Wanted to photograph the historical Shaw Film studios at Jalan Ampas. I know of someone who did manage to get permission from the caretakers there to take pics quite a while back. But yesterday, my luck not so good. After they (there were a few people, assuming relatives of the caretaker?) politely rejected my request for permission to photograph, I walked out of the complex and they shut the gates behind me. All I could do was read this historic plaque thing in front of the premises. What an irony.
That's the thing about S'pore. I dunno why it's so difficult to allow people to photograph such places of historical significance. And soon, the place will be torn down, and all we're left with is that plaque saying something like "...this is the former location of..." whatever. OR, if it doesn't get torn down, it will be made into some swanky pub/restaurant and you still would not be allowed to take photos (as was the case when I wanted to photography Lim Bo Seng's estate around Siglap area).
Similar deal when I wanted to photograph my old secondary school. The jaga said cannot, not even from the outside.
Often when we write in to the relevant authorities, they either don't reply, or give a "we regret to inform you" reply without any real reason.
So, what do you think could be the reason why photography is not allowed? Speculations?
Safety considerations (unstable structures)
Health considerations (dengue?)
Copyright issues?
Criminal activity possibilities (drugs, vandalism, vice, Satanic rituals, etc)
Don't want to turn the place into a circus?
Giving the place negative publicity (haunting rumours, etc)
Selling the images for profit.
Private property. No photography. Just because.
Government property. No photography. Just because.
Threat to national security.
Not just old buildings. Almost any building. As long as there's a security guard around seeing you with a cam, chances are he's going to stop you and he's not going to know why (just doing their job, they say.)
That's the thing about S'pore. I dunno why it's so difficult to allow people to photograph such places of historical significance. And soon, the place will be torn down, and all we're left with is that plaque saying something like "...this is the former location of..." whatever. OR, if it doesn't get torn down, it will be made into some swanky pub/restaurant and you still would not be allowed to take photos (as was the case when I wanted to photography Lim Bo Seng's estate around Siglap area).
Similar deal when I wanted to photograph my old secondary school. The jaga said cannot, not even from the outside.
Often when we write in to the relevant authorities, they either don't reply, or give a "we regret to inform you" reply without any real reason.
So, what do you think could be the reason why photography is not allowed? Speculations?
Safety considerations (unstable structures)
Health considerations (dengue?)
Copyright issues?
Criminal activity possibilities (drugs, vandalism, vice, Satanic rituals, etc)
Don't want to turn the place into a circus?
Giving the place negative publicity (haunting rumours, etc)
Selling the images for profit.
Private property. No photography. Just because.
Government property. No photography. Just because.
Threat to national security.
Not just old buildings. Almost any building. As long as there's a security guard around seeing you with a cam, chances are he's going to stop you and he's not going to know why (just doing their job, they say.)
