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. :}

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?

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.

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::

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.::

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

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

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

Did they spend that much energy going after the taggers?

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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
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Last Summer, I was getting some long-range shots of a big forest fire. I had gone over the gate on a large Corps of Engineers dam and was halfway out on the earthen fill. A uniformed Corps patrol agent came out soon after, but wasn't interested in giving me any trouble. She spent 15 minutes talking about cameras and the fires and went on her way, without even asking my name. Maybe it's just that I look harmless?

Here in San Diego, when I had first recieved my DVX100 I had went down with my brother to shoot it out; Rosecrans, Shelter Island, Point Loma and The Master and Commander ship that was on display.

After an allday shooting extravaganza we rolled up to the Cruise terminal for parking (This is the best place to park when down there) and Customs Agents spotted me shooting the skyline with the DVX100.

They came over; demanded to see the footage; gave us the third degree for at least :45 minutes taking our DL Info and License Plate. Bizarre.

I respect them doing their job; but here we are in literally tourist central of San Diego Bay where EVERYONE seems to have a camera or camcorder and my bro and I look like typical Socal Dudes.

They must have been bored; then again; the camera attarcts attention as it is.

Did they spend that much energy going after the taggers?

I doubt it, and the paint is still there today. (And I was in a hurry to photo it before it was cleaned off... facepalm)