Date sent: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 08:55:27 -0800 (PST) From: Robert Erickson Subject: Re: National Parks & Tripods To: panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au Send reply to: panorama-l@sci.monash.edu.au 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