Getting the perfect shot won me an interview with the FBI at DVinfo.net

Jeff Miller · April 19th, 2005, 10:05 PM

Friends, be careful where you set up to take some video of stuff. I was doing some taping for an art project last month, and was in a place I really shouldn't have been. It wasn't a military base or some installation, but I still shouldn't have been there. I was caught and escorted out of the township by police, and soon enough forgot about the whole thing.
Today the FBI stopped by work and we had a chat. The agents were pretty good guys, and explained the problem. The thing about a camera on a tripod is that it can look like a weapon. And the thing about the police report was that it had a "terrorist" theme to it (even though I wasn't arrested or charged). And the thing about terrorism is that in these days, any odd case that mentions it will get a visit from the FBI.

So film safe everyone. If you wonder what law enforcemnet will think, then don't set up there. Thank goodness I was just using my GL2, a mere machine gun... if I'd had my XL2 they might've thought it was a bazooka!

If you want someone who will get the shot, I'm for hire, the feds have my resume. :}

K. Forman · April 20th, 2005, 05:24 AM

I'm sorry, but if I were a terrorist... Missouri would probabley be second from last on my list of potential targets. Right above Boise Idaho. What were you shooting that brought the FBI?

Bill Ravens · April 20th, 2005, 07:13 AM

it's a good thing our junior g-men are on duty watching the store. lord knows how many possible terrorists attacks they've already averted by the always watchful priorities. i'm sure al-quiada can't pull a single thing by them, especially with all those agents following up on innocent civilians.

Jeff Miller · April 20th, 2005, 07:43 AM

Keith: The photograph was of something so petty that I'll sound like an idiot if I mention it; let's just say someone had tagged (spray painted) what I felt was a socially relevent statement on a piece of infrastructure and I had to set up fifty yards from a highway to get the picture of it I wanted.

Thanks for the laughs fellows, I had some thoughts of my own on the matter but after the chat I decided to tell a story more in a cautious then callous light, lol
::looks over shoulder::

Jeff Miller · April 20th, 2005, 08:24 AM

Dude I'm behind they're jobs, just offering some sage caution to other videographers so they don't wind up in the same boat, hehe
And I, Jeff Miller of St Louis Missouri, do not have a Glock or any other catchphrase pistol-ish weapons, and am not knowingly associated with any people or groups that do.
::re-arranges desk so that the chair faces the door.::

Cliff Hepburn · April 20th, 2005, 08:44 AM

Jeff, although, your shot was probably inocent enough, you are most likely on someone's watch list now.

Boyd Ostroff · April 20th, 2005, 09:19 AM

Guys, I've edited one post out of this thread already. We really cannot turn this into a political discussion about administration policies....

Mark Williams · April 20th, 2005, 09:26 AM

I work at a large federal dam in the southeast. Since 9/11 we have been very sensitive to any public filming around the facility. 99% of the time it is purely innocent. You know tourist type stuff. Then 2 years ago we latched on to 5 guys with cameras poked thru the fence. They were linked to a terrorist cell in NY and are now behind bars.

Regards,

Mark

Gary Chavez · April 25th, 2005, 09:58 AM

Did they spend that much energy going after the taggers?

Kevin Wild · April 25th, 2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Williams

I work at a large federal dam in the southeast. Since 9/11 we have been very sensitive to any public filming around the facility. 99% of the time it is purely innocent. You know tourist type stuff. Then 2 years ago we latched on to 5 guys with cameras poked thru the fence. They were linked to a terrorist cell in NY and are now behind bars.

Regards,

Mark

Where is the large federal dam in Atlanta?

KW

Mark Williams · April 25th, 2005, 05:25 PM

Buford Dam - Lake Sidney Lanier, located 20 miles northeast and upstream of Altanta.

Keith Loh · April 25th, 2005, 05:51 PM

Who were these guys? Have they gone to trial yet?

George Ellis · April 26th, 2005, 09:53 AM

Buford Dam is in Gwinnett County. Also the same county that Mohammad Atta and company went to flight school in. I have to drive by the spa they worked out in today. Also, just last week, another guy was charged for being a terrorist in training in our area. They were fishing his guns out of the Chattahoochee river, which is stopped by Buford Dam (Lake Lanier). Jeez.

Brent Ray · April 26th, 2005, 10:32 AM

I was recently doing a research project for a major Automotive supplier. I just had to follow a few different respondants around with a camera as they went on a shopping spree, while people from the company asked them questions. (Sounds weird for an automotive supplier, I know, but it actually makes sense) I can't tell you how sensitive people are to cameras now. I was using a DVX-100a, and I got kicked out of nearly every store and mall we went to. I literally have footage of about 20-30 store clerks and security guards telling me very sternly to "turn the camera off".

It's a different world nowadays.

Mark Williams · April 26th, 2005, 01:32 PM

Keith,

The individuals were deported. I don't want to go into more specifics as that information really isn't relevant to this forum. I was only trying to make the point that not all filming near sensitive areas is inocent and in those rare incidents where it is not, observant people should report it to law enfocement. In this case it paid off. The Atlanta area is well known as having a high incidence of this type activity over the past several years.

