Tools of the trade for terrorists: Canon, Leica or Nikon..?
White House photography by Tina Hager
(Click link to read on)
I’ve always thought photographers would make perfect assassins because we are good at predicting where to position our self in order for the subject or the right circumstances to occur in the viewfinder in the near future. Further, we aim well and long, are patient and used to operate complicated precision equipment. We always have backup gear with us so as to ensure we get what we came for.
And we are often granted access, either by accreditation or simply by the "art of BS."
A large enough still or video camera, along with the attitude, will get you in anywhere. And even give a parking spot next to the entrance.
"We're press!"
But that really wasn’t the point I wanted to make today.
And nor was it a job application ;-)
Thing is, I heard about this interesting piece in The Guardian about photography and terrorism. While I haven’t felt the anti-terror acts that much in Denmark – you’re able to photograph almost anywhere – I hear so much about problems in particular USA and Great Brittan.
I mean, here around, mostly you are prohibited photographing inside supermarkets for commercial reasons (you might steal their designs and ideas) or museums for reasons of copyright.
And at the train station they think you're not allowed to photograph. But that's because it's part of the railways and in order for you to shoot on railway tracks, you have to attend a two day security course.
But the security guys think it covers also the passenger areas. Well...
Not that it matters if you shoot a little silent Leica.
But for those armed with Canon and Nikon I guess it matters.
The whole matter of course is, that in order to prevent terrorism, you must prevent pictures being taken so as to plan acts of terrorism!
Right?
However, as the article le cleverly states, terrorists don’t take photographs.
“The 9/11 terrorists didn't photograph anything. Nor did the London transport bombers, the Madrid subway bombers, or the liquid bombers arrested in 2006. Timothy McVeigh didn't photograph the Oklahoma City Federal Building. The Unabomber didn't photograph anything; neither did shoe-bomber Richard Reid. Photographs aren't being found amongst the papers of Palestinian suicide bombers. The IRA wasn't known for its photography.”
“Given that real terrorists, and even wannabe terrorists, don't seem to photograph anything, why is it such pervasive conventional wisdom that terrorists photograph their targets? Why are our fears so great that we have no choice but to be suspicious of any photographer?”
US troops photographing George Bush in Korea. Photo: Eric Draper/WhiteHouse
And the article states that it’s simply because the ones who made up anti-terror acts had seen too many movies.
By the way, in movies robbers and burglars also take photographs to plan their acts. And I think that too seldom happen in real world.
Speaking of which. Remember the Tom Cruise/Spielberg movie Minority Report? I saw it again recently, mostly because the new Tom Cruise homepage reminded me how many good movies he’s in.
Max von Sydow and Tom Cruise
I almost cried when I saw Jerry Maguire again. “Show me the money,” “Help me help YOU,” “Don’t cry at the beginning of a date. Cry at the end, like I do” and “You had me at ‘Hello’” and tons of other great lines.
Well, who of us thought, back in 2002, that som many of that movie’s realities would resemble today’s realities sooo much now, in 2008. Just six years later.
I’m not (just) referring to the large touchscreen, Tom Cruise operates in that movie and how the iPhoen resembles that. That screen, by the way, can soon be bought.
But it’s actually an interesting movie to watch again, because given all what we know and have experienced now, it’s definitely a different experience.
Basically, that was all I had to say today. If you never hear more from me, feel free to guess.
Just out of curiosity, where is that article from? Just curious because the "Madrid subway bombers" were actually *railway* bombers... granted that it was the commuter system, but the attacks would have been far worse if they had not been carried out in the open.
Ahh, Cameras and Terror.... Ha ha ha! Being that I live with in 50 miles of an international border (canada) I am subject to the patriot act. That gives the Government the right to do what ever they please, when ever they please. I have been asked/told countless times that I could not take photos of lots of stuff in the city of Detroit. I was ased/told by a security guard that I could not photograph the GM building, that it was the building policy.
I think that the Media and the ignorance of the population all have unfounded fears as to the facts of terror. Yes terror is a reality but the process that terrorists take to fullfill their acts are unseen. That is truly why it is terrifying. Could you see a bunch of terrorists really taking photos of their inteneded targets. Why when they could just use Google's image search. Or get a satelite view of their target with Map Quests satelite view too.
Percieved terror is what they are really after, and I hate to say they are winning in that arena. Millions are being spent to fortify our borders, airports, bus stations, and trains. When the money could be better spent on education, and awareness.
