Re: National Parks & Tripods

[Robert Erickson <cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx>]

Last year I went to DC to shoot some stock photos. I
went to the Lincoln Memorial. Being stupid and/or
crazy I set up my tripod inside just to test what
would happen. I was not in anybody's way. I was up
against the wall. The guard walked over to me and just
stood there. I took a couple of shots and left. No
words were exchanged at all. Then I went to the
Jefferson Memorial and tried it again. The same thing
happend. I was up against the wall out of everybodys
way. The guard walked over by me and stood but said
nothing at all. I took a couple of shots and then
left.

I "steal" images all the time. I believe that it is
always easer to get forgiveness than permission. When
in a questionable situation like the Super Bowl or
World Series I set all the camera controlls when off
to the side. I then walk calmly to my spot, clamp the
camera to the railing or plant the tripod, and shoot.
I then pick up the camera and go on my way to the next
spot. I am gone before the authorities even notice.
The worst that has ever happend to me was that
security told me that I could not take photos as I was
leaving. I said OK and went to the next spot.

The only time that I was taken into Police hands was
at the Florida World Series. I was off shooting with
my Noblex when a drunk off duty cop spotted my
equipment case. He kicked it which started the motor
on my LarScan. He thought it was a bomb! The cops
started evacuting the stands one person at a time so
as not to set off a panic. My buddy was seated in the
row behind my seat. When they got to him to lead him
to "safty" he told them that it was just a camera.
They "arrested" him and made HIM carry my case to the
police station in the stadium. When I returned to my
seat there was an officer sitting in it. I had to go
with him back to the police station. I took everything
out of the case and showed them that it was camera
equipment and film. The police, my buddy, and I all
had a good laugh and a good story. The adventure made
me miss two innings of the game. I went back to
shooting the game.

Bob Erickson

--- Joe McCary - <mccary@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I suppose the "debate" over should we have permits
> or not have permits for
> tripods has moved out of the photography realm and
> into something else
> altogether.  And additionally, I think that the more
> we "discuss" this the
> further apart we will find ourselves.
> 
> My last words on this topic will be that given the
> choice between a police
> force that is willing to lay down their lives for
> protection of our leaders
> (AND for me when I happen to be in the same place)
> while I follow "their"
> rules where they happen to make a difference in my
> profession AND not having
> such a force and having a completely open  society,
> I would opt for safety
> and be willing to abide by the rules.
> 
> But I encourage you to live the free life you speak
> of, and come on down to
> Washington, DC and set up your tripod in the Capital
> and tell those "jerks"
> to go pound sand with their rules!  I promise I will
> read about your story
> on the front page of the Washington Post!
> 
> Joe McCary
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Smith, Photographer <shooter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 4:49 PM
> Subject: Re: National Parks & Tripods
> 
> 
> Joe,
> 
>      "These Jerks" didn't set such draconian
> stupidity after macnine gun
> toting & shooting terrorists shot up Blair House
> when Harry Truman was in
> it.
> 
>     This stupidity is a much more recent thing.
> Tripods in pursuit of
> photography or even painting are no threat to
> anyone. The paranoia is a
> great reflection on the mental stability of "These
> Jerks" charged with a
> responsiblity they obviously are not equipped to
> handle in any rational
> manner.
> 
>     As for it being a 'thankless job', they can
> always quit. As for
> protecting the federal officials, why do they need
> any more protection than
> average citizens? They are so out of touch with
> reality they see assassins
> behind every tripod? Yep, paranoia is alive and well
> in the whole bunch of
> them. They bring it on themselves.
> 
> DAN SMITH
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Joe McCary <mccary@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 12:26 PM
> Subject: Re: National Parks & Tripods
> 
> 
> > "These Jerks," are charged with keeping our
> national leaders safe.  All
> > kinds of crazies attempt to gain access to the
> place.  You might remember
> > just a short while ago two of the Capital police
> were shot and killed by a
> > person trying to gain access.  He is not being
> prosecuted at this time, he
> > was ruled to be incompetent to stand trial, so a
> "crazy" he is.  These
> > "jerks," as you put it, have the thankless job of
> dealing with hundreds of
> > thousands of tourists (many non English  speaking,
> from countless foreign
> > nations as well as US citizens) all wanting  a
> special exception to a rule
> > just for them.  Being a person who  goes  into
> federal buildings with
> camera
> > equipment all the time, I would like to say thank
> you to those who protect
> > our officials, because when those "Jerks" do their
> job they also protect
> me
> > while I am there at the same time.  So if they
> want me to get a permit to
> > use a tripod and they make everyone get the same
> permit then I have no
> > problem with their enforcement of the rules.
> > Joe McCary
> > Photo Response
> > Washington, DC
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Dan Smith, Photographer
> <shooter@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 1:13 AM
> > Subject: Re: National Parks & Tripods
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > I can't speak for all National Park locations
> but when I did a number
> of
> > > > pans (Roundshot) on and near the US Capitol
> bldg (outside), I had to
> get
> > > > written permission from the Grounds  Seargant
> (see below) to use a
> > > tripod -
> > > > took the better part of a day and a very well
> known Senator's office
> > help
> > >
> > >
> > > Makes one wonder what these jokers are really so
> afraid of.
> > >
> > > dan smith
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> 
> 
> 

=====
Robert Erickson, cirkut8@xxxxxxxxx
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