Many States of Mind » Archive for December 2009
Photography in NYC & Terrorism – Part II
Public vs. Private
Some years ago I had been approached by security while trying to photograph the Christmas tree outside the Bloomberg Tower on 58th Street. The guard’s argument was that no professional photography was allowed at that location. I clumsily argued that I wasn’t a pro yet the fellow made references to my professional looking equipment and asked me if I thought him stupid. Well, I did but of course diplomatic me [cough, cough] didn’t argue and instead asked him what was an acceptable location for my snapping of photos. He pointed to the street as well as the sidewalk across the street. Apparently in his mind, simply being on the sidewalk outside the building with my gear was enough to warrant suspicion.
Let’s forget about the harebrained notion that I was going to obtain top secret information through the overhead windows with my wide angle lens. Hmmm, have I mentioned they were tinted glass? All I can say is that I’ve no idea what all the concern was about and since then I never gave it another thought. I merely chalked it up to a fanatical concern for building security. As if my snapping photos with a point and shoot camera would’ve made a huge difference.
You see, there appears to be a big difference between photographing within public property and photographing within and around private property, and well, in NYC there’s a heck of a lot of private property out there. Certain museums will outright ban photography whereas others will allow you to snap shots during particular hours. Stand outside any one of a number of Manhattan skyscrapers with your camera pointing straight up the side and you’re likely to be shooed away even though according to some sources sidewalks are public property. Plus it’s anybody’s guess why one office building will take the subject more seriously than another.
Let’s face it. When it comes to private property, a theater, restaurant, mall, sports facility, arena or even your place of work have and should have within their authority the right to deny anyone the ability to carry out photography. Of course deciding how such actions would affect their place of business is totally up to them to judge. Their concerns about protecting copyright issues, the privacy of others, their private corporate information or whatever else are surely justified in my opinion.
Yet despite all that’s been mentioned one can’t ignore the world which exists post 911. At what point does Paranoia become more a heightened state of fear instead of a heightened state of awareness? I’m referring not merely to those folks who in response to this city’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign might report me for taking photos of something which your average citizen may never consider capturing. I am also referring to when I myself feel reluctant to visit certain locations with my gear simply due to the anticipation of what such actions might result in. Have already been down that road quite a number of times myself in the months following September 11, 2001.
Even today, years beyond that fateful day folks are still very shook up and on edge. It may not be quickly evident on our faces but send a low flying 747 over Lower Manhattan and watch how panicked the folks become. Watch as they run for their lives. Watch me as I sit before my television later in the day dumbfounded beyond compare as I watch and hear about the photo-op which had been pre-planned without the slightest intention of public announcement. Watch me as I sit there both furious yet in tears since my own wounds are still fresh. Such was the case on April 27, 2009.
I mention all this since this was not the world I remember prior to 911. The world back then wasn’t filled with propaganda trying to protect us from terrorism or as some might say, trying to keep our hearts filled with fear. It’s such sorts of campaigns which are dangerous ones.
Someone once said that ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions’.
Well, there certainly seems to be a lot of paving going on these days.
The next part in this series will be about Tripods – Part III.
Again, thank you for reading this far.
Filed under: Photography, Terrorism
NYC New Year’s Eve Celebrations
We’re on the edge of that time of year again. Wherein we say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new. The New Year that is. Unfortunately there’s quite a bit of precipitation predicted for that evening here in NYC. Of course if past years are any indication then bad weather won’t keep the tens of thousands from celebrating in Times Square which’ll have live performances, great fun, the ball dropping and some pyrotechnic displays.
On ABC Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve festivities will begin at 10:00 pm as the tens if not hundreds of thousands in Times Square await the drop of the ball at midnight. Hosting the show will be Mr. New Year’s Eve himself, Dick Clark as well as Ryan Seacrest. Also on hand will be performances by Jennifer Lopez who is expected to sing some of her own hits and Daughtry who’s to perform four songs. Through their televised presentation one will catch sight of performers from Las Vegas such as Robin Thicke, Colbie Caillat, Justin Bieber, The Black Eyed Peas and others.
Over at NBC will be New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly also beginning at 10:00 pm. With Live performances by Jay-Z, Rihanna and Green Day amongst others it promises to be one of quite exciting items coming in from Times Square.
Mind you the New Year’s Eve ball has gotten a new design featuring 300 Waterford crystal triangles. These details provided by the Times Square Alliance site. The lighted Ball descends 70 feet in sixty seconds. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, twelve feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with 2688 Waterford crystal triangles and lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.
