Monday 15 March 2010: Splat
My name is David and I am not a terrorist.
Here is one of the images deemed a security risk during my altercation with the Maadi police a few days ago. The conversation went a little like this:
Gun-Wielding Policeman: Why this?
Me: Why not?
GWP: What this?
Me: It's a wall.
GWP: But why?
Me: Because...[desperately tries to think how on earth to articulate the concept of primary colours, texture and composition*]...just because.
Heated discussion with seven other gun-wielding policemen about what kind of weirdo goes about taking pictures of walls and the subsequent terror threat posed by said weirdo. A few smirks and shakes of the head later...
GWP: You cannot take this.
Me: Yes I can.
GWP: Listen to me. You cannot take pictures in Maadi. Other places, okay. Maadi, no.
Me: I'll just come back and take it again when you're not looking.
Et voila.
Hardly worth the effort in hindsight. But I consider this one-up against the Maadi dictat. I may take wingpig's advice and carry a separate memory card around with me filled with pictures of cute fluffy one-eyed kittens** which I can quickly swap over if I sense trouble in future.
*That sounds a bit wanky, I know.
**That's the 1000% barrier broken.
Comments
I fear that in future there will be another, similar, splatter on a wall that D77 was attempting to photograph.
~ boab
Only if you can make absolutely certain that they then won't find the concealed memory card full of SUSPICIOUS IMAGES which you wer obviously concealing out of guilt.
Also, print off and carry a few demonstration abstract-wall-random shots, perhaps even photographs of the pictures of walls in frames up on walls to demonstrate that you're after them for decorative purposes rather than as reconnaissance for explosion-based naughtiness.
~ wingpig
Congratulations on the 1000% barrier...? ;)
I've decided consistently good composition is your 'thing' - after excellent moaning that is
~ paulransom
'explosion-based naughtiness' - well put! lol
~ paulransom
You are a terrorist.
~ Red
congratulations on the 1000%.
~ TractorFactoryPhotos
Useless altercations like these with security guards who aren't exactly certain how a security threat can result from a photo of a wall like this, doesn't go down well with me. I associate the act of taking photos with creative freedom, so a free peaceful mind is quite essential for me and somehow my mood sours a bit after such events.
But of course you are handling it in your brilliant characteristic way! Just keep going. Teach them a thing or two while you're at it. :)
~ farsidehues
If I've got to bail you out of an Egyptian jail. then your inheritance is down the cludgy!
~ LadyFindhorn
you? sound wanky? nah!
~ dailypost
"Screenburn is just one of those run and shoot idiots."
Hmph...
~ dailypost
Ha ha! Rage against the machine middle class white boy :-)
Made me chuckle again. Thanks.
~ 42
I like the composition and it goes perfectly with the description.
douglas
~ mcspud1947
That's the first time I've heard them use that as a justification - 'Not in Maadi.' Reminds me of the whole "graffiti scare" a while back. You've got to love the commitment to a complete lack of logic in this country...
On the photo itself - there's something about street signs in Cairo that are really beautiful. [You may already know this but you can get little fridge magnets of street signs from a little store in talaat harb - Oum El Donia. Wonderful little place.]
~ diptych
Well, when they see this picture they will become to love you, I'm sure.
What is the matter with Maadi? I don't know the place.
Take care there!
~ fomu
You should have gone with the composition explanation. They obviously had you tagged as some kind of nutter anyway!
Why not go the whole hog? Oh yeah, they have guns.
Re yours, I'm afraid it's a different Emma.
~ TontoMcDuff
