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Taking Pictures

Taking pictures?

In a way, I can understand the paranoia which surrounds the Colombian uniformed brigade concerning anyone seen pointing a camera, in almost any direction other than directly into the face of your partner, a tree, a mountain, an expanse of water etc.

If it was a Smith and Wesson 3.57 magnum I could fully understand, but, so many times I have been almost beheaded for including a building, a soldier or a policeman in the background when taking snaps of my lady .

On the last occasion when I was using a movie camera in a park surrounded by buildings. I was surprised to see my lady suddenly walk towards a uniformed character and start talking to him.

He then came to me and asked to see what I had been shooting, pressing rewind, I then showed him his aggressive approach followed by his full frontal one.

He grinned broadly and told me that I should show it my friends in the USA.

I said I was Scottish and he asked where that was. I told him it was near New England. He laughed and walked off? He was the only one who did not stop me from actually taking the pictures.

Question: I see many pictures of places like the Plaza de Bolivar etc posted. Also some with soldiers and similar. How! Bribe, Invisibility, Secret Agent hidden type or what?

And exactly what is the paranoia Is there some way of obtaining a permit to use a camera, or, exactly what is the criteria that must not be included when using such. Who would vet such a thing?

Help would be appreciated as I am a camera addict.

By ARMacleod on Jan 3, 2005, 14:41 in Friendly Talkzone.

kenago says on Jan 3, 2005, 15:07:

No need for permit Hello JamesVH, It's true that some Colombia law enforcement personel
feel a little suspicious about people taking pictures of them or any government building or military installation, remember that Colombia has been fighting a war with leftist terrorist for the past 40 years
and sometimes they like to use women, children or even people that would not raise suspicion about recording or snapping such locations for future terrorist actions against the government, they have paid a high price in lives from such acts. For the next time try not to be so eager to include military or police subjects in your picture and you will see that things are going to go very smooth.

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ARMacleod says on Jan 3, 2005, 15:15:

Thank you Kenago But, how come that there are already so many pictures of Military and government buildings posted in the picture galleries?

Perhaps I was just unlucky

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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kernow62 says on Jan 3, 2005, 19:30:

JamesVH, it happened to me too. I think Kenago is correct in his statement. Read about one of my encounters on this page, about half way down the page.

http://colombia.000k2.com/2004_02.htm

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2retirensa says on Jan 4, 2005, 06:05:

Use the zoom I keep my camera in my purse (that might be a problem for you), I stay near something or mi novio, extend my zoom and shoot quickly. I don't take a lot of time "setting the scene". If you're far enough away & time it right it won't be so noticeable.

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ARMacleod says on Jan 4, 2005, 11:02:

Nice one, Thanks to you both. Kernow62 Yes, and I enjoyed reading the whole article.

2retirnsa I get the picture, if you will pardon the pun, but I don't see myself hiding behind anything and popping up on occaisions to take a quick 'shot' I think that could attract more attention than boldly standing ones ground with proudly protruding zoom. Perhaps a different kind of attention?

Thanks for the advice anyway.

Being of unsound mind and dubious disposition, I cannot be held legally liable for any indiscretions. ¡El diablo me hizo lo hago! But don't worry, be happy.

The brain is like a parachute, it only functions correctly when it is open. Pax vobiscum.

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serge says on Jan 5, 2005, 11:13:

Use common sense while taking pictures Hi, JamesVH!
To my mind, taking pictures (intentionally or not) of government/military installations or personnel without permission looks suspicious in any country, and Colombia isn’t an exception.
I visited Colombia in June 2004 taking hundreds of pictures and got no trouble at all. Nevertheless, for example, from the very beginning of Bogotá’s city tour my guide warned me that it’s strictly prohibited to film the president’s palace and villas, change of the guards ceremony, etc. I followed this rule though it seemed to me very strange and ridiculous. In any country, the president/royal guard being its national proud is also a great tourist attraction. On the contrary, in Bogotá it seems that tourists are not welcomed in government district, and the elite of the army is afraid of foreigners’ cameras. Sure it’s not true but looks like that. Btw, two blocks away from the government district, in Candelaria, I was photographed together with friendly patrol soldiers at their kind permission. So the trivial rule “just use common sense” helped me to have a nice time in this beautiful country.

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Bruce V. Shrader says on Jan 6, 2005, 10:12:

taking pictures Befor you take pictures of soldiers,
ask them politely, I have never had
any problems with this. I have never been refused
and have several pictures of myself, with them.
Machine Guns and all!
I have to compliment the soldiers, Their politeness
has amazed me, in spite of the guerilla war.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 6, 2005, 11:04:

common thing Many governments take a dim view of their monuments and facilities being photographed. Remember the fantastic scene in Fahrenheit 9/11 where the US secret service actually rolls out and stops Michael Moore from filming himself in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington?

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