Regards,

Mark

April 19th, 2005, 10:05 PM	#1
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Getting the perfect shot won me an interview with the FBI Friends, be careful where you set up to take some video of stuff. I was doing some taping for an art project last month, and was in a place I really shouldn't have been. It wasn't a military base or some installation, but I still shouldn't have been there. I was caught and escorted out of the township by police, and soon enough forgot about the whole thing. Today the FBI stopped by work and we had a chat. The agents were pretty good guys, and explained the problem. The thing about a camera on a tripod is that it can look like a weapon. And the thing about the police report was that it had a "terrorist" theme to it (even though I wasn't arrested or charged). And the thing about terrorism is that in these days, any odd case that mentions it will get a visit from the FBI. So film safe everyone. If you wonder what law enforcemnet will think, then don't set up there. Thank goodness I was just using my GL2, a mere machine gun... if I'd had my XL2 they might've thought it was a bazooka! If you want someone who will get the shot, I'm for hire, the feds have my resume. :}

April 20th, 2005, 05:24 AM	#2
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I'm sorry, but if I were a terrorist... Missouri would probabley be second from last on my list of potential targets. Right above Boise Idaho. What were you shooting that brought the FBI? __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

April 25th, 2005, 05:51 PM	#12
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Who were these guys? Have they gone to trial yet? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

April 20th, 2005, 07:13 AM	#3
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	it's a good thing our junior g-men are on duty watching the store. lord knows how many possible terrorists attacks they've already averted by the always watchful priorities. i'm sure al-quiada can't pull a single thing by them, especially with all those agents following up on innocent civilians.

April 20th, 2005, 07:43 AM	#4
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Keith: The photograph was of something so petty that I'll sound like an idiot if I mention it; let's just say someone had tagged (spray painted) what I felt was a socially relevent statement on a piece of infrastructure and I had to set up fifty yards from a highway to get the picture of it I wanted. Thanks for the laughs fellows, I had some thoughts of my own on the matter but after the chat I decided to tell a story more in a cautious then callous light, lol ::looks over shoulder::

April 20th, 2005, 08:24 AM	#5
Jeff Miller Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 227	Dude I'm behind they're jobs, just offering some sage caution to other videographers so they don't wind up in the same boat, hehe And I, Jeff Miller of St Louis Missouri, do not have a Glock or any other catchphrase pistol-ish weapons, and am not knowingly associated with any people or groups that do. ::re-arranges desk so that the chair faces the door.::

April 20th, 2005, 08:44 AM	#6
Cliff Hepburn Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston Posts: 75	Jeff, although, your shot was probably inocent enough, you are most likely on someone's watch list now.

April 20th, 2005, 09:19 AM	#7
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	Guys, I've edited one post out of this thread already. We really cannot turn this into a political discussion about administration policies....

April 20th, 2005, 09:26 AM	#8
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	I work at a large federal dam in the southeast. Since 9/11 we have been very sensitive to any public filming around the facility. 99% of the time it is purely innocent. You know tourist type stuff. Then 2 years ago we latched on to 5 guys with cameras poked thru the fence. They were linked to a terrorist cell in NY and are now behind bars. Regards, Mark

April 25th, 2005, 09:58 AM	#9
Gary Chavez Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Antonio Posts: 355	Did they spend that much energy going after the taggers?

April 25th, 2005, 05:25 PM	#11
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Buford Dam - Lake Sidney Lanier, located 20 miles northeast and upstream of Altanta.

April 26th, 2005, 09:53 AM	#13
George Ellis Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Suwanee, GA Posts: 1,241	Buford Dam is in Gwinnett County. Also the same county that Mohammad Atta and company went to flight school in. I have to drive by the spa they worked out in today. Also, just last week, another guy was charged for being a terrorist in training in our area. They were fishing his guns out of the Chattahoochee river, which is stopped by Buford Dam (Lake Lanier). Jeez.

April 26th, 2005, 10:32 AM	#14
Brent Ray Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 145	I was recently doing a research project for a major Automotive supplier. I just had to follow a few different respondants around with a camera as they went on a shopping spree, while people from the company asked them questions. (Sounds weird for an automotive supplier, I know, but it actually makes sense) I can't tell you how sensitive people are to cameras now. I was using a DVX-100a, and I got kicked out of nearly every store and mall we went to. I literally have footage of about 20-30 store clerks and security guards telling me very sternly to "turn the camera off". It's a different world nowadays.

April 26th, 2005, 01:32 PM	#15
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Keith, The individuals were deported. I don't want to go into more specifics as that information really isn't relevant to this forum. I was only trying to make the point that not all filming near sensitive areas is inocent and in those rare incidents where it is not, observant people should report it to law enfocement. In this case it paid off. The Atlanta area is well known as having a high incidence of this type activity over the past several years. Regards, Mark