Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
> > And yes, I plan to ask the vice squad whether > they're interested in > > the film.) > > Sell them some prints, then sell the negs to the > dealers. :) > > chris And don't forget to include your business card and home address :) __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/ - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Drug Dealer Lens -- OT
I wouldn't waste any film shooting pics of drug deals. Your verbal complaint that is it happening should be enough to elicit an initial response from any police department. If the problem persists, complain more often and to higher and higher levels of city government. Chances are, photos from a private citizen won't be admissible in court for some obscure reason. Perhaps the police will also require a sworn deposition/court testimony as to the time/place of the taking. If my television court shows are accurate, any defendant will be provided with a copy of your photos and your name prior to a trial. The police shouldn't need photos to respond to a complaint of neighborhood drug dealing. If they require that level of "proof", they are part of the problem and not part of the solution. I'd just keep burning up the phone lines to the police, and invite everyone I knew to do the same. -- Happy Trails, Texdance http://members.fortunecity.com/texdance http://members1.clubphoto.com/john8202 - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: [not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << Pentax made a right angle extension for telephotos. A mirror in the extension allowed dirty old men to photograph nearly naked young beauties at the beach without being obvious. >> Bob, I resent that! I'm not any older than you are. And I wash regularly too. (There have been several right angle mirrors on ebay in the past month or so. ) Regards, Bob S. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: [not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
In a message dated 5/16/2001 4:37:52 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Brent asked: > This was sort of a random question i came to. What would the image quality be > if Glenn set up a mirror opposite his window, and then took the photos facing > backwards to the goings-onless conspicuous IMO. This would probably > necessitate a tripod though. Tripod is do-able -- just makes it harder to aim. I'd expect image quality to be reduced, but probably still useable if I used a very good mirror. > This question brings me to a question i have had > for a while. If Glenn's mirror is say 20ft away, and the drug deal is say > 80ft from the mirror, would he focus at 20ft for the mirror, or 100ft for the > distance of the image from the camera? I guess i could expiriment 100 feet. Total length of the light path. > By the way Glenn, you could always sign up for the witness protection program You all have way to much time on your hands! Glenn, ever think someone is watching you while you are watching someone else?
Re: [not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
Brent asked: > This was sort of a random question i came to. What would the image quality be > if Glenn set up a mirror opposite his window, and then took the photos facing > backwards to the goings-onless conspicuous IMO. This would probably > necessitate a tripod though. Tripod is do-able -- just makes it harder to aim. I'd expect image quality to be reduced, but probably still useable if I used a very good mirror. > This question brings me to a question i have had > for a while. If Glenn's mirror is say 20ft away, and the drug deal is say > 80ft from the mirror, would he focus at 20ft for the mirror, or 100ft for the > distance of the image from the camera? I guess i could expiriment 100 feet. Total length of the light path. > By the way Glenn, you could always sign up for the witness protection program You have no idea just how much of a lifestyle change that would be. (OTOH, it would finally give me the incentive to stop waffling and transition.) The things that would make WPP such an emotional issue are the same things already working against me here -- I'm a rather conspicuous person, looks-wise, and a performer active in a couple different bands. Let's hope I don't screw this up in a way that requires the Witness Protection Program to get me out of it. *shudder* -- Glenn PS: Today, different person, in the alley _behind_ my house. Called it in; officer came out to look for the stash. Shot through a window that has adhesive "fake frosted glass" stuff stuck to it, through the gaps between pieces of the stuff. Pretty sure nobody was going to see me there, but part of the lens was obscured, resulting in a "center clear soft focus" effect. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
RE: Drug Dealer Lens -- OT
On Wed, 16 May 2001, Peifer, William [OCDUS] wrote: > Haven't seen this angle mentioned yet, but are you sure the local cops > aren't on the take? This is a good point, and it's getting at something deeper. Whatever you do, the odds are good that it will implicate you at some time. Maybe not this week, or even this year, but eventually. Once you supply material evidence you become a witness, and all it takes is one corrupt cop, or one slip in the wrong place and you could be in for a little more than you planned. If you decide to go ahead and do this, be prepared to go all the way, and this potentially means court testimony. As soon as you tell someone about the photos you are no longer anonymous, and once one person knows about you then there's a chance it won't stop at them. Think of all the ways that your identity could come out. Someone to whom you show the photos could let your name slip deliberately, or even accidentally; it could be directly, or by a vague reference. If the dealers learn that photos were taken, they could ask around as to who has the 'photographer' rep in the area, and then a simple Google search for your name will come up with these posts. Or they could pay you a visit and ask. :) If the dealers actually get to see the photos (either intentionally by a cop on the take or even while under interrogation), remember that the angle of the shot will give a very good idea of where the photographer was located. It's your decision, but I hope you weigh all of the risks first before you decide. I respect and applaud your desire to help, but would encourage you to seek out less dangerous means unless you're into that sort of thing. :) chris - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: [not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
