It wasn't until after reading the article did it register that the event took place less than 3 years after 9/11. I think that's important context.
Don't get me wrong, I felt for the guy. It seems silly to investigate 76 year old man photographing public art. Today I would have argued my rights to photograph while on public property.
But back then, I distinctly remember calling the police when I saw someone with an SLR and a humongous zoom lens taking photos of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Center. Better safe than sorry was my thinking.
That's very different from public art, but it was also public art on a 140' tall gas tank. It's not unreasonable to view that as a terrorist target, esp. 2.5 years after 9/11, and in a major city (that fairly recently suffered a terrorist attack). Again, just trying to provide some context.
Don't get me wrong, I felt for the guy. It seems silly to investigate 76 year old man photographing public art. Today I would have argued my rights to photograph while on public property.
But back then, I distinctly remember calling the police when I saw someone with an SLR and a humongous zoom lens taking photos of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Center. Better safe than sorry was my thinking.
That's very different from public art, but it was also public art on a 140' tall gas tank. It's not unreasonable to view that as a terrorist target, esp. 2.5 years after 9/11, and in a major city (that fairly recently suffered a terrorist attack). Again, just trying to provide some context.