I try my best to read subtle cues in human behavior.

There is something in this man's body language that says
"I've noticed you have a camera. I would like to visit with you."

Innumerable debates surround photographers rights, or often, lack thereof.


I happened across an accident that was rather bad.

In a field, next to a battered and tumbled car, was an ejected sheet-covered body with six police officers standing circumferentially around it.
Adjacent to them were two emergency medical technicians looking helplessly the other way.

What a scene...what a shot...thiought I.

I very carefully parked far out of the way and walked in the ditch on the far side of the highway from the scene.
It just so happened that as I snapped a couple of shots this nice man took note of my presence, hence the shot.
He was firmly and sternly professional in his demeanor and asked me to leave immediately.
I surely live by the rule that the man with the badge is always right and, should I disagree, there and then is rarely the time to challenge his authority.

I was asked to delete the shots of the accident, which as a man of honor I did. Had I had a spectacularly great shot I might not have been so honorable. This one was too good to delete.
I can and should debate my rights to shoot photos safely from a public right-of-way but there and then was, I feel sure, not the time.

After what seemed an excessive amount of time with his partner sitting in his car staring at my driver's license talking to some ,presumably, higher authority I was released.

The responsible citizen in me feels good to have to cooperated with law enforcement personnel.
Had I not cooperated I have no doubt my time spent with them would have been a great deal more interesting.

I was called in and reported as "amateur photographer on scene" (a. P.O.S. ?)
As "a. P.O.S" the paranoid part of me suspects I may be being cross referenced by the Department of Homeland Security. This post may be under scrutiny as I type.

All things considered I would thank the officers for their professionalism and courtesy in dealing with me.