Flutterby™! : Conversation with an American cop 2010-01-04 22:34:39.822391+00

Conversation with an American cop

2010-01-04 22:34:39.822391+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

Magic Flute Fine Art Nudes: Conversation With An American Cop:

SH: “Let me stop you there to ask, as you understand it, has the guy broken any laws in taking that photograph?”

Bob: “I don’t think so. That’s not important. What’s important is to discourage that kind of photography. And to learn who the guy is to see if he repeatedly photographs similar subjects.”

When I was in London last month, I decided I wanted to record Big Ben ringing. My mother is a big clock fan and I thought she'd appreciate it. So I walked over to the square in front of Westminster Abbey, took out my MP3 player and waited. While I was sitting there, a female Bobby came up to me and told me she had to ask me some questions. She was very apologetic and explained that she had to question and see the ID of anyone loitering around Westminster.

She wrote down my information from my Colorado driver's license and asked me a few questions. Unfortunately, she was asking me questions while Big Ben was ringing, so I had to come back for that. I wish I had a camera so I could have taken a picture of her. She had a pierced tongue - not the sort you'd expect to be a Bobby questioning people loitering around London ;)

I kept the report ticket copy she gave me as a souvenir. I also came back later to record Big Ben a second time - but that time I just kept walking around so I wouldn't be disturbed. Unfortunately, my MP3 player ran out of space and didn't record the first conversation.

I take a lot of pictures of such "forbidden" subjects. On a recent trip I took pictures of a hydro plant and dam, a diesel power plant, a couple of substations, lots of meter installs and wiring to/on buildings. With a big black camera.

I've taken some darn amazing architecture photo's around the world, London is beautiful.

Sure, my business card and a laugh would probably keep me from being arrested, but if the world has really become that paranoid, we are doomed.

Here is another approach: back in 1978, before the era of digital or cellphone photography, I visited London. We went to the Tower of London to see the crown jewels. As you went down the stairs to the jewel room, there were a number of signs prohibiting photographs. And hanging from each sign was a strip of 35mm film the Beefeaters had seized from some forgetful tourist and exposed right on the spot.

I did get in trouble for taking a picture of one of the Harrison clocks at Greenwich. But instead of taking my camera, I was just cursed with bad karma. I lost the camera before the trip was up.

Meuon about got us thrown out of a christening ceremony after-celebration by taking pictures of the interior architecture of the church building in Savannah, GA. That was our first road trip together - March '04.