This one is a little collaboration between Julian Bialowas and myself. Photo is his, processing is mine. We swapped photos earlier this week to see how different our final products turn out when someone else is behind the processing. Julian is a great photographer, explores alot and lives in a wonderful area. I wouldn't choose anybody else to do this little project with!
I am practicing taking motion shots, and slowing the shutter to add a blurring effect to highlight the sense of movement. I took this photo in the tram at the Orlando Airport. As you can see, I obviously need a bit more practice.
A Customs and Border Control Officer, Officer Luis Rodriguez, was traveling on the tram with me to one of the gates. With his hand on his service weapon, he began interrogating me about why I was taking photos. I told him that I was an amateur photographer, and that it really wasn't his business, but he became agitated and told me that the "airport is a federal building and that I cannot take photos of a secure place." He said that he was a federal officer and that I had to answer him.
I told him that the airport is not owned by the Federal Government, and that there were no signs stating that I could not take photos (as there are in the security screening area).
When I asked his badge number, he left me alone.
I understand the need for security, and that terrorists and the like might want photos of the screening area, or maybe even of structural parts of the airport, but this is ridiculous.
We have come too far. It started with George W, and has been perpetuated by Obama. We are becoming a police state. Federal Officers should not feel that they have the right, much less the obligation to interrogate a citizen taking photographs.
When I lived in Argentina, the people there lived in fear that the military government would come back to power, and that federal agents, dressed much like Officer Rodriguez would have the authority to question them without probable cause, and then haul them off if they didn't like the answer or the attitude of the citizen.
