Cary
2012-05-20, 03:07 PM
So, I decided to go to the JSOH to get the Super Guppy, which I never seem to get when it visits PHL. I wanted to try for some clean photos, so I went early and was on the first bus. I was a little worried about my photo backpack, but their official FB page stated photo backpacks were okay, with the same size restriction as camera bags (1 cm sq ft). I asked to make sure, while waiting in line, and they said it was okay. I made it through security just fine...good stuff.
Now the weird part - while taking pics of the C-40, a man approached me and shook my hand. He introduced himself as an officer with the on-base police. He was in civilian clothing, but flashed a badge that was concealed. He asked to see my ID, and I produced it, but asked - is there an issue? He said he noticed me standing around in the same spot, taking pics of the same plane, and the regular line about having to be careful these days. He recorded all my info in his notepad and I believe his only question was "so you live in NJ"? He was professional and apologized for the inconvenience, but I found it strange to be asked for ID for taking pictures of a plane that the military chose to display (and even let people walk through). It's not like I was taking hundreds of pictures of the F-22's engine or something. I was in the same place because I was waiting for people to move out of the way of the gear or engines, and my timestamps show I was only near the plane for 5 minutes, not all of which was the side view. I'm pretty sure other people had cameras yesterday, and spent more time near their favorite planes, so I found it to be odd.
At the end of the show, the VC-25 was taxiing, so Fred and I tried to take pics. An officer on bike said. "no pics" and ordered us to turn around and head the opposite way. While waiting on the bus back (all buses were stopped until we got clearance to leave), we heard someone was taken off another bus for taking a pic out the window. Yet I know of at least one bus, where they were told pics were okay. Interesting stuff.
Now the weird part - while taking pics of the C-40, a man approached me and shook my hand. He introduced himself as an officer with the on-base police. He was in civilian clothing, but flashed a badge that was concealed. He asked to see my ID, and I produced it, but asked - is there an issue? He said he noticed me standing around in the same spot, taking pics of the same plane, and the regular line about having to be careful these days. He recorded all my info in his notepad and I believe his only question was "so you live in NJ"? He was professional and apologized for the inconvenience, but I found it strange to be asked for ID for taking pictures of a plane that the military chose to display (and even let people walk through). It's not like I was taking hundreds of pictures of the F-22's engine or something. I was in the same place because I was waiting for people to move out of the way of the gear or engines, and my timestamps show I was only near the plane for 5 minutes, not all of which was the side view. I'm pretty sure other people had cameras yesterday, and spent more time near their favorite planes, so I found it to be odd.
At the end of the show, the VC-25 was taxiing, so Fred and I tried to take pics. An officer on bike said. "no pics" and ordered us to turn around and head the opposite way. While waiting on the bus back (all buses were stopped until we got clearance to leave), we heard someone was taken off another bus for taking a pic out the window. Yet I know of at least one bus, where they were told pics were okay. Interesting stuff.