How to Piss Off the FBI in Chicago

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jun 4, 2004 3:22PM

Chicagoist's favorite thin white photographer reported in again yesterday with tales of his encounter with the FBI while taking the photo above. twp writes:

While passing by the western façade of the Dirksen Federal Building, I noticed that in the large ground floor windows, Calder's Flamingosculpture was beautifully reflected in the glass. I stopped to take a picture of the reflection, aligning myself so that I faced toward the building, perhaps three or four feet in front of the glass panel. Not two minutes later, a short, balding man in a light gray suit approached me.

"What do you think you're doing?", he asked me. I told him that I was taking pictures of Federal Plaza for a project I was working on for Northwestern University. He grimaced, nodded and said, "I want you to know that I'm a federal officer." With that he flipped out a large, black leather wallet holding his credentials. He demanded identification while I tried to explain the innocuous nature of my photography without getting too angry.

"Come with me, please," he said, masking any apparent politeness his request might imply. We revolved through the doors into the building I had been shooting, a sold granite and marble lobby swarming with badges and blue suits. I was handed off to an impromptu terrorism-interrogation squad, the two security personnel at the front desk. Ludicrous. They proceeded to scroll through my pictures and, after explaining the academic nature of my photos again, I was advised to go take my pictures elsewhere. I told them I thought that was ludicrous, and said that I was in a public space taking pictures of public buildings. I was told I would need to speak to the building manager of both federal buildings. Also ludicrous. After a few more minutes of hopeless protest, I was turned out onto the street with a warning to cease and desist with the photography.

twp also tells us that if you look closely on the right side of the photo you can see Big Brother lurking in the shadows. Scary!! What do you guys think!? It is a federal building.. but at the same time, it is a public space.. and we think any public space should be up for grabs as far as photography.

This reminds us of the Gothamist posts on the MTA considering banning photography on the NYC subway.