Instead of saying to me, hey you can't photograph here, IE: white male in his fourties, Tattoos, with a camera around his neck. Well at least in hollywood I fit the profile.
You are so right. When recently, I stood in Charles de Galle airport in Paris and waited half an hour to get my luggage checked, I thought "this is the real terrorism at work."
The greatest promoters of terrorism since 2001 has been the White House. With their communications lines to the world they have made fear a larger issue than a man in a cage with a lousy video camera could ever dream of.
I think this media/government inspired terror is only backfiring at them in a really, really, really bad way, many people now think twice to travel as tourists to those countries, I watched a couple of days ago a documentary of how people with dark skin tones are being harassed for having cameras and taking the common tourist photo in the USA, and it scares the beejezus out of anyone to be put in that position. They are giving more and more terrain for emerging countries to exploit the toursim as a way of income -the one countries like USA and UK- will be loosing if not look how Hong Kong has become a "must visit" for travelers.
I think many directors have a great insight in todays geo-politics (as well as technology, sociological, issues too) views and they expose it in their films way before than the rest of us, although many fail to see them.
eheh you are very right.. In Portugal I havent felt any problems yet but I did in Spain.. People just consume way too much Hollywood.. but yeah I believe we could be great snipers:p And now, if they arrest you tell me something so I can run away:p
Wonder it's so tricky to be security. If you look at a crowd, it's easy to spot those faces that look weird, angry, nervous or simply stick out. Perhaps it's lack of real terrorists that we're all under suspicion.
I hope your not going to be arrested for taking pictures.
I read this article the other day, and a few others like it in the preceeding months. It's definately an issue which is getting a fair bit of air at the moment. Unfortunately, in the UK at least, most people blindly welcome any law politicians introduce without thinking about it's consequences.
The debate about 42 day detention here is a case in point. The government has a vote on it this Wednesday.
Pray for us brother! We may not be able to speak our minds much longer!
War on Terrorism haven't made the world a better place, on the contrary it's created confusion, "internal terrorism" and less human rights than before. Can't wait to get that White House cleaned out.
Just today a lady was sentenced to 14 days in prison for saying the word "bomb" in an airport security!
Whenever I pass through airports, they love all my cables. But what really freaks them out is my silver reflectors on top. Don't see those that often. So I always stay some feet away as they wonder and approach the bags.
honestly, it depends upon the event or the publicist whether or not bullshit will get you in. i know several people and if you give them attitude, you're done. not only ... your editor will get a phone call.
this is the deal ... they have fucking surveillance cameras everywhere, mate. they're the only ones they want invading privacy ... and not for artful purposes.
tom tom tom. as much as i've liked him in person. as much as he's been totally cool. i think his "era" is over. ever since that episode on oprah ... i think america (the biggest market for movies) is tired of him. in fact, that new oprah episode was one of her lowest rated.
odd.
why won't we hear from you? did you come to your senses and buy equipment that "real working photographers" use and loose your mind? ;)
Aah, Chris, you're so grumpy in the mornings before your first espresso's. By the way, you should blog about how to make a really cool hairraising espresso of the kind that will make smokers and non-smokers alike get into action.
And then stop reading this Ken Rockwell stuff. It's bad for your blood-pressure, not?
I think whenever you're faced with huge events where 'security' run around as chickens without head and blocks everybody, you just BS your way through. With real security like the government and royalty, don't even think of it.
As for Tom and any other celebrity, aah. fuck that VIP GOSSIP about how they are and so on. If you look at www.tomcruise.com you'll see he's a cool dude with a lot of movies worth seeing again. As I told mu ex-wife, "have a look at it (and try not to slide down the chair)" Apart from that, numbers speak and he sell well. So does Britney's new CD, by the way. And George Michael, etc.
I mean, you're almost IN the news business. You know real BS.
I find it increasingly amazing how the security people treat their nature these days watched 'three days of the condor' last night and was amazed at how I treated it before.. and then there's 'war games'
Ooh, now you got me chasing "Three Days of the Condor" down. I must see that again. "War Games" I've seen too many times to watch again. Always confuses that one with another one where Brad Pitt runs around with Leicas around his neck. At least I think (because I've never been able to find that one again).
