Important warning about taking pictures of bridges

03/05/2003 07:12:39 PM · #1

Just wanted to relate an experience I had today taking a picture of a bridge. I pulled off of the local beltway to take the picture. Before I realized it a police cruiser had pulled over behind my car with the lights flashing. At first I thought I had violated some law about parking on the side of the road. The Officer asked me what I was doing and asked for identification. I explained that I was taking a picture for a photography club and I asked if I had violated a traffic law. He said no that they had to investigate all suspicious behavior around bridges as possible Terriorist activity. I almost ---- in my pants. I said to the officer that I had no idea that taking a picture of a bridge would cause this concern but I can understand why. I presented identification and was allowed to leave. This was definitely a lesson for the times. I hope everyone takes this message to heart.

Jak

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

03/05/2003 07:16:07 PM · #2

This was in the fabled land of the free?

pitsaman

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/05/2003 07:17:54 PM · #3

Don't try the same thing in Chicago Downtown ,you will wake up in jail the next day.Police is watching every important object now.(with a reason)

Message edited by author 2003-03-05 19:18:22.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

03/05/2003 07:33:21 PM · #4

The price for greater security is the loss of liberty. We will have to get used to it.

W.R.Miller

Canon EOS-50D

03/05/2003 07:33:59 PM · #5

I had actually though about this happening because I saw on the news one night not long ago that they were watching all NYC bridges and the golden gate bridge in SF and that they weren't allowing anyone to take pictures of such structures due to terrorism scares. Maybe this is just a bad time for this challenge. This isn't really a concern where I live though because it is so rural. But, good luck to everyone and be careful. If you get caught by the police, invite them to join DPC. :-)

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/05/2003 07:34:53 PM · #6

I had a similar experience when trying to take shots for my photography class. We were to take shots of people "doing different activites" - just about everywhere I went people (including police) wanted to know what the heck I was doing, and who I was. It got to be such a big deal that I gave up, and just did some photos of people I knew. I'm very frustrated with this attitude. I have a very in-depth knowledge of security issues (I often work at Nuclear Plants), and I understand the need for them, but, come on...I'm just trying to take a picture here!

Message edited by author 2003-03-05 19:35:37.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

03/05/2003 07:41:35 PM · #7

Originally posted by lnede:

The price for greater security is the loss of liberty. We will have to get used to it.

"They that can give up essential libery to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

I think that photographing a public bridge could be deemed essential liberty. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? This terror hunt has made McCarthyism look positively rational.

My favourite state motto (and I'm a Canadian): Live free or die!

DougPaz

Nikon D40

03/05/2003 07:42:25 PM · #8

I took photos of a local dam last week for the Stock Photography challenge but ended up not useing them. I just heard on the news this morning that two guys were arrested for taking shots of the same dams this week. Their identification papers were forged but it certainly made me think!!

03/05/2003 07:50:37 PM · #9

DPChallenge might have to post a disclaimer: "Take Pictures at your own Risk. DP is not responsible for any outcomes as a result of taking pictures for challenges"

Digipixer

Canon Power Shot SX10 IS

03/05/2003 08:10:53 PM · #10

DougPaz---what dam was that---not the one outside Vegas???

Jak

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

03/05/2003 08:24:51 PM · #11

Originally posted by lnede:

The price for greater security is the loss of liberty. We will have to get used to it.

Hitler said the same thing. Pol Pot said the same thing. Joe Stalin and Chairman Mao said the same thing. Senator Joe McCarthy said the same thing. Pinochet said the same thing. The generals in Burma still say the same thing, as do the tyrants in Central Asia's "republics", the ayatollahs in Iran, and Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

This is not great company to keep I would suggest.

03/05/2003 08:44:03 PM · #12

Well said, Jak. Cars, alcohol and cigarettes kill more people every year than terrorism ever will. Do we ban these? No, because we have the freedom to drive, smoke and drink if we so wish. The real effect that terror has is the reaction, and given the situation currently, it has been incredibly effective. The more we put up with the loss of civil liberties for the sake of fighting this faceless thing, the more we lose.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5- 5.6G ED DX

03/05/2003 08:55:05 PM · #13

This was an observation. Not a philosophical statement meant to cause controversy.

joshua

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/05/2003 09:34:40 PM · #14

Originally posted by Jak:

Originally posted by lnede:
The price for greater security is the loss of liberty. We will have to get used to it.

Hitler said the same thing. Pol Pot said the same thing. Joe Stalin and Chairman Mao said the same thing. Senator Joe McCarthy said the same thing. Pinochet said the same thing. The generals in Burma still say the same thing, as do the tyrants in Central Asia's "republics", the ayatollahs in Iran, and Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

This is not great company to keep I would suggest.

man you sure make canadians look good[/sarcasm]

edit: that was too harsh. why don't you show us where the US administration has said that we have to give up essential liberties. you probably can't, but you will most likely pour on some of that great rhetoric you're good with

Message edited by author 2003-03-05 21:44:06.

calaille

Canon PowerShot A40

03/05/2003 09:42:25 PM · #15

I like to follow what goes on in and around railroads and I particularly enjoy some of the work done by some railroad photographers. The situation pointed out in this thread has been THE hot topic in the community of train photographers and train watchers ever since 9/11. Kids and grown men alike have been fascinated by trains ever since the first locomotives were invented, and its the first time in more than a hundred years that they are been frowned upon by the authorities for merely enjoying the sights of passing trains, let alone taking pictures of them.

