Stairs 6

Claude, nice photo. Excuse me while I rant about an experience I had today while taking similar shots at an oil refinery. I was accosted by no less than four separate employees. I'd asked the security people first who said 'call this number and ask them'. My conversation with the person on the other end of the line went like this:

Refinery PR: 'So what do you want to do?'

Me: 'I just want to take photos - I take it I can't come inside.'

Refinery PR: 'Oh no, you can't come inside. And we prefer it if you asked first for permission to shoot from public areas'

Me: 'What would you say if I asked?'

Refinery PR: 'Oh, we'd say no, of course - it's company policy'

Me: 'Then I won't be asking.'

Refinery PR: 'Oh but, we prefer it if you do.'

I then stood on the public footpath and took photos from the inside looking in. Security dropped by and demanded my details. Then a group of four employees came up and demanded to know if I had checked in with security:

Employee (angry): 'You're taking photos of our refinery!'

Me: 'From a public area ...'

Employee (more angry): 'But you're taking photos of our refinery!!!'

Me: 'Yes, from a public area ...'

Employee (even more angry): 'Yes, but you're taking photos of our refinery!!!'

I eventually got rid of them when yet a refinery manager stopped by:

Manager: "Have security stopped by to check on you?"

Me: "Yes, twice and also two other people."

Manager: "What about police? Have they stopped to talk to you?"

Me: "I'm sure the gestapo will be here shortly. Good thing I shaved my full beard and got rid of my white robes."

Manager: "Well you shouldn't be taking photos of the refinery."

Me: "You and I both know that I'm in a public area and you can't stop me. And the photos of the top of the smoke stack will be highly useful to terrorists."

Manager: "Well while you're here you could be taking photos of other things to."

Me: "And I'd be within my rights too. Now come on - you and I both know you can't stop me so please let me get on and take photos."

Eventually she left. Free at last to take photos, only to realise that I was late for a meeting and had to go ...

It's still a nice photo, Claude.

Claude, you have a very nice image here. I love the shadows!

Great picture.Really nice graphisme...Bravo

Cery beuatiful creation!

Congratulations

Ricardo