Well, strike one for Phoenix. LOL
I wanted to go to the Desert Botanical Gardens to take some pics today. They have 50 acres of ground, and many desert plants it looks like. I went to their website, and they have all sorts of rules!!! I am used to going in places, visiting, taking some photography. Not this place. LOL. You have to have reservations, and be a member, and they will only let you in during certain times of the day! Their website claims they have 300,000 visitors a year.....that is not all that much that you need reservations I don't think! I called to verify I was reading things correctly. I was put on hold for awhile and it was true. I guess this place might be a little too "uppity" for BigRigTravels. LOL
Wow. What is it with these places that want people to visit them, yet they go to the extreme and do everything they can to make sure it doesn't happen.
When I was in Omaha, Nebraska, I wanted to photograph the Union Station Railroad building. I asked the security guard beforehand if anybody had a problem with me taking pictures. He said no. So, I started taking pics, and then an older lady grabbed me by the arm, asked me tons of questions about why and how come I was taking pictures! She told me she had to ask her "manager" for permission. No problem. In 15 minutes, I had FOUR managers there, and STILL nobody could decide if it was okay for me to take pictures or not. LOL They did tell me if I had a "phone camera" it would be okay. But they never had anybody with a full-size camera before.
I just do not get it sometimes. This is a great opportunity for places to get exposure, and possibly more visitors. Yet, they make it nearly impossible to even "just visit".
Oh well, the hunt goes on for places that actually don't mind if visitors take photos and enjoy the visit!
10 comments:
Hey Steve,
In a nutshell, the world has gone mad!
Take care bud!
By the way, I'm going for North East, maybe Chicago area!
Ian, Liverpool, UK
Steve,
A fellow trucker here. I used Google Maps when I was on the road. About 90 to 95% of the time Google Maps followed my trip plan that my dispatcher sent me. It was amazingly accurate. Just to let you know I did not have a GPS and all I really relied on was my laptop and I was still ontime everytime.
DALE
Steve, my hubby is a railfan. You may know what that is. He enjoys traveling around and taking photo's of anything involved with railroads.
It never use to be a problem but since 9/11 everything has changed. It is feared that railfans could be individuals who are plotting an attack on our railsystem and rail facilities and they get harassed on a regular basis.
Not complaining, I understand they are only trying to protect us, but it is a sad reflection on the times.
I understand. I do have to agree.....to a point. LOL
But, as time goes on, I do think common sense is slipping away in many areas.
I am sorry that happened to you in Omaha, I was born and raised there, spent 45 years there. I just wanted to let you know I looked at the pics you took at Daytona. The bike I liked the best was the one with the geckos on it. Did u have a fav?
Tammy, you took the words right out of my mouth. This has been a big issue in our railfan community since 9/11 and is spreading to other public locations. I always try to be careful anytime I'm out in a public place with my camera as people have become so paranoid. Like Steve said, it is understandable to a certain extent but at times becomes rather ridiculous.
my favorite motorcycle pic was the Geico (gecko) and the trikes.
With a trike, I could do my favorite motorcycle riding, bring my camera, and even stuff TK in the trunk! (G)
The same thing has happened to plane spotters, who like nothing better than to stand at the perimeter of an airport and take photos of the planes coming and going.
They are now routinely hassled by security at different levels, and one friend of mine has actually been sat in the back seat of a police car, minutes away from being arrested.
As you said so well, common sense has left the building, long ago.
Fin
Oh, that is just crazy!! And too bad.
Tammy, my husband is a RR fan, too. I know all about the picture taking!
Steve, I suppose it is too far away, but Tucson has that wonderful Sonora desert museum. I took tons of photos there!
Steve....
If you think you had problems taking photographs.....the president of my camera club had his tripod set up and was focusing his camera to take photos of our Capitol Building here in Washington, DC. An armed guard came over to him and asked him what he was doing. Then the guard told him to look up at the balcony on the dome of the Capitol. There was another armed guard up there with a rifle aimed straight at my friend. The guard said that from that position, they thought the tripod and camera looked like a granade launcher!!! The times we live in!!!! (Lesson learned: Leave your tripod at home if you visit our Nation's Capitol!)
Belle
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