So much so that the most popular railroad magazine TRAINS has dedicated their cover on this topic for their next issue. I can't wait to see how bad the situation is - I have heard so many stories in railfanning newsgroups about people taken in for questioning hours at a time just for standing next to a railroad a little to long (with their kids by their sides)...

Die hard railfans have started being more careful by taking their photo collections and magazines on the road with them, just so they can show to the officials that they are true amateur railfans and photographers and not terrorists. Most railfans just don't feel comfortable with this guerilla-type railfanning, so they just stay home instead, complaining that there is nothing more "american" than watching trains.

Calaille.

robbieh

Nikon D80

03/05/2003 10:11:23 PM · #16

One other hazard photographing bridges... I too pulled off a highway to photograph and old bridge. I slipped and fell hard on the large unstable boulders I was standing on. Hurt myself but saved the camera lol I guess all those party years of falling but not spilling my brew came in handy after all.

zadore

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/05/2003 10:16:00 PM · #17

it is sad to have a discussion like this in the 21st century, where humanity is supposed to have evolved.

3000 children die in the U.S. every year as a result of gun violence...EVERY YEAR!!!! but 3000 people die in a terrorist attack and the goverment is ready to kill tens of thousands, spend millions of dollars, and pissoff the entire planet.

...why not spend all that energy and money in getting rid of guns on the streets so that he can save 3000 children a year in HIS OWN COUNTRY????

...just a thought...

z <--off to take photos of every bridge around Toronto without being harrassed by the cops.

zadore

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

03/05/2003 10:16:52 PM · #18

Originally posted by robbieh:

This is too f!#@$ing hilarious!! LOL

DougPaz

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

03/05/2003 10:34:39 PM · #19

Originally posted by Digipixer:

DougPaz---what dam was that---not the one outside Vegas???

No they were Tennessee Valley Authority in Tenneessee. Mine was the Percy Priest Dam outside of Nashville and about 5 min from my house. I was actually taking the shots because it is so infrequently that we actually see water come through the gates, but with all of the rain that we had, you can see that it was pouring out in these photos. It actually was flooding lands below the dam but it had to go somewhere! Here are a couple of the shots.

Percy Priest Dam

Dam Up Close

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

03/05/2003 10:37:08 PM · #20

Originally posted by achiral:

edit: that was too harsh. why don't you show us where the US administration has said that we have to give up essential liberties. you probably can't, but you will most likely pour on some of that great rhetoric you're good with

You don't call being stopped, questioned and asked for identification a loss of essential liberties? Doesn't that ring any alarms for ya? I wnder if the cop goose-stepped towards him as he was questioning. What if he hadn't had his 'identification' at all? Taken into custody? Damn, I'm sorry, but if I were asked the same question in my country I'd

1. be fully within my rights to refuse.
2. be pissed right the hell off.

Didn't our fathers and grandfathers fight to end facism during the middle of last century? Why should we accept it in our own countries?

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

03/05/2003 10:37:12 PM · #21

Originally posted by zadore:

3000 children die in the U.S. every year as a result of gun violence...EVERY YEAR!!!! but 3000 people die in a terrorist attack and the goverment is ready to kill tens of thousands, spend millions of dollars, and pissoff the entire planet.

...why not spend all that energy and money in getting rid of guns on the streets so that he can save 3000 children a year in HIS OWN COUNTRY????

Sorry buddy, we have a Bill Of Rights that says we can own firearms. When the government tries to take those rights away that's when you can start becomming worried. Instead of trying to take gun owner's rights away, why don't you try teaching your kids right from wrong? Why not try stopping them from spending 10 hours a day playing violent video games on the computer, and suggest they go outside and play with their friends instead? Why not teach them to take responsibility for their actions so that when they grow up they don't commit crimes?

The root of the problems isn't guns... The root of the problem is how parents raise their kids and the lack of a family unit that screws kids up today.

And the US isn't "Prepared to kill 10,000 of thousands". What kind of BS is this? We don't intentially kill civilians in war and anyone who suggests this is sick in the head. We are trying to protect the World from terrorism! Don't you think that's a good idea? Or do you think we should wait until the US or Canada has a nuclear explosion from some wacked out Muslim fundementalist before we do something about it?

clicker

Canon PowerShot G2

03/05/2003 10:39:36 PM · #22

I was taking pictures yesterday of our local bridge and did think about if I was being watched by the athorities. It was only a few months ago or so that our bridge was listed as a potential target. There were scuba divers checking the waters and patrol boats making rounds. I didn`t see anyone while I was shooting, but the thought was there. It made me wish that we had just a little covered bridge or something like that around town instead.