Please remember. There’ll be huge numbers present and readying for that big blast at Times Square. So if you decide to go then be sure to get there early and do not bring along anything that’ll be frowned upon by security. Extra unnecessary items, alcohol and more should be left home. Also, there WILL BE NO portable toilets. Actually, it’s a good idea to head on over to the official FAQs page to see and learn more.
Of course this isn’t all that’s going on in the city. Over at Central Park will be the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run. This here’s an annual event which will highlight some DJ music and dancing, a costume parade and contest as well as the Midnight Run itself and Fireworks. Wahoooo!!!! Gosh, too bad every year it’s been so gosh darned cold. Otherwise we would’ve headed to this part of the city long ago.
On another note, in the past there have been the fireworks at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn but apparently it looks like it may not be happening. As for the fireworks which has taken place in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty, we’ve heard merely rumors but nothing official. Please drop us a line or mention something in the comments section.
So, in ending. Here’s wishing one and all a most beautiful New Year’s Eve and peaceful, loving and warm 2010. May we overcome all the many problems this great nation has faced in 2009. God Bless one and all!
Filed under: NYC Events
Photography in NYC & Terrorism? – Part I
Photography in NYC & Terrorism? – Part I
A recent posting in Telegraph.co.uk struck a chord in this author’s mind. Actually it’s a complaint in the form of a letter from 365 of Britain’s most distinguished photographers asking for the modification of that country’s anti-terrorist legislation. Apparently they’re finding themselves harassed by authorities on the other side of the pond.The above mentioned notion of photography being likened to terrorism has been on the mind of yours truly and many other NYC photographers for some time. Yet perhaps not on the same level or is it? You see, walking around with a camera in hand isn’t the problem. The trouble lies with the use of tripods in public and private spots, and the lines drawn between the two are quite thin. But I’ll get back to that soon. I would like to approach this from various angles through this multi-part posting on the subject.
– Photography en mass –
As one might expect this city attracts quite the mass of tourists each day. Heck, the NYC Office of Tourism states that 47 million foreign and domestic visitors came to the ‘big apple’ in 2008 with tens of billions of tourist dollars being spent here. Consider the proliferation of cameras of all sorts in this world and you’ve got virtually every inch of this city being photographed at some point of every day. Quite the amazing concept if you ask me. So the thinking of some amateur and professional photographers (including yours truly) that they would be harassed for their use of a camera might seem a bit unjustifiable. Or is it? On one side of the argument would be the huge loss in revenue from such action. Let’s also consider the ridiculousness of an idea from which no good would come. Although following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 overzealous safety precautions were at their highest levels. For awhile thereafter you’d find signs on some of our bridges stating how photography of any kind was not allowed. Actually to this day, photography of, near and within Federal buildings is not allowed either. Try pulling your camera out in Lower Manhattan’s Federal Plaza and you’re liable to be approached by security of some sort or another. Perhaps I’m now convinced that those darkly clad security officers gently cuddling automatic weapons in the streets and subways of NYC aren’t the only reason why some refer to this city as ‘Fortress New York’.
Imagine my surprise when touring through Niagara Falls earlier this year I found out that not only was I allowed to use my tripod wherever I wished, within reason, but I was welcomed to do so. Imagine the surprise of the third officer I asked. Well, surprised until I told him I was from NYC. We’ve reached a point in time when there’s a fine line between protecting our civil liberties and protecting us from terrorism. A time where living in a heightened state of paranoia is the norm. When it’s not the police stopping us (since in all my years of photographing the streets I’ve yet to be approached by a police officer) but rather every day citizens simply trying to follow the rules of their jobs, be they parks rangers, building security or others.
New York City through having experienced the greatest terrorist attack on domestic soil since Pearl Harbor and having the largest and most efficient police force in all of America is now the most secure city there is. Unfortunately that security comes at a price. All I ask is that a bit more rational thinking be employed when trying to protect us all.
As an end to this entry but not an end to this entire subject I’d like to mention the following which was reported in the Guardian.co.uk
Guardian.co.uk
Scotland Yard warns police officers over photography concerns
by Paul Lewis, Tuesday 15 December 2009
Coming up next will be Part II – Public vs. Private
Thank you for reading this far.
Filed under: Photography, Terrorism
Abraham Lincoln
“I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal.”
- Abraham Lincoln
Filed under: Uncategorized
Mencken, H.L.
“The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the urge to rule it.”
- Mencken, H. L.
Filed under: Great Quotes
Adolf Hitler
“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think”
- Adolf Hitler
Filed under: Great Quotes
Woman with the World’s Biggest Pair of Boobs!
The biggest pair I’ve seen in the entire world!
Filed under: Funny Stuff - Political & Not!
Recession, Depression, Recovery
Speaks for itself…doesn’t it?

Filed under: Funny Stuff - Political & Not!, Uncategorized