough not to be what it appears to be. As for I don't look like a terrorist, just saw our defector in Korea's cute blonde haired and blue eyed son a few days ago on TV. Same type but German person caused a lot of trouble for us in Nam since he blended in with the troops and that got a lot of people killed. So not every foe will look Middle Eastern, infiltration is the oldest technique on the books and will forever be used until we all have fingerprints and DNA on file to protect us from it :).
Enjoy and be kind to those who are only trying to do their jobs. We fault them for doing too much or fault them for doing to little. Instead we should be thanking them for being so on guard and risking their lives daily. As for most plots just like criminals they are accidently stumbled upon or informed on.

[kamari]

Originally Posted by TxManx

Funny you should bring this up. I was people watching at Taste of Dallas this weekend.. It was interesting that people with P&S cameras didn't seem to have much problem taking pictures, noone paid the photographers any attention.

However, several folks with DSLRs would start to compose their shots, and those aware of them would move out of the frame as much as possible.

As though a larger camera would somehow take a different picture than a P&S.

I go through this ALL THE FRIGGIN TIME with people running to get out of the background while shooting at clubs/events. Karl Marx said it best: the masses are asses.