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Don't take photos of oil storage tanks

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mike m134089

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Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
 
We are living in scary times. I'm glad they are keeping on top of potential threats. I'm sure it wasn't fun, but it's reassuring that they are doing it.
 
You do know that we're at war with a regime which has threatened terrorist attacks, right?

I'd love to sit in the Walmart parking lot not far from here and photograph the transport planes and other aircraft flying in and out of the airbase across the highway... It'd be almost like being at an airshow whenever I feel like it.

However, I've decided that would probably not be a wise thing to be doing right now. :)

-- Lew
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
--
Any DSLR beats unexposed film.
 
Big brother is watching! You will be assimilated!
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
 
Did they make you delete them?

If not, please post the pictures of the oil tanks so that we have a little more proof that you story is genuine and that your are not just adding to the 'culture of fear' that is pervasive these days.

Please note that I have no intention to to offend anyone by this request, so please don't take it that way.
 
How did they find out who you were?

From that they can find out where you live and so on...but how do they know where to get the info of WHO your are...were you driving round in a comapny van (with a phone number on) or anything obvious like that?...or did they just take the reg of your car?

Just seems plain daft that they can come round yer house for photographing something...for reasons of national security....what pants!

If only they'd shown the same eagerness when they heard rumous a few years ago, we all wouldn't be in the mess we are now

Rant for the day over
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I shoot on 35mm Canon and 6x7 Pentax
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578
 
Detained as terrorist 3.5 hours, very not cool.
Lew said:
I'd love to sit in the Walmart parking lot not far from here and
photograph the transport planes and other aircraft flying in and
out of the airbase across the highway... It'd be almost like being
at an airshow whenever I feel like it.

However, I've decided that would probably not be a wise thing to be
doing right now. :)

-- Lew
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
--
Any DSLR beats unexposed film.
Click to expand...
 
Soon you wont have any rights after they get through preserving our freedom.
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
 
Lew said:
You do know that we're at war with a regime which has threatened
terrorist attacks, right?
Click to expand...
Which regime? I am easily confused and can't keep up with who Bush points the finger at from one day to the next.
gpb11 said:
I'd love to sit in the Walmart parking lot not far from here and
photograph the transport planes and other aircraft flying in and
out of the airbase across the highway... It'd be almost like being
at an airshow whenever I feel like it.

However, I've decided that would probably not be a wise thing to be
doing right now. :)
Click to expand...
Sounds like the terrorists have already beaten you....
gpb11 said:
-- Lew
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
--
Any DSLR beats unexposed film.
Click to expand...
 
d@mned if they don't.

So the authorities follow up on suspicious activities -- a tank farm would be a very tempting target. Someone notices suspicious activity and the authorities check it out to make sure the guy's legit.

And if someone blows up a bridge and the media finds out the terrorists had spend some time photographing it at night to determine the best placement of explosives, the authorities get reamed because they didn't check out the suspicious activity someone called in.

One or the other folks. Or should the FBI and police and everyone somehow magically know who the terrorists are and stop them without ever possibly stopping and questioning a harmless citizen pursuing a hobby which can sometimes look suspicious?

-- Lew
Bill said:
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Any DSLR beats unexposed film.
 
After the horse has run, remember to bolt the stable door firmly...
Graham Snook said:
How did they find out who you were?

From that they can find out where you live and so on...but how do
they know where to get the info of WHO your are...were you driving
round in a comapny van (with a phone number on) or anything obvious
like that?...or did they just take the reg of your car?

Just seems plain daft that they can come round yer house for
photographing something...for reasons of national security....what
pants!

If only they'd shown the same eagerness when they heard rumous a
few years ago, we all wouldn't be in the mess we are now

Rant for the day over
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I shoot on 35mm Canon and 6x7 Pentax
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578
Click to expand...
 
I've never figured out how to embed a photo so I'll have to wait until I get to my home computer to put a link to my website. I'm not making this up and they did not say I broke any laws, just that they follow up in person on all calls they receive. M.
Stephen Read said:
Did they make you delete them?

If not, please post the pictures of the oil tanks so that we have a
little more proof that you story is genuine and that your are not
just adding to the 'culture of fear' that is pervasive these days.

Please note that I have no intention to to offend anyone by this
request, so please don't take it that way.
Click to expand...
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
 
License Plate M.
Graham Snook said:
How did they find out who you were?

From that they can find out where you live and so on...but how do
they know where to get the info of WHO your are...were you driving
round in a comapny van (with a phone number on) or anything obvious
like that?...or did they just take the reg of your car?

Just seems plain daft that they can come round yer house for
photographing something...for reasons of national security....what
pants!

If only they'd shown the same eagerness when they heard rumous a
few years ago, we all wouldn't be in the mess we are now

Rant for the day over
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-Always give the client a vertical-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I shoot on 35mm Canon and 6x7 Pentax
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder.tcl?folder_id=280578
Click to expand...
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
 
A couple things I'd like to add. The officers were very polite and scheduled the appointment around my schedule. They didn't threaten my or anything, and were apologetic for having to bother me, explaining that they follow up on Everything. I think it is great that they are doing this and are rational to see that I was not a bad guy. They did say that if I sped away in my car when the security guard came out to talk to me they would have had a lot more questions. M
Lew said:
So the authorities follow up on suspicious activities -- a tank
farm would be a very tempting target. Someone notices suspicious
activity and the authorities check it out to make sure the guy's
legit.

And if someone blows up a bridge and the media finds out the
terrorists had spend some time photographing it at night to
determine the best placement of explosives, the authorities get
reamed because they didn't check out the suspicious activity
someone called in.

One or the other folks. Or should the FBI and police and everyone
somehow magically know who the terrorists are and stop them without
ever possibly stopping and questioning a harmless citizen pursuing
a hobby which can sometimes look suspicious?

-- Lew
Bill said:
mike m said:
Last night, 2 FBI agents came to my house to discuss photos I was
taking of the oil storage tanks near my house. They are quite
beautiful, painted a bright white which stands out from the rest of
this residential area.

It seems like there is a security risk for photographing things
like this. These officers were very serious. Definitely not
people to joke around with. They mentioned having to investigate
other photographers who take pics of birds because there was a
controversial site in the distance.

I had to show my receipts for my new 1D, show them the photos--to
exif data confirmed I was where I said I was--and otherwise prove I
was an artist and not someone to worry about.

Interesting and scary. M.
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Any DSLR beats unexposed film.
Click to expand...
--
1D, Tokina 28-80 2.8, 28-105USM, 50 1.8
 
mike m134089 said:
Interesting and scary. M.
Click to expand...
Very scary indeed...

...but not very interesting because this situation was very easy to forsee. The agressiveness and arrogance of the Bush administration confirms the worst prejudices against the USA. The US are now gradually starting to learn what terrorism is really all about and how it affects the public life. I'm just hoping that reason will find its way back into US international politics asap to prevent further damage.

Otherwise, just look at the situation in Palestine/Israel to see what your life will look in a couple of years... :-S

...reason is finding its way back in the UK - according to the latest poll, already more than 50% of the population think that starting the war was a mistake. So there is hope. People are not that stupid!

Elections in the US are around the corner, so the internati.nal community will be able to start working on sustainable solutions very soon.

But the damage that was done to the reputation of the US will take veeeery loooong to reverse, I can tell you that.

I pray for every innocent US citizen
Andi
 
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