Last night, I had to pick my girlfriend up from the airport, so I ventured out about 15 minutes early to see what I could find. As part of my "Learn a lense" trips, I only had the 70-200mm f4L lense with me. I have tried this a few times, forcing me to learn how best to use my gear.
So, there I am, driving around the back of the airport, when a find a terrific spot, near the control tower, where you can get reasonably close to the domestic planes taxiing out. Out of the car and try as I might, it was just too damned dark to get any good clear photos. It seems with shutter speeds longer than about 1/20th second, I just don't have steady enough hands. Whilst I was there, a car with Protective Services stops, and I see him looking towards me. I was done, so I wandered over to see if I was being a naughty photographer. The bloke was great. He told me my car was bit bit close to an access lane and would I please move it. No problems, I am off any way.
I drive over to the domestic terminal and wait for my girlfriend. Hmm, she is taking a while. Might just jump out and grab a few snaps around the terminal. I noticed the luggage trolleys all lined up, so fired of a couple of shots of them, one whilst laying flat on the ground. Then I noticed the lights and the line on the road across from where I had stopped. Check for traffic, nothing. Wander across the road to get the shots. Just as I finished, I notice a woman with traffic control on her vest signalling me to get off the road. I crossed the road to tell her I was just getting aphoto and she launched into me. "You are not allowed to take photos!" "This is private property!" "Delete the photos!" "Why are you taking photos?" She had lost me at delete the photos, so I told her in a not so courteous manner to piss off. I then walked back to my car.
I was having a look at the photos when bugger me, not 2 mins later, 3 Protective services cars appear and approach me. It seems miss bossy boots has been on the blower. Luckily for me, the same guy that asked me to move my car was there and he handled the whole thing. Basically telling me that I should stay off the road, and in the current climate, wandering around late at night with a rather large camera and lense might not be the best hobby in the world. He took some details and gave me a few places that I could take photos in peace. Overall, a top bloke, just doing his job.
Now, the point of this rather long winded rambling is this. The real guys looking after security, that is, a branch of the federal police, were great to deal with. Why is it that a traffic control person and last weekend, some security monkeys are the ones with the attitudes? I say good on the Protective services fellows, they were professional and explained the situation. The other knuckle heads need to wake up and realise there are better ways to deal with situations than to heavy people.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
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3 comments:
I must say that is was very good how they handled it (in the end that is) by giving you a few locations to peacefully take some shots, rather than the usual experience you get :(
Cheers Rob (aka DiGiTaL_MoNkEY OCAU)
Its very sad that photographers seem to get the rough end of the stick when it comes to shooting things like industrial sites and aeroplanes. You end up beening treated as if you are a terrorist. Now the important thing here is, and someone correct me if I am wrong, that as far as I know, there are no signs anywhere highlighting the fact that you a/ can't take photographs b/ must delete them c/ are to be concidered a terrorist suspect if you take them. Moreover, its not exactly covert lugging a whopping great SLR with a L400 lens around. I almost bet they don't hassle anyone with a mobile phone.
Why is it more suspicious to lug around a large lens and body? Surely, the person lugging that around realises it's going to be obvoius, and therefore, "terrorists" doing reconansaince aren't going to use that kind of gear?!
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