steve_levine Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>So reads the signs on most bridge and tunnel entrances in the city. What's up with these? Have the terrorists won or what? What sort of damage can be done by shooting pictures of such structures?</p> <p> In a related historical tale: My father was a policeman in Poughkeepsie , NY in the 1930-40's. He told me a story about two "Oriental" gentlemen "caught" photographing Po'keepsie's Mid Hudson Bridge in the weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The city police arrested the men and hauled them to jail. Where they were stripped and beaten, and their cameras smashed. Soon after this it was revealed that the men were in fact Chinese, not Japanese. And were both visiting professors of Chinese history on their way to Vassar College.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenPapai Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>Is it OK to at least take a photo of the signs, otherwise, is that why it's not posted here?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwaks Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>Has Osama ever got a phone call saying "I'm so sorry I could not carry out our mission against the Great Satan. Our brother failed to provide the pictures"?</p> <p>I wonder.......</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathonswersey Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>Hey Steve,<br> Interesting observation - but you can get pics of just about anywhere in NYC through google maps, or live.maps - or whatever - including satellite views - so maybe this is what we would call irony? I am a native new yorker - born and raised - and was living in Manhattan during 9/11, though thee days we live in Bostobn. I do know if you loiter too long in front of a major public space - say the Federal building - you will attract attention. Same thing if you take pictures on the subway.<br> Anyway - we miss new york. Please send bagels :-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bueh Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>It's all... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theatre<br /><br />Another insightful article on this issue: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2008/06/the_war_on_phot.html</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_henderson Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>Are these signs new? Or are have they been there a while in which period people have quite happily been photographing the bridges without interference?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yog_sothoth Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>The most logical explaination is that the postcard industy is trying to make photos of the landmarks harder to get so they can sell more postcards. As far as preventing "terrorists" these bans on photography make no sense. Which terrorist attacks actually used photos of landmarks?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwaks Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>What if our enemies were to discover these landmark picture postcards being sold at the very landmarks we are trying to protect? If they got their hands on them the consequences would be terrible.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 <p>it's for one reason and one reason only...and it's not bridges...photographs reveal the truth. If you make recording the truth prohibitted, you control the truth.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wiggins Photography Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>I found this link that might be of help in understanding the restrictions in NYC. Tom<br> <a href="http://nysgo.com/guide/2008/09/11/camera-restrictions-in-new-york/">http://nysgo.com/guide/2008/09/11/camera-restrictions-in-new-york/</a></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don_e Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>I don't think terrorism is the reason, but it is a good excuse for those who want to control and define their public image, especially politicians, police, "community leaders" and celebrities, plus artists who don't want their "public art" to be too public. It is more due to Rodney King, that to bin Laden.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomas_sullivan Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>actually Tom....most of that link refers to privately owned venues. And as it is the owners private property they can prohibit photography if they want to. It's actually done at most venues, and not after 9/11 but concerts were definitely way before, (although I can only attest to Philadelphia and NYC, personally). The museum thing has also always been in effect, again, NYC and Philly to my knowledge. The tripod prohibition is actually a safety concern...not a pic prohibitting thing.</p> <p>What the poster and at least myself was referring to is Public photography. Pictures taken from public property. It's public, there is no privacy. You can take pics of what ever you want to.....or at least you should be able to And in that regard, I stand by my previous statement.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcg856 Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>the signs on the bridges have been there before 9/11,they are on the bridges because there are some good views of manhattan and people would drive slow and even stop their cars on the bridge to take photos of manhattan,especially from the Throgg Neck Bridge(now RFK Bridge).The signs in the subways and tunnels were put up after 9/11 i believe</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_dimarzio Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>Are they legal and if not why are they still there?</p> <p>I was bs'ing with a truck driver, he got busted with a 600 dollar fine by the DOT for not having a current 2 dollar form but the previous version that was seemingly current.</p> <p>WTF have we become?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Wiggins Photography Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 <p>I stand corrected. I have pictures on the Brooklyn Bridge, from September 2008 and I don't recall see the signs.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_gillette Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 <p>You'll probably get a better answer from the Mayor's Office in New York. If you've been reading some of the forums, the NYPD recently caught up with public policy and sent out a reminder to their officers. It wouldn't surprise me if the PATH and bridge authorities were equally efficient. But, it's New York - and for much of the rest of the country, it's really true: "We ("I" for you purists who might care about NY) don't care how they do it in New York."</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_waller Posted June 7, 2009 Share Posted June 7, 2009 <p>In a case currently going through the courts in Britain, the person charged with terrorist offences was seen wandering around a shopping mall, not taking photographs but making notes in a small notebook. So expect a ban on pens and paper any time now.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy s. Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 <p>The signs merely say use of cameras are prohibited. No mention is made of when they were put up. No mentionis made of why they were put up. <br> I suggest the OP go and take some photos and during the "strictly enforced" phase of the operation he can find out the whys. <br> After he is released from custody or jail, matters little which it is, he can report back to P-Net and we will also expect the photos he took to be posted.<br> It could be assumed the signs were placed after 9/11 (no one knows for certain). It could also be assumed this thread was started with the explicit intent of getting folks riled up. <br> When I see signs like this, I usually take a photo. I have an archive.... </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j.w. Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 <p>Repeat after me:<br> <strong><em></em></strong><br> <strong><em>"Security Theater, Security Theater, Security Theater..."</em></strong></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c._f. Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 <p>New Yorker here... I'm yet to see anyone being pulled over for taking a picture/video when the sign says otherwise.<br> <strong><em>Security Theater, Security Theater, Security Theater</em> </strong> <strong><em> Security Theater, Security Theater, Security Theater </em> </strong> <strong><em>Security Theater, Security Theater, Security Theater</em> </strong><br> <strong><em><em>Adam </em> <br /> </em> </strong></p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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