Thank you so much for the very kind words, Thorsten. Getting that from a working photojournalist is always a real compliment. :) I started shooting in 2005, and the oldest photo in my uber portfolio is just from 2006. Definitely hoping to be even better in years to come! Thanks once again, and cheers from Indonesia!
Well, you're simply the most talented guy I've seen in a long time ... or longer. You're basically at a level where the only thing you should aim at developing is the message. What do you want to tell with your pictures. And I hope you don't go the "World Press" way with hopelessness but go for a the message of life, spirit and hope.
Hi, I have been watching your photography work for a bit and I really like them because it is rare from a professional photographer to shot real people with real emotions especially from famous people.
Hey Thorsten. I bought myself a used Leica R4. Now I'm in the R gang too. Part of this is because of your influence. The camera isn't in perfect condition, but it was affortable. I'll run a test roll thourgh it and probably use it for a reportage on Sunday.
Feels nice. Summicron 50/2 looks good and I hope it comes up to expectation. Should be pretty similar to M.
So well, now I am even more a red-dot elitist. But I don't care, I use other cameras too, Leicas are just good. Form a first glance I think that R is largerly underrated.
Chris will be green of envy ;-) and that's his own damn fault ;-)
The R4 is actually a nice camera and a nice size and sound. And it's easy to get one as many were produced and it is said to have a "faulty electronics." (Which mean that some R4 go dead, but I've never had any problems with mine).
You can probably find an inexpensive winder or motor to go with it. Gives an even better hold on it and balance.
The 50mm f/2.0 is reputed to be one of the best 50mm lenses in the world. And still is. I find 50mm a bit dull as I prefer 80mm mostly - but I must admit I'm blown by the quality of the Summicron 50mm f/2 when I use it.
Yes, sure. Electronics. A photographer I know, which has anything from Leicaflex to R8..., told me: look my brand new R4 went dead pretty soon. If you buy an R4 now, it most probably has survived. A visual check shows that mine works, a couple of films will tell.
As much as I love M... this R is nice. Leicaflexes are very expensive and in any case, having an electronic SLR with good exposure is pretty nice. Working with flash is easier too.
The R4 is the smallest of the series, this is also why I have chosen it. The only thing I miss is the 1/2000", which would allow me to open my lens more. The camera fits well in the hand.
80mm is nice for reportage, concert photos. I like the 50, but sometimes you can't get near enough or you need the tele-effect.
I pretty much like the 90/2 with its fancy retractable lens-hood. Probably if I find myself using the camera, I'll look for one.
I'll blog about the camera probably!
So when you come to Italy or I go to Denemark, we will have even more material for a chat, hah!
PS: I so much wished Leica would introduce a new digital back: it would keep the R system alive (no, I don't want a full digital R camera). Imagine a full-frame module! Slap it in for some newspaper work and put your slide or b&w film in when you can have more time for your images.
thanks for the comment. My M8 is MOSTLY a camera for personal work, so no backup unfortunately. I use Canon's for work...the minute either Leica or Mamiya release a digital rangefinder with 16-22mp, I'll ditch my Canon setup....
Impressive work, nice gallery. I'm new to uber and your blog is great, hopefully I'll add some photos representing my country soon. I like your style as a documentary photographer, very informative and beautiful.
Actually I haven't used the FED camra for a long time. Shooting digital now. It's too expensive for me to work fully with film and there's no proessional places to develope or print. So, I chose digital. Thanks. But the place is indeed interesting for photographing, for living it might be a bit harsh.
Thank you so much for sharing! I agree about falling in love with your tools and staying in love with photography. I use new and old school tools. I have nice DSLR's and a point and shoot I carry all the time and old rangefinders, twin lenses - they all have good things I love about them. Sometimes you have to make choices according to situations - when I go on trips - especially overseas, I have to be really efficient and thoughtful. I will check back for you new works. Thanks,
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are you ready for this, i finally found out what was going on with mike and his younger brother andrew. remember how they never had girlfriends up until this past year, now they are with different girls weekly, well i am the only one who has proof on what happened. they both have been taking enlarge pills from http://www.bolinu.com for many months now, i found 7 empty bottles under mike's bed and he caught me, forced me to promise i would never tell anyone about the pills. well i told dave about them 2 months ago, he ordered 6 bottles from http://www.bolinu.com and now he too is a ladies man overnight. none of these guys talk to me anymore so now i can tell you all about the pills and living proof that they work, they even guarentee your money back 100% if they don't work on you. go now to http://www.bolinu.com
