4:15 PM 7/22/2001

Beware of the photographer:

            Today started out as a pretty normal Sunday.  Things were laid back, I got as chance to relax, get some writing done, and get some brunch.  I started driving around, trying to find a good location for picture-taking for my latest photography class assignment.  After about 20 minutes of driving, I decided to take some pictures in the office complex that I happen to work in.  I won’t name this complex, because I really have no desire of being harassed by them, but let’s just call the area “T”.

            “T” is actually a pretty big area, with 3 office buildings and a bunch of other aesthetically pleasing little areas to take pictures.  I parked my car and walked a little ways to an area with a bunch of stairs, trees, and flowers.  There, I found an interesting scene of one of those metal grates over the tree’s roots, with a bunch of bright yellow flower petals resting against the roots.  It would have made an amazing shot, along with a bunch of other ones I could have found there.  I now regret going through the routine of setting up my tripod, putting on my telephoto lens, and searching around for my camera remote. 

            Just as I was about to take my shot, a security guard approached me.  He was actually pretty nice about it, but he said that pictures were not allowed at “T”.  He explained that since the Olympics would be here soon, there was a greater security concern about things like terrorists, and somehow a person taking pictures on the property was a potential security breach.  I wasn’t pissed at the guard, as he was just doing his job, and he obviously didn’t see the harm in me taking a few shots of stuff like flowers or metal grates; but, rules are rules.  I accepted the loss and packed up my equipment.