Be very very careful taking photos in Iran

it seemed perfectly appropriate for the poster to say 'i disagree'. the op says 'be careful, it's dangerous' and this poster's experience doesn't support that, so he disagrees, it isn't so dangerous. what's illogical about that?

so i guess i disagree with your objection.

Damon Lynch said:

I have never experienced anything like this in Pakistan, the West
Bank / Gaza, or even China. It's a pity because almost all Iranians
are a genuinely likable people who are on the whole very curious
about foreigners. And many like to have their photo taken.

Click to expand...

Then you must have not taken pictures in NY subway main stations. But please don't try to refuse to go with the police officers or else. You won't be so lucky as in Iran.

I only noticed this the 4th time I looked at it. Nice pic indeed.

Regardless to say, you are taking your life into your own hands even going there. People disappear and/or end up in prison for all sorts of unbelievable reasons. It's really russian roulette.

Who knows if you'll look the wrong way at someone or offend some militant who decides to "make" you an enemy of the state.

Especially since our own government(s) are so slow to act on anything to do with the countries in this area.

Sure, some have had lovely experiences...but we've got reports and accounts of completely nightmares and deaths...torture...etc.

When's the last time you heard of a photojournalist being raped, tortured and beaten to death in Jamaica....for taking pictures...

Couldn't pay me enough money to go there.

sean

AmorousLight said:

As to the US, Isreal, and Iran, if the US were not involved, Isreal
would have taken out Iran a long time ago...think Syria a few weeks
ago, remember in the news?

Click to expand...

Like usual, most people have it backward.

ntnt

Imagine two Iranians who come to America. One lands in Iowa and finds the people and local government tolarent, nice, helpful, good. The other lands in Fort Worth, Texas, and he finds the people dangereous, rude, and threatening.

The second Iranian comes to this site and says that America is inhospitable. The 2nd Iranian writes "I disagree". That response is illogical, because it seems to negate the experience of the other Iranian. What would have been a more accurate response is "My experiene in America was different". In this way, it does not negate the other man's experience.

chunin said:

Then you must have not taken pictures in NY subway main stations.
But please don't try to refuse to go with the police officers or
else. You won't be so lucky as in Iran.

Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind, thank you I've taken photos on the Paris metro recently. Perhaps that was not so sensible!

First let me add to the others complementing you on the quality of the photo. It's really wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.

There does seem to be some confusion among the police as to the requirement for a permit or not. Some say it is unnecessary and others seem to think it is.

I am happy for you and all the other photographers who will never run into the type of militant policeman that I ran into! And I'm happy you had a wholly positive experience in Iran. It really is a wonderful country to visit and the photographic potential is very high, I agree. But do be aware that policeman like the one I encountered do exist. And they do have power. Our foreign national status will provide a lot of protection that locals will not have, but if one of us is ever suspected of being a spy, then it becomes deadly serious So that is why one must be careful.

--
http://www.pbase.com/dflynch/
http://edgeofconsciousness.blogspot.com/

I remember reading that same article a few years ago - I still think about it from time to time to this day.

--
Leon
http://www.leonroy.com/gallery/

disagreeing with an opinion is not "illogical". the logical conclusions one draws from differing experience in your example is that it is not true that a) all amerikans are friendly; and, equally, b) all amerikans are hostile.

let's review: the first poster generalized his experience, telling everyone to be 'very, very careful' because it could be dangerous to take photos in iran. logically, when making an affirmative generalization, a single counterexample is in fact sufficient to disprove the predicate. the second poster quite mildly, politely, and reasonably countered the first poster's generalization with an example demonstrating that it is not, in fact, necessarily dangerous to take photographs in iran. this doesn't "negate" the first poster's experience, though it does disagree with his conclusion.

then you jump in and assert that the second poster is being "illogical" for not agreeing to the original premise, viz, that you must be very, very careful taking photos in iran.

there is some illogic going on here, but it does not involve the first or second posters.

AmorousLight said:

Imagine two Iranians who come to America. One lands in Iowa and
finds the people and local government tolarent, nice, helpful, good.
The other lands in Fort Worth, Texas, and he finds the people
dangereous, rude, and threatening.

The second Iranian comes to this site and says that America is
inhospitable. The 2nd Iranian writes "I disagree". That response is
illogical, because it seems to negate the experience of the other
Iranian. What would have been a more accurate response is "My
experiene in America was different". In this way, it does not negate
the other man's experience.

Click to expand...

--
http://www.thewonderoflight.com

seanmcr6 said:

I only noticed this the 4th time I looked at it. Nice pic indeed.

Click to expand...

Cheers Sean

seanmcr6 said:

Regardless to say, you are taking your life into your own hands even
going there. People disappear and/or end up in prison for all sorts
of unbelievable reasons. It's really russian roulette.

Who knows if you'll look the wrong way at someone or offend some
militant who decides to "make" you an enemy of the state.

Especially since our own government(s) are so slow to act on anything
to do with the countries in this area.

Sure, some have had lovely experiences...but we've got reports and
accounts of completely nightmares and deaths...torture...etc.

When's the last time you heard of a photojournalist being raped,
tortured and beaten to death in Jamaica....for taking pictures...

Couldn't pay me enough money to go there.

Click to expand...

I can't speak for every persons trip to Iran, but from my point of view, I think your fears and beliefs are largely unfounded. I had some concerns before going over there, but apart from extremely dangerous driving, the country on the whole seemed safe - indeed safer than Jamaica. From talking to other westerners that I met there, this would also have been their experience.

--
http://www.thewonderoflight.com

Damon Lynch said:

First let me add to the others complementing you on the quality of
the photo. It's really wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.

Click to expand...

Thanks Damon

Damon Lynch said:

There does seem to be some confusion among the police as to the
requirement for a permit or not. Some say it is unnecessary and
others seem to think it is.

I am happy for you and all the other photographers who will never run
into the type of militant policeman that I ran into! And I'm happy
you had a wholly positive experience in Iran. It really is a
wonderful country to visit and the photographic potential is very
high, I agree. But do be aware that policeman like the one I
encountered do exist. And they do have power. Our foreign national
status will provide a lot of protection that locals will not have,
but if one of us is ever suspected of being a spy, then it becomes
deadly serious So that is why one must be careful.

Click to expand...

I think where ever we go in the world, we always need to be cautious. On this trip, I was questioned by the police, who already knew my name/details before approaching me on the street. There was an "edge" to the conversation, but once they satisfied themselves that I was a tourist, then they let me go my own way.

Just for the record, the tourist visa for Iran states that you are allowed take up to two camera bodies into the country and are free to shoot anywhere expect for givernment buildings or take pictures of government employees.

Damon Lynch said:

--
http://www.pbase.com/dflynch/
http://edgeofconsciousness.blogspot.com/

Click to expand...

--
http://www.thewonderoflight.com

Hi Damon,

Firstly: Great photo's... You really caught the "moment" with them!!

Secondly: As proven here, politics and religion are always controversial subjects to discuss... Even in a photo form. ;-)

Thirdly: I wonder if "Big Brother" is now trawling this thread and checking everyone out?? ;-)

I would never shoot in a public place without my Glock 19 (and concealed carry permit).

You never know when some wacko may cause you to really start shooting.

The first thing I would do in a hostile country is obtain a weapon for protection.