Mostly these people are afraid of bad publicity or being sued. I've been prevented from bringing my camera into a local computer show. Most of the dealers are at least breaking agreements with their suppliers by just being there. Some were possibly actually breaking the law. You can understand why they don't want photos published.
At 07:59 PM 9/12/2002 -0400, you wrote: >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. > > > > > >
