All Aboard !

Posted by Rene's Photo of the Day (Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada) on 27 February 2007 in Transportation and Portfolio.

In this post 911 world being armed with a camera in a subway or anyplace is cause for folks to be more worried than before. This conductor seen me with the camera, called it in and a minute later I had to answer a couple of questions about what I was doing. This doesn't happen to often but I am worried that being free to pursue ones art may get harder in the future.

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Comments (6)

Bronnie from Christchurch, New Zealand

I'm glad you caught that shot even though you went through the inquisition to get it. I have wondered when/whether we will get stopped from taking cameras into railways, planes and so on - lurking with a camera can look sooooo suspect. Good reason to buy a big black one I think!!
Incrediby crisp detail in this, great stuff.

27 Feb 2007 6:42am

@Bronnie: Thanks for your comment. It is unfortunate that the world has become the way it has, I understand their point and they were fairly good about it once they realized I was a tourist not a terrorist. I just hope that we can get back to a place where riding the subway or taking a plane ride are safe.

Daroru from Osaka, Japan

Interesting incident. Never really thought taking photos would cause such suspicion. Your shot came out very well.

27 Feb 2007 3:53pm

@Daroru: Neither did I actually. I think sometimes I tend to forget there are some people in the world who would try and do us harm, I am not nieve, I just prefer to think happier thoughts.

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

This is a familiar scene; even the conductor looks familiar. I've always been nervous of photographing them, and now I see that I've been right to be. My furtive attempts haven't ever panned out too well. Ironic that they usually harass people carrying SLRs and not those with small (but sneakier) cameras. Did they tell you that you shouldn't take photos, or only ask you questions? I ask because TTC bylaw 16b states that one needs authorization for 'commercial photography'. It doesn't address non-commercial photography, but most people have interpreted it to mean that it's just fine.

There's a great discussion about this subject on Flickr. Anyway, nice shot. Please take more subway photos just out of principle!

27 Feb 2007 7:06pm

@Damon Schreiber: I wasn't aware of any bylaw, mainly because I don't live in Toronto. However I will check into it and see. It was sort of suggested that taking photo's was frowned upon but no one would come right out and say it directly which seems to be the case in a lot of "public" settings like City Halls or the Sudden appearance of a Security Guy at BCE place. They were friendly and let me go on my way so I wasn't too worried. I will probably keep shooting public places and unless I see a sign or it is on a concert ticket I will probably just keep on doing it.

Evie Sears from Fairfax, VA, United States

I live just oustide of Washington, DC. As you can imagine, photographers get hassled all the time here. It's been my experience that security guards (who are private employees, not policemen) are more bothersome than police, who generally know the law. Having said that, I've also read some horror stories about overzealous police. In the USA, the law is generally on the side of the photographer. Nevertheless, if the police hassle you, the best policy is to be polite. My mother always said good manners were important - now I believe her. :-)

2 Mar 2007 1:27pm

Balpa from Ravenna, Italy

Familiar scene. Great shot.

24 Apr 2007 12:41pm

Andrea Auf dem Brinke from Desenzano (BS), Italy

Very nice shot

13 Sep 2007 7:27am

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Canon EOS 20D
1/250 second
F/1.8
ISO 800
50 mm