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45 Fremont, #1

my old office window -- seriously!
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45 Fremont, #1 by Thomas Hawk.
So today there I was minding my own business shooting 45 Fremont in downtown San Francisco when all of a sudden a Shorenstein Company employee security guard decides to give me the finger in my photographs of the building. Next thing you know I get the typical hassle. Except normally when the guards come out all polite like and all this guy instead comes out middle finger a blazing and telling me that I'm not allowed to photograph the building from the public space.

He goes on to tell me how he doesn't like to have his photograph taken, etc. (hint, if you don't like your photograph taken, probably best not to come swaggering out of a public building middle finger a blazin', remember any old asshole can have a blog these days). And insists on telling me how if I want to photograph the building I'm going to need to get approval from building management. blah, blah, blah.

Well, this guy got off on the wrong foot with me in the first place so I politely inform him that despite his objections that I'm on public property and as such have every right to photograph whatever I want and if he'd like he can feel free to call the police and the three of us can have a conversation. Of course he asks me why I need to be such an asshole and I remind him that he was the one giving me the bird, etc. etc. All I am is a lowly photography hobbyist but that since he was being so nice and all that he could look forward to his photo being on the internet.

He asks me if I *really* want him to call the police. Again, I answer nicely, yes.

Click through for the rest of the story... thomashawk.com/2006/04/photographing-architecture-is-not.... 
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Comments

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pop500km says:

SUPERB!
nice shot. :)
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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torbakhopper  Pro User  says:

wow!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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iammikeb  Pro User  says:

excellent
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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Domk  Pro User  says:

jea thats a shot!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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petebeck  Pro User  says:

that building on the left is my old office building. i used to take head shots of employees for our intercompany magazine, and that courtyard by the traincar was one of my favorite shooting locations. even as an employee -- wearing a badge and on company business -- i can't tell you how many times i was confronted by those asshats. crazy little power-mad egomaniacs...
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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♥ Nat hamlin  Pro User  says:

Amazing shot.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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sfslim  Pro User  says:

In agreement with all. A great shot.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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earth2marsh  Pro User  says:

this shot alone was worth all the trouble. way to stick up for (y)our rights.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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webdav  Pro User  says:

This is an awesome shot. Well done dealing with the jerkoff.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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Forcery says:

Definitively a shot that makes me go "wow".. Very nice!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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ThatBeeGirl  Pro User  says:

Unbelievable. You handled the situation very well!
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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faizall says:

superb shot
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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Jeff Kubina  Pro User  says:

kudos Thomas. you took some excellent shots and kept your cool. well done. thank you.
Posted 44 months ago. ( permalink )

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LOlandeseVolante  Pro User  says:

Well despite the finger you scored a gorgeous shot! It's hard to be a photographer in the land of freedom...thank God I live in Europe : )
Posted 43 months ago. ( permalink )

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hm_nadann says:

Your photo has been added to flickrarchitecture.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

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Peter Maris  Pro User  says:

Nice work on the angles, looks good.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

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LostPizzaBoy says:

Awesome photo, great work holding your ground, too
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

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Kayla Lahti says:

i love the lines, and i love how they lead toward the light. oh, the optimism.
Posted 37 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ephemeron  Pro User  says:

Beautiful I'm sorry you get harassed on a regular basis. :(
Posted 36 months ago. ( permalink )

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greatwich  Pro User  says:

This photo is considered to be an outstanding architecture shot and invited to The Pritzker Architecture Prize on flickr rating group, where you can rate other shots and your shot will be rated too. Please read the group description and rules for more details.
The
Posted 35 months ago. ( permalink )

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TheEye - LN  Pro User  says:

fantastic shot... and way to stand your ground !!
Posted 34 months ago. ( permalink )

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berberenike is coming back  Pro User  says:

the perspective and, altogether, the grey fading up there...make the whole photo. wonderful.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

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mgsray01 says:

Hi, nice post, I Like It. Want to show your pictures in another site? well you may put your links at
http://ryneobi.com , advertise your links freely, so other people can see your FLICKR's links there.
Posted 33 months ago. ( permalink )

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Monire says:

Wonderful catch!
Posted 32 months ago. ( permalink )

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P.L. Vaarkamp Photography says:

verry nice angle!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

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ab_design says:

The geometry, contrast as well as the smooth feel makes this image click... Very nice...
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dizono says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called B&W Architecture, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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WorldFlickr says:

Hi, I am an admin for a group called Landmarks around the world, and I discovered this great shot in San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, United States. We love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

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tyler82 says:

You made this building look a lot more attractive than it actually is.
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mc Vitie says:

What a photo and the story makes it all the more intresting, have u herd of www.strictlynophotography.com ? its this site dedicated to photographs of this nature, ive uploaded quite a few on there check it out.
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

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tropicalrips  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called pure street, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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dombower83 says:

and you still managed to do some great shots. love the mono work tfs
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

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v1rotate  Pro User  says:

In the accompanying blog, I found this comment interesting:

"I'm a security guard and bouncer, and there's a number of reasons why I personally don't like people taking photos with me in them. I've been told while doing the training for the job to do everything I can to stop photos being taken. One reason is that you don't know where the photos will end up and whether you or your venue will be misrepresented with yourself involved. Another is that occasionally when you throw people out of a venue they may want revenge for being humiliated, and they may use the photo of you like this. There are more... In any case, the man you dealt with there was being an asshole, especially if its the building that he's objecting to being the subject of the photo. In my experience, photographers will accommodate my wishes if I just explain to them why."

So, SGs are being trained to give photogs a hard time! Well, TOO BAD!!!! FIGHT BACK!!!! No SG is going to rob ME of my FIrst Amendment Rights! EVER!!!!
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

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↕↓↑ ŅõẇἇḸ - ⱪṧἇ ↑↓↕ says:

very nice photo and soo cute it`s nice color and soo cool shoot
keep that up thanks
and i add to my fav
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

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✿gottcha78✿  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Flickr Contest City, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Outstanding shot!! This would fit in PERFECTLY in the B&W Street contest that we are having right now in the Flickr Contest City Group!! Please feel free to join in on the fun!!

This extraordinary shot is invited to FCC!
FCC Award!
Flickr Contest City
Please take a look at our current B&W Street contest!
We would LOVE to see this there!
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )

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serge s. says:

Absolutely beautiful photo. I <3 the FiDi.
Posted 16 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mr Din  Pro User  says:

nice comp and great B&W process... I love these building vanishing in the sky, very well framed!
--
Seen on bighugelabs.com (?)
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

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anthlockton says:

cool shot. looks good in black & white
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

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Dizono says:

I really like this shot! If you like you can join my group about Black and white architecture. Hope to see you around!

moderator from B&W Architecture
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

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mariczka  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called photo=graphic=design, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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topfloor  Pro User  says:

Strong in b and w - Very well caught shot. A fav!

--
Seen on flickriver.com (?)
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

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Otherworld  Pro User  says:

same thing happened to me in front of the HQ of a major bank tower... but no bird from the guard, just a hand with the massive key ring lunging for my camera. rent-a-cops have some strange idea they can extend private property rights onto public property.... i think we photographers should all get together and launch a class-action against the private security industry for being filled with a) idiots and b) assholes --a dangerous combo when thats mixed wtih c) authority, which they dont seem to understand is not a) & b).
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ryan Holloway Photography  Pro User  says:

punch the guy in the balls and get on with it

super contrast that fades to blown at the top with a ugly line shooting through it? not for me
delete
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Crick3  Pro User  says:

I have to agree w/ Ryan on this.

--
Seen next to a fellow photo of the group "DeleteMe Uncensored: Welcome to our 2022nd Member 13ftfall". (?)

-Voted "delete2" (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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mr onion head  Pro User  says:

great story and link to your blog. i'm gonna go out today and shoot the big steel and glass downtown and see who emerges. doubt i'll get a finger 'cause everyone here is so mellow, but we'll see.
know your rights! -the clash.
the pic is nice, but the fade-to-white effect at top left is, for me, too seve. great perspective, though.
delete3
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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dustylens  Pro User  says:

I rather like the fade to white; gives the impression of vanishing skyscrapers. B/W looks good too.

I'm not so taken with the text though -- I've noted a couple of possible crops. The bridge is a little incongruent too, not like you can change that though.

Good story though :-)

delete++
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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liber  Pro User  says:

Freedom for photographers!

-Voted 'save' (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group) using photoratr
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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An Nguyen Photography says:

what are the rights about photographic public spaces and landmarks? has anyone else had this problem? not me. i'll save this for the story despite the blown sky and top of building.

-Voted "save2" (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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samuel t ludwig  Pro User  says:

Wish you could've framed the text better.

delete5
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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realSMILEY  Pro User  says:

blown a little too early

delete6
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ivan Makarov  Pro User  says:

exposure ..

delete7
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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iam.cynical  Pro User  says:

No boobs. No bird. Nice story.

-Voted 'delete8' (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group) using photoratr
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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MeckiM@c  Pro User  says:

just great! How can someone delete this?

-Voted "save3" (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ѕhims  Pro User  says:

Like this

delete9
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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halfy666  Pro User  says:

the frame ratio seems wired, like to see more beyond the bottom

-Voted 'delete10' (by the Delete Me Uncensored Group) using photoratr
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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dustylens  Pro User  says:

shims - you like, yet delete?
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Ѕhims  Pro User  says:

read comment above me ...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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travoll  Pro User  says:

i would've thought this was a save but i'm to late.

--
Seen in the group"DeleteMe Uncensored: Welcome to our 2022nd Member 13ftfall" (?)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Nate Kay  Pro User  says:

Great shot, featured in Window Pictures.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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