Security at the US Open.

I attended the US Open over the weekend with no problems what so ever. Last Night I went to the night session. Went through the bag check with no problems, As I am about to enter the grounds of the US Open I am approached by a so called Security Supervisor who tells me that I Will not be able to enter with my 100-400 lens. He gives me no explanation why, just that I can't go in with it, he escorts me out. In the US Open security there is no mention of a lens being prohibited, so I guess my lens falls under the last category something that is deemed unlawful or dangerous by the USTA.

Well long story short I went to another gate and got in with no problems. So it seems these security guys are making up their own rules.


Eric

Sunday I didn't have any problems with a 75-300 lens on the camera, but I was talking to someone with a 300mm fixed lens on a 350D, and they gave him a hard time, although he eventually was able to get in with it. I guess I'll see what happens Thursday night when I go back.

Not that anywhere I've worked compares to the US Open, but it's very common to see security not knowing what to do when they see professional cameras in the hands of people who have no press credentials.

Concerts or any large gathering often gets that kind of attention. I think the only reason they would be against it is that promoters pay professional photographers money to take their shots, they'd hate to get scooped because someone in the crowd sold his photos, too, profiting off of "copyrighted" USTA property and events.