Security Threat
© Ray Skwire
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Featured Photo Of The Day, Metroblogging (Jan. 25th, 2008)
Update below
I decided to go down to the Ben Franklin Bridge today and start taking shots there before I started meandering my way back West. I walked around the lightning bolt, took some pictures of the roadway (with a cop parked right in front of me), and then crossed over to the bridge.
I walked through the 5th St walk-thru/underpass thing, since I'd never been in there before, popped up on the other side, and then came back over to the south side of the bridge and started walking up the bridge.
My intention was to set up my tripod in the middle of the bridge and take a nice panorama of the city and the river. However, as you can see, my mere presence with a camera alerted local authorities to move in and make my surveillance known.
When I noticed this jeep coming down the pedestrian walkway, I had to snap this picture. This was the last thing I expected and for a minute, I thought perhaps someone had taken a wrong turn and being unable to turn around, decided to go the end and get back off the walkway.
However, as it got closer, I stepped behind a lightpost so that it could get by and instead of passing, it stopped right next to me and the driver, a police officer, asked me what I was doing and if I was taking pictures.
I told him I was taking pictures and he asked of what. I told him the skyline, the city, etc and he told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the bridge. I told him I had a tripod and was planning on going to the middle of the bridge and if that was ok and he said that was fine and just not to take any pictures of the bridge because "if he had to come back up there again"....
So I continued walking and not much longer, a second Jeep came down the walkway, this time a DRPA (Delaware River Port Authority) Jeep, although they didn't stop. However, once I got to the middle of the bridge, that's when it started to snow and get a bit colder so I only snapped a few shots w/o the tripod and started back down the bridge.
At the foot of the bridge as I exited the pedestrian walkway, a cop who had been parked by the lightning bolt crept slowly out of his parked location and just kind of creeped by. I headed over to Arch St and then down to about 3rd and at least two cops passed by me so I assume I was being followed to some degree.
I understand security threats and stuff and I guess with a big black backpack on and a camera, you have to watch anyone suspicious looking, not that I thought I looked suspicious.
But look at the sign in the picture.
D.R.P.A. Prohibits:
-- Inline skates
-- Roller Skates
-- Skate Board On Pedestrian Walkway
No mention of photography, cameras, camcorders, or the like.
Perhaps I just missed the sign.
Update - Tried to contact the Delaware River Port Authority.
Update II - Be sure to read Fen's comment below.
Security Threat
© Ray Skwire
[ Tumblr ] [ Twitter ] [ Facebook ]
Featured Photo Of The Day, Metroblogging (Jan. 25th, 2008)
Update below
I decided to go down to the Ben Franklin Bridge today and start taking shots there before I started meandering my way back West. I walked around the lightning bolt, took some pictures of the roadway (with a cop parked right in front of me), and then crossed over to the bridge.
I walked through the 5th St walk-thru/underpass thing, since I'd never been in there before, popped up on the other side, and then came back over to the south side of the bridge and started walking up the bridge.
My intention was to set up my tripod in the middle of the bridge and take a nice panorama of the city and the river. However, as you can see, my mere presence with a camera alerted local authorities to move in and make my surveillance known.
When I noticed this jeep coming down the pedestrian walkway, I had to snap this picture. This was the last thing I expected and for a minute, I thought perhaps someone had taken a wrong turn and being unable to turn around, decided to go the end and get back off the walkway.
However, as it got closer, I stepped behind a lightpost so that it could get by and instead of passing, it stopped right next to me and the driver, a police officer, asked me what I was doing and if I was taking pictures.
I told him I was taking pictures and he asked of what. I told him the skyline, the city, etc and he told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the bridge. I told him I had a tripod and was planning on going to the middle of the bridge and if that was ok and he said that was fine and just not to take any pictures of the bridge because "if he had to come back up there again"....
So I continued walking and not much longer, a second Jeep came down the walkway, this time a DRPA (Delaware River Port Authority) Jeep, although they didn't stop. However, once I got to the middle of the bridge, that's when it started to snow and get a bit colder so I only snapped a few shots w/o the tripod and started back down the bridge.
At the foot of the bridge as I exited the pedestrian walkway, a cop who had been parked by the lightning bolt crept slowly out of his parked location and just kind of creeped by. I headed over to Arch St and then down to about 3rd and at least two cops passed by me so I assume I was being followed to some degree.
I understand security threats and stuff and I guess with a big black backpack on and a camera, you have to watch anyone suspicious looking, not that I thought I looked suspicious.
But look at the sign in the picture.
D.R.P.A. Prohibits:
-- Inline skates
-- Roller Skates
-- Skate Board On Pedestrian Walkway
No mention of photography, cameras, camcorders, or the like.
Perhaps I just missed the sign.
Update - Tried to contact the Delaware River Port Authority.
Update II - Be sure to read Fen's comment below.