This is not a complaint thread but more a fyi thread.
I think most of the photographers here would have realised that taking photos of certain public buildings might get you questioned by the authorities but I just encountered something a little different.
Today (14th March), I was walking down Paterson Road towards Borders from the junction with Grange Road and taking some pictures of the scenery and buildings. Well, further down, near the bus stop along Paterson, a police car pulls over and I'm half-thinking "It can't be me right?"
And of course, it is me. They stop me and ask me for identification because I was taking pictures of a building where some VIP stays. The police officers were polite about it, so I saw no reason to pick a fight with them, I cooperate, show them my IC and all.
I ask one of the officers who the VIP is and he doesn't really say.
They leave me with all my gear intact and that is hopefully the end of that (unless I hear loud knocks on my door tonight )
I don't really blame the officers, they are just doing their job and there was no point kicking up a fuss with them over it, but this does give me a few things to think about. These questions are mostly rhetorical, so feel free to ignore them.
1) This whole situation is a Catch-22. I don't know which buildings these VIPs are staying in, I just know that the buildings look good and are nice to photograph. The authorities, of course won't tell you which buildings these VIPs are staying in because it's (I assume) confidential. So how should I know which buildings are :nono: esp with private ones?
2) Who is a VIP?
Minister? MPs? Really Rich man? Foreign dignitaries? Mistress of all of the above? :bsmilie:
3) I keep thinking about a photographer's right. I'm on a public street and I take a photograph of a public building. Will I be bothered by any police officers who happen to be in the area? Are there any buildings I'm not supposed to take a picture of from the outside (e.g. Ministries)? :dunno:
4) It pays to be important. I don't think I would have gotten the same reaction if I was taking pictures of HDB flats, unless a VIP stays in a HDB flat. hmmm, now what are the chances of that? :bsmilie:
I think most of the photographers here would have realised that taking photos of certain public buildings might get you questioned by the authorities but I just encountered something a little different.
Today (14th March), I was walking down Paterson Road towards Borders from the junction with Grange Road and taking some pictures of the scenery and buildings. Well, further down, near the bus stop along Paterson, a police car pulls over and I'm half-thinking "It can't be me right?"
And of course, it is me. They stop me and ask me for identification because I was taking pictures of a building where some VIP stays. The police officers were polite about it, so I saw no reason to pick a fight with them, I cooperate, show them my IC and all.
I ask one of the officers who the VIP is and he doesn't really say.
They leave me with all my gear intact and that is hopefully the end of that (unless I hear loud knocks on my door tonight )
I don't really blame the officers, they are just doing their job and there was no point kicking up a fuss with them over it, but this does give me a few things to think about. These questions are mostly rhetorical, so feel free to ignore them.
1) This whole situation is a Catch-22. I don't know which buildings these VIPs are staying in, I just know that the buildings look good and are nice to photograph. The authorities, of course won't tell you which buildings these VIPs are staying in because it's (I assume) confidential. So how should I know which buildings are :nono: esp with private ones?
2) Who is a VIP?
Minister? MPs? Really Rich man? Foreign dignitaries? Mistress of all of the above? :bsmilie:
3) I keep thinking about a photographer's right. I'm on a public street and I take a photograph of a public building. Will I be bothered by any police officers who happen to be in the area? Are there any buildings I'm not supposed to take a picture of from the outside (e.g. Ministries)? :dunno:
4) It pays to be important. I don't think I would have gotten the same reaction if I was taking pictures of HDB flats, unless a VIP stays in a HDB flat. hmmm, now what are the chances of that? :bsmilie: