Russia-Schmussia... that was an office park on I-95 interstate, this summer. I mean, Boston, MA. And I didn't really mean, bureaucracy. Make an experiment: go to any store and snap a couple shots with a P&S. I bet no one would even look your way, and even if the owner sees you, I bet he/she wouldn't care less. Now try to do the same with a "pro" look/gear. Count seconds before the owner kicks you off (or at least ask for explanations of what the heck are you doing).
Mishka ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob Walkden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mike Ignatiev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 7:06 PM Subject: Re[5]: Orgin Myths -- The Finale? :) > Hi, > > > The second I stepped from my car with a tripod and a P6x7, I was approached by a couple security guys, > > perhaps it's a little trickier in Russia, but in other ex-Communist > countries that I've been to, where a certain officiousness seems to > persist, I've found it useful to have a notebook and pen with me - the > notebook must be black and serious-looking. When somebody questions me > about what I'm doing, I like to take the notebook & pen out of my shirt > pocket, and ask the person for their name and address, and I write (or > pretend to write) stuff down. Fight bureaucracy with bureaucracy. In > triplicate. > > In Bucharest somebody once tried to arrest me by showing me a plastic > toy "Sheriff" badge, then ordered me to hand over my cameras. I don't > speak Romanian, but he had enough English to understand the word 'Wanker' > and loud laughter. > > --- > > Bob > > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Thursday, September 12, 2002, 9:28:41 PM, you wrote: > > > I had a few similar experiences. The worst is MF equipment: no matter what you say, you are assumed to be a > > professional, with strong (negative) attention of business owners, security personel etc. > > > Once I wanted to take a pic of one of the building of Polaroid offices here, from a parking lot, openly accessible from > > a dozen places. The second I stepped from my car with a tripod and a P6x7, I was approached by a couple security guys, > > asking who employs me, whether I have appropriate clearance, and so on, summing it up with something like "get the hell > > out of here boy" (probably more polite than that, though). Mind you, one could make a good shot of that place from a > > pizzeria across the street. I am dead sure, if I just stopped there and grabbed a few shots with a P&S, noone would > > have given a damn. I am really surprised that anyone was given *more* slack because everyone assumed he was a pro. > > >
