Re: [Leica] Security In Public Places

[eric@jphotog.com]

Hi Leonard.

Great story. I actually have a friend who works for one of the Military
Inetlligencedepartments. He's also recently discharged from the Army. He is also an IT
person for theL.A. Fire Department. But in his role as an intelligence officer, he
photographs ships comingand going in the Long Beach area. He tries to document every ship that the
government isinterested in following. Kind of an interesting job. But your experience
confirms that themilitary does consider port areas sensitive in terms of potential threats
and intelligencegathering goes on there daily.

You handled yourself perfectly. And I'm sure the officers appreciated it.

> To provide further explanation regarding the state of security
> awareness in the United States since the 9/11 attack, let me briefly
> relate an incident that happened to me a month or so ago while making
> photographs in a boat repair yard.
>
> For some time now, I have been working on a series of images about
> barriers, man-made impediments to access of what should ordinarily be
> public places. This particular morning, I was photographing the San
> Pedro Boat Works in the Los Angeles harbor. Armed with my SCALA-loaded
> M6TTL and a 35mm Summicron pre-ASPH, I was photographing civilian boats
> in various stages of repair through a chain link fence, when the Harbor
> Police cruised up and began to question me.
>
> Without being asked, I immediately explained what I was doing and why,
> volunteered proper identification and produced a business card, stating
> that I was a fine art photographer. The police officers questioned me
> as to where I lived, how long I had lived there, what was my occupation
> and where was my vehicle parked. I answered all their questions fully
> and politely.
>
> At the conclusion of their process, the officers explained that while
> photography was not prohibited in the harbor area, it was discouraged,
> as there were "sensitive" facilities inside the area that the
> authorities considered potential terrorist targets. I responded that I
> understood completely and that if they wished me to stop doing what I
> was doing, I would comply without protest. The senior officer told me
> to go ahead and complete my work, but confine my photography to the
> boatyard. He also suggested that if I wished to do more than my
> intention in the future, to check in with the watch commander at the
> local station, so that my activities would be a matter of record and so
> that I would not be
> interdicted.
>
> This "incident" was a non-confrontational, congenial dialogue about a
> commonly-shared problem, and was resolved in a pleasant, respectful
> manner. If I had become argumentative or defensive, I suspect the
> situation might have turned out differently.
>
> I think those of us who are compelled to work in society documenting
> how we live, either through choice or necessity, would do well to
> remember that those behind the badge often have a very difficult job to
> do, one that requires courage, sensitivity and understanding, sometimes
> in the face of great personal danger. Showing a modicum of respect and
> willingness to comply often goes a long way to diffusing a potentially
> inflammatory situation, not to mention that one can sometimes continue
> to do what he's there to do!
>
> Oh, by the way, the Summicron images from the boat yard are excellent!
>
> Happy Holidays to all!
>
> Len
> Leonard J Kapner
> E-Mail: ljkapner@cox.net
> Tel: (310) 377-5060 / Mobile: (310) 291-0140
>
>
>
>
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