Stopped at Love Field

[The Barbarian]

Waiting for my wife's plane at Dallas Love Field, I stepped outside the terminal and using my cell phone tried to get a pano of the area.


About the third shot, a police officer approached. I said, "I'm not being rude,but I have to finish this series of shots."


She waited patiently.


"So what can I do for you?"


She was concerned about terrorism. She was so earnest, I was unwilling to laugh, and I told that I had been taking pictures at airports, including Love Field, for years, and no one ever had asked me about it.


"Well, with things the way they are..."


"Would you feel better if I showed you my ID?"


She would. So I did. She didn't write it down, perhaps beginning to realize that an old guy with a cell phone taking pictures of a building that surely has been photographed countless times, wasn't very likely to be a terrorist.


And then she walked away. Other than a rather slow security guard for the St. Louis metro line, it's never happened before.

 

[Photo Lady]

Great photo

 

[Jeff15]

Nice shot.....

 

[smoke665]

Times have definitely changed. You're probably lucky you weren't escorted to security for a full body cavity search!

 

[Soocom1]

I love the shot with the bimmer coming in. Reminds me of the commercial shots from the 70's.

Good color rendition.

As for the security guard/cop, I understand they have concerns, but it really does need to be periodically reminded to them that someone with a camera is not a threat and approaching them though legal is questionable at best.

Its not an anti-cop thing, but we really need to discourage that.
I get the attitude, but in all seriousness, its the slippery slope argument that does actually happen.

 

[smoke665]

@Soocom1 I have no problem with an LEO speaking to me in a respectful manner, and I will treat them with equal respect. From the text of the OP it sounds like that's what happened. I've had both good and bad, even had a young buck draw on me one time, threatening to shoot me, because he thought he could get away with it. Unfortunately for him he didn't know that the mayor and I were friends, the next morning in the mayor's office with the police chief present, he wasn't quite as tough as he thought.

 

[Soocom1]

@Soocom1 I have no problem with an LEO speaking to me in a respectful manner, and I will treat them with equal respect. From the text of the OP it sounds like that's what happened. I've had both good and bad, even had a young buck draw on me one time, threatening to shoot me, because he thought he could get away with it. Unfortunately for him he didn't know that the mayor and I were friends, the next morning in the mayor's office with the police chief present, he wasn't quite as tough as he thought.

Not what I mean.

I have dealt with LE on that argument both good and bad.

It boils down to the fact that there are some officers that are clueless. but IMO unless the individual is acting suspicious.. why?

 

[smoke665]

It boils down to the fact that there are some officers that are clueless. but IMO unless the individual is acting suspicious.. why?

Why not, that's their job to asses risks. Someone standing outside the terminal at night snapping multiple pictures with a cell phone, might tick my suspicions. Like a single person holding a bag standing in an odd place just looking around. Again from the text of the OP sounds like the officer acted appropriately for the circumstances. Casually questioned and moved on.

 

[The Barbarian]

I love the shot with the bimmer coming in. Reminds me of the commercial shots from the 70's.

Good color rendition.

As for the security guard/cop, I understand they have concerns, but it really does need to be periodically reminded to them that someone with a camera is not a threat and approaching them though legal is questionable at best.

Its not an anti-cop thing, but we really need to discourage that.
I get the attitude, but in all seriousness, its the slippery slope argument that does actually happen.

I acted friendly, but amused, hoping she might see how foolish it is to suspect someone taking a picture in public. When I asked her if she'd feel better if I showed her my ID, I think she got the message. Sometimes, as you suggest, the best thing to is act friendly, but bemused that anyone would seriously consider photography in a very public place to be a concern.

If she left the encounter feeling slightly foolish, then I did my job.