Your Thoughts Concerning Harassment

[rcsenn]

<p>I have worked in refineries, paper mills, shipyards, power plants, and such all over the US for a long time now ( Inspections, not directly photography related). They all differ in the politeness that the people at a given facility have. Many are professionals conducting themselves in a proffessional manner; but the ones that are not often are a product of their environment (from top management the attitude trickles down). The guard being a PITA is unfortunate, but probably just who he is.<br>

Prior to 9/11 and after some facilities have no change in their standard operating procedures, and some have changed drastically. Currently to work with many of my current clients I have to have a valid TWIC card, just like everyone else there. <a href="http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm">http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm</a> This program is handled by the same TSA that is at the airport; need I say much more?<br>

Another thing to consider is why the guard would come out there on a country road some distance from refinery property? Maybe he was still on refinery property? One refinery I go to has it's true property line starting over a mile from their first fence. (on another note some of the Gov't facilities I go to have signs up that read "Use of Deadly Force is Authorized in This Area" or something to that effect. Great, hope Your guard isn't there) <br>

When I first arrive at a job site, search of a vehicle is often the order of the day, and standard items not even allowed on the facility grounds are typically weapons (guns, knives, etc), alcohol, drugs, chemicals without proper markings and MSDS's, photographic equipment, recording devices, pornography, and more I'm sure. These items are usually covered in a "safety training" course that you have to attend prior to entry to the site. During the course of an inspection I often like to use a camera to document things encountered during the inspection. This is usually not a problem, but typically I do have to get specific permission of some type, typically a "camera card" or something similar to even have the camera there. The point is that the people inside the fence are looking for these things, and are "supposed" to be aware of what's going on outside the fence too.<br>

Facilities like this also are on the lookout for people that might be trying to document some type of percieved wrongdoing; unsafe work environment, unsafe acts by workers, impact on the environment, etc. They'd rather shoo someone away than take a chance on them causing them trouble somehow.<br>

Usually a facility like this will have a PR department of somekind; maybe a call to them prior to shooting can help, or let you know if they are against it. <br>

Rich</p>

 

[Ian Taylor]

<p>If you don't want to deal with these $6/hr security guard idiots, don't photograph refineries etc.<br>

Your rights mean nothing to these people. Just avoid.</p>

[akgraham]

<p>Jeff has a shot of a refinery in his gallery which really well demonstrates his attraction to these venues. I think he should not be deterred by one bad experience.</p>

<p>He may need to work out a strategy for dealing with the seemingly inevitable approaches of guards who don't understand he is able to take photos in the dark and therefore they assume he is up to some nefarious activity.</p>

[Jeff Lear]

<p>As I said previously, I like the lights. It doesn't have to be a refinery but bulb-for-bulb, you aren't going to find a higher concentration of lights anywhere else. I have pictures of nighttime Christmas Trees and cityscapes as well, also for the lights but far less controversial.</p>

<p>Some here have devised a plan of lying in order to disguise their activity (which was in fact, illegal trespassing on private property). I don't feel the need to do that. First of all, I'm not a particularly good liar and second, I have absolutely no reason to lie as we were doing nothing illegal or sinister. I also don't think that it's a good idea to make up stories when someone is accusing you of possible terrorist plots against the U.S. I can see that going really, really badly.</p>

<p>I completely agree with Andrew Graham's final statement. I was following that exact train of thought as we were approached and I honestly feel as though I <em>tried</em> to do exactly as you suggested in the last sentence of your response. The guard was probably about as familiar with photography as we were with guarding a refinery and my hastily devised plan was to put the guard at ease by showing him our photographs and not mentioning that we were photographing the refinery but rather the <em>lights</em>. Perhaps our naivety would put the guard at ease and he would realize we were not a threat.</p>

<p>When confronted by the guard we offered a 100% truthful explanation of what we were doing.</p>

<p>When our identification was subsequently demanded we politely declined based on the fact that he had not provided sufficient reason for needing to see it. Again, we were well within our rights to be doing what we were, the guard was not. I understand that some here would submit to just about any request made by the guard whether it was justified or not... I am not that person. I value the liberties this great country affords me, the liberties some of our friends and neighbors have sacrificed their lives for. What if, after surrendering my out-of-state I.D. the guard, empowered by our willing submission, decided that he must now take possession of our camera equipment as a matter of national security?</p>

<p>My final thought on this is that I feel it is not in the best interest of <em>anyone</em> to willingly submit to something you know is wrong, we are taught this from childhood. It sets a bad precedence and may influence future actions of that individual, it may even give them a sense of entitlement in future altercations. By rightfully questioning the guard's authority in this situation we effectively demonstrated that he could not bully us and that he was acting outside of his authority. It may make him think twice about his approach to a similar situation in the future, I hope that he is more discerning of potential threats.</p>

[laceyhughes]

<p>Awful!</p>

 

Refinery Explosion in Anacortes

 

<p >Posted: 1:00 am PDT April 2,2010Updated: 1:52 am PDT April 2,2010</p>

<strong >ANACORTES, Wash. -- </strong>Skagit County Fire confirms to KIRO 7 they are responding to reports of a refinery explosion in Anacortes.

 

Several people report lots of flames and smoke.

 

One resident tells KIRO 7 he heard a loud explosion that shook his house about two miles away.

 

Another says he sees a large fire in the center of the complex being blown by high winds.

 

Loud sirens sounded that could be heard all across town.

 

Anacortes resident Travis Murrieta says he saw an ambulance speeding away from the refinery complex.

 

If you have seen or heard the explosion, please e-mail <a href="mailto:newstips@kirotv.com">newstips@kirotv.com</a>.

 

A KIRO 7 crew is on the way. Watch KIRO 7 Morning News from 4:30 to 7 a.m. for complete coverage of this breaking story.