100 ft. Stand nose close to your bathroom mirror. Focus your eye on the speck of toothpaste you spit on it this morning. Then focus on the fly spot on the wall behind you (through the mirror). See the difference? Pentax made a right angle extension for telephotos. A mirror in the extension allowed dirty old men to photograph nearly naked young beauties at the beach without being obvious. The mirror in the device was only centimeters away from the lens. The voyeur does not focus on the mirror! The lens can't focus this close! The lens is focused the total bent path to the lovelies. Regards, Bob... - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 1:37 PM Subject: [not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens? This was sort of a random question i came to. What would the image quality be if Glenn set up a mirror opposite his window, and then took the photos facing backwards to the goings-onless conspicuous IMO. This would probably necessitate a tripod though. This question brings me to a question i have had for a while. If Glenn's mirror is say 20ft away, and the drug deal is say 80ft from the mirror, would he focus at 20ft for the mirror, or 100ft for the distance of the image from the camera? I guess i could expiriment myself...and i think i will. By the way Glenn, you could always sign up for the witness protection program Brent
Re: [veering OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
>>Shel Belinkoff> Use the 400mm lens on a tripod and you'll be fine ... until >>Shel Belinkoff> you have to testify in court. Then use a 9mm. >I'm really hoping to use these as "here are the people you want to >investigate if you decide to follow through" information for the >police, and had not thought about the possibility of my photos >being used in court. Hmm. Bleah. I work near one such place myself. I even spot the occasional deal going down on my way to/from work. Some even are done literally within sight of a community police station (although most are done 30ft. (10m) further down the street). The police know this is a hotbed and come through several times a day to show a presence. Chances are, they even recogonize faces of the homeless and others that hang out here a lot. If they've been working on any sting operations that hit the area, they probably even know which of those faces are the baddies that deal the drugs. So, chances are, your police probably already know who to investigate and where to set up a sting operation. It doesn't hurt to ask though as things do change, and they sound like they recently changed in your area. However, if I were you, I'd think twice about being involved with anything that directly gets those people arrested. Some may not be beyond trying to "fix" the problem person in a direct manner. A better solution might be to organize your neighbors, who no doubt don't appreciate the goings on either. >have left me feeling that it's gone down a couple notches and >is no longer a place I can try to reassure my friends about when >they think about coming to visit. >... >Not sure I could get police into my house without the neighbours >noticing and figuring something's up, but I'm sure they've got >their own ways of investigating local goings-on. If the neighbors are part of the problem, then it's probably time to move. Otherwise, the owner of the property may well elect to invite them in to set up an observation operation (then again, seeing as may make them a target once the police leave, perhaps not). >I don't think I have the guts to >publish 'em while the subjects are still active though. Do you mean actively dealing in your neighborhood, actively dealing anywhere, or active as in still animate? >Folks do know I have a camera, so if photos suddenly started showing >up in random places, they'd probably figure out who took them. >(I'm hoping I can trust the police not to make my life more interesting >than it has to be by letting the wrong people know about the photos.) Personally, I wouldn't trust the police to protect me in that way, but to each their own. BTW, it will only take one bright person with one photo to stand around and figure approximately which window of which building it was taken from. I do this sort of thing for amusement and educational value with other people's pictures of local landmarks. >Buyers I'd considered, but I hadn't thought that burglars might >also be dealers. Hmm. Dealer as burglers? I hadn't though of either. Seems like it would be much too easy for them to mention to a customer where a nice camera setup they would like to have one just like can be found. People who buy large quantities of drugs for their own use seem to be perpetually in need of money for some odd reason. >Of course, according to my friend who owns this house, the only >way to get the city to do something is to get the _Baltimore_Sun_ >to write an article about it first, but I'm hoping this recent >"West Side Initiative" will work in my favour. Have you tried the Sun? Maybe they are interested in a photo essay or some editorial shots to go with stories about the West Side Initiative? stay safe, patbob ([EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]) - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
[not as much OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
This was sort of a random question i came to. What would the image quality be if Glenn set up a mirror opposite his window, and then took the photos facing backwards to the goings-onless conspicuous IMO. This would probably necessitate a tripod though. This question brings me to a question i have had for a while. If Glenn's mirror is say 20ft away, and the drug deal is say 80ft from the mirror, would he focus at 20ft for the mirror, or 100ft for the distance of the image from the camera? I guess i could expiriment myself...and i think i will. By the way Glenn, you could always sign up for the witness protection program Brent
RE: Drug Dealer Lens -- OT
