What bemused you today?

[hevans]

Does this go on in Holland or Germany or France?

My own experience has been in the US at an outlet shopping centre (not mall, one of those places with the car park in the centre and the shops around the outside). I was waiting for the Wife to finish getting rid of money and so decided to take the time with my son to take some shots of him at one of the small islands of trees in the middle of the car park. Within a few minutes a security guard popped over to inform me that photography on the site was prohibited and curious to know what I was shooting. When I said, "My son", he seemed more relaxed. He informed me that the restrictions are to prevent people from shooting the architecture and the shop signs/logos, principally so they are not then posted in a bad light on the interweb. When I then informed him that neither the architecture nor the shop fronts were of sufficient artistic merit to be worthy of consideration, then he laughed and cycled off.

So, it happens in the land of the Free^(*) as well.

As far as flatland, I haven't yet had troubles. Although I rarely go anywhere where photography might be an issue. But there are have a go heroes security guards in every country. Odd occupation, where the standard for an individual is "more than my job's worth mate" to avoid taking action, it's the opposite attitude for these puffed up egos with a torch.

Although I have been stopped by the police in combat gear fatigues during the Kermis (fair) when walking my bike home with a friend and enjoying the feeble remains (two gulps?) of a small glass of urine recyc (heineken) and instructed to pour it out. It did take a gaggle of 7 police officers to enforce this demand...or at least this is how many initially came over to intimidate us. My cloggie friend was particularly offended by the attitude of the politie.

^(*) Not to be confused with the land of the Free-eh? 

[Sarasocke]

Only happened once to me here in Germany, but then I don't spend much time in the city. It was a shopping centre which afforded a good view over "Mainhatten" (the bank skyscrapers in Frankfurt) from the top floor. Going up the escalator I was intrigued by the geometric design as I looked up, within seconds a large sunburned gentlemen in a black uniform informed me in broken German that I and my DSLR should leave the building. To make sure I did, he escorted me off the premises. I must say, I felt a bit daft.

To solve the problem of carrying the big black thing around in town and being too "shy" to point it at anything, I've bought myself a Panasonic system camera - very small and bright red. No-one would take me seriously with that! I hope anyway 

[ABERS]

Got collard by a copper at Greenham Common back in the '80's. He was particularly miserable being on duty in November in freezing conditions. He marched me back to my car, searched it and then asked for my driving licence. He immediately noticed and commented that it had been my birthday the previous day, looked at me for a moment and then told me to bugger-off. I complied with his orders immediately. 

[spinner]

Does this go on in Holland or Germany or France?

My own experience has been in the US at an outlet shopping centre (not mall, one of those places with the car park in the centre and the shops around the outside). I was waiting for the Wife to finish getting rid of money and so decided to take the time with my son to take some shots of him at one of the small islands of trees in the middle of the car park. Within a few minutes a security guard popped over to inform me that photography on the site was prohibited and curious to know what I was shooting. When I said, "My son", he seemed more relaxed. He informed me that the restrictions are to prevent people from shooting the architecture and the shop signs/logos, principally so they are not then posted in a bad light on the interweb. When I then informed him that neither the architecture nor the shop fronts were of sufficient artistic merit to be worthy of consideration, then he laughed and cycled off.

So, it happens in the land of the Free^(*) as well.

As far as flatland, I haven't yet had troubles. Although I rarely go anywhere where photography might be an issue. But there are have a go heroes security guards in every country. Odd occupation, where the standard for an individual is "more than my job's worth mate" to avoid taking action, it's the opposite attitude for these puffed up egos with a torch.

Although I have been stopped by the police in combat gear fatigues during the Kermis (fair) when walking my bike home with a friend and enjoying the feeble remains (two gulps?) of a small glass of urine recyc (heineken) and instructed to pour it out. It did take a gaggle of 7 police officers to enforce this demand...or at least this is how many initially came over to intimidate us. My cloggie friend was particularly offended by the attitude of the politie.

^(*) Not to be confused with the land of the Free-eh? 

Ah, ok, give you that one. Knowing that private businesses are touchy about that stuff I don't go forth to the malls with camera in hand. It is one of those things I just know about, without really knowing why I know. But on a public thoroughfare or park I don't even think twice. Plus as you pointed out, there is nothing of architectural significance to photograph in those places. 

[spinner]

I decided to try and repurpose and old PC on the weekend ( a bunch of old PC parts actually) and installed Linux Mint. I was browsing through a web site that has all kinds of interesting Linux software for Ubuntu, (Mint being a fork) and came across Luminesence(?) a program for HDR work.
I realized, it was all the rage a couple of years back but now I don't see anything about it. Or is it just not popular here on CC. I don't frequent PR or other sites, has HDR died?

[Hinfrance]

No it's not died, but the increasing dynamic ranges of recent cameras have given it a good kicking.

If you look at competitions for landscape photography there is still a lot of it about.

I still have Photomatix and Dynamic Photo installed on my PC, but they only see rare use, and more often than not only for single file processing. That said, I do often use a tiny tad of Topaz Adjust.

A while back you used to Lucis applied to everything, but that seems much less popular these days too.

[ABERS]

LHC: Higgs boson 'may have been glimpsed'

Breaking news from the BBC!!

If you happen to spot it Mr Higgs would like to know, as he is very worried about its condition and he needs it for next Saturday's match. 

[spinner]

No it's not died, but the increasing dynamic ranges of recent cameras have given it a good kicking.

If you look at competitions for landscape photography there is still a lot of it about.

I still have Photomatix and Dynamic Photo installed on my PC, but they only see rare use, and more often than not only for single file processing. That said, I do often use a tiny tad of Topaz Adjust.

A while back you used to Lucis applied to everything, but that seems much less popular these days too.

By funny coincidence I just got my newest edition of Outdoor Photographer Canada and low and behold there's an article, 6 steps to photorealistic HDR. 

[ABERS]

Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven.

[Graham]

and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember.

   I do seem to recall you saying that we were all a bunch of wasters (I think that was the term.) and that you hoped never to see or hear from us again.

   It must have been removed.
                          As ever.  Graham.

[Beaux Reflets]

Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven.

Shucks, you mean you were ill when you commented on my photo - Ouch 
I'm glad you are feeling better sir.

[Oldboy]

Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

That's what you get for standing on street corners waiting to waylay people. 

Glad you are better now. 

[irv_b]

Having been laid low on Friday by some particularly virulent bug and spent the last four and a half days hoping for Dr Death to intervene, I'm pleased to say I'm now glad he decided not to. Once again I can taste, smell and hear almost as good as new and all the joints have stopped feeling that a good squirt of WD40 would do them no end of good.

I've tried to keep up with all that's going on here, and even managed to vote and post a couple of things, although what, I can't remember. Perhaps I dreamt it in a fevered state of delirium!

All that is bye the bye, but WBMT was that I decided to shave for the first time in a week and having accumulated some length of whiskers in that time I decided to cultivate a small goatee type beard thinking it would enhance my appearance and lend some gravitas in my advancing years.

So shaving carefully and not reaping around the top lip and chin I was quite pleased with the result, until I went downstairs to show my wife. She took one look and said," Blimey! You only want slitty eyes and you'd be a dead ringer for Charley Chan the Chinese Detective".

I am now clean shaven.

Alan if you had grown it before the POTY and entered one of your portraits under the name of C. Chan, it would bound to have won
Glad to hear you're feeling better!

[greypoint]

...I wondered about that post he made inviting everyone to an evening with Martin Parr........

[Oldboy]

Camera not fast enough to catch the action?

How about one of these?

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/12/fastest-ever-camera-captures-l.html