Hi Glenn, Haven't seen this angle mentioned yet, but are you sure the local cops aren't on the take? I ask this seriously, as this was a problem at one time with a very small number of cops in Buffalo, and I think it's generally a problem wherever you go. Not to malign cops in general (or Baltimore or Buffalo cops in particular), but this kind of stuff does happen in cities big and small. Maybe you'd be better off anonymously sharing your negatives with your State Police instead of the locals. I'm extremely jaded, I don't have a tremendous trust of municipal police forces, and I've come of the opinion that the only effective way to keep the drug-pushing scum out of the neighborhood is if they're in constant fear of taking a few well-placed rifle rounds from one (or preferably more) of the pissed off neighborhood residents. Doesn't get rid of the problem, but it at least moves it out of the neighborhood. Bob and Shel have the right idea, although I'm personally partial to .45 over 9mm. But I'd much rather be at riflescope distance than pistol sight distance If you have access to an attic or other concealed and secure location, you may wish to consider installing an inexpensive (< $100) video surveillance camera affixed to a cheap camera lens. I've got a setup like this with a 135-mm lens -- for astronomical rather than forensic applications -- and I can get a 4.5"-diameter Moon on my 19" television. You can record the video signal to tape and run the thing 24 hours a day unattended, or perhaps put the thing on a timer to record at "peak" hours. Much safer than sitting in the dark behind a giant telephoto with the curtains open, I think. Good luck, and keep your head down. Bill Peifer Rochester, NY > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
Doing the right thing... (my onw view) As long as you are isolated from the criminal OK. Explain the police officers what you are, I am a photographer and I steped on these peoples... show photos and other documents. AND KEEP LOW PROFILE. MOVE ! Don't endanger yourself or your close. THINK ! Local police guy came to me , shook my hand just for bringing to their attention some details. I hope the guy is now in jail. -When there is an accident I stop. -When there is something that can endanger someone I do the best I can. If what you see is illegal or you beleive it is illegal then it is your responsibility to do something. I would not like to see what kind of trouble you would have keeping these evidences from the law enforcement. One stupid example -AAH these dumb kids are trading dope... Week after readin in the newspaper -young guy/girl 12 - 20 die overdose / stabed to death lifting a flag will make a difference, letting the right people to their job will bring the best of the whole situation. Philippe > Glenn, > > Just out of curiosity, where do you live? > > Paul > - Original Message - > From: "Kenneth Waller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 10:57 AM > Subject: Re: Drug Dealer Lens? > > > > I'm not familiar with either lens, but for my money, I'd definitely go > with > > the 400. I can't imagine softness out weighing the inreased magnification. > > The choice of film would IMHO have more of an effect on softness. After > > you've got the image you might be suprised what they can reveal in > > Photoshop. > > Ken Waller > > - Original Message - > > From: D. Glenn Arthur Jr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 7:46 PM > > Subject: Drug Dealer Lens? > > > > > > > So I'm shooting from a third floor window, across a wide (two > > > travel lanes and two parking lanes) street with sidewalks, > > > using TMZ at 6400. Either the 400mm/6.3 preset (Spiratone) or > > > the 200mm/4 (Pentax SMC) is going to draw attention if I'm > > > actually _in_ the window, so I'm shooting from well back in > > > the room. > > > > > > The question is: Am I better off going with the longer but softer > > > 400mm to fill more of the frame, or taking my chances with grain on > > > a smaller image using the sharper (and easier to hold) 200mm? The > > > sun hasn't quite set yet, so I can get hand-holding speeds (1/1000 > > > actually, as of fifteen minutes ago, probably 1/500 now) with either > > > lens at the moment. > > > > > > In the viewfinder, using the 400mm, I can clearly see the money > > > changing hands, but it's not sharp enough to make out denominations. > > > > > > (Yes, I have a tripod. If I find a good angle where I can use > > > it, I may see whether anything interesting is happening late > > > tonight when I get home from rehearsal. And yes, I plan to ask > > > the vice squad whether they're interested in the film.) > > > > > > -- Glenn > > > > > > - > > > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > > > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > > > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . > > > > > > > > > > - > > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . > > > > > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Drug Dealer Lens
With a short 500mm mirror you'll be able to hide deeper inside the window, thus protecting your life. Collin * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Drug Dealer Lens
Glenn Just a tip that you probably know already: Remove the 1A filter (if you have one fitted), as the flat glass surface can reflect light sources such as streetlight, directly towards your subject!!! The curved front element reduces this risk dramatically. Good luck. Jim Brooks E-MAILS are susceptible to interference. You should not assume that the contents originated from the sender or the Zetex Group or that they have been accurately reproduced from their original form. Zetex accepts no responsibility for information, errors or omissions in this e-mail nor for its use or misuse nor for any act committed or omitted in connection with this communication. If in doubt, please verify the authenticity with the sender. Visit us onhttp://www.zetex.com - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
[veering OT] Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
>William Robb> When Glenn stops posting, it will be because he has pissed off >William Robb> the wrong people. I admire your ethics, I am not so sure about >William Robb> your sense of self preservation. While I am taking some precautions, it is possible that my self preservation instinct is miscalibrated. There's a certain amount of frustration pushing on the opposite side from the self-preservation though. Yeah, I should think this through. >Bob Blakely> This is why (one reason) I listed a 1911A1 Colt .45 Government >Bob Blakely> Model 70 Mk IV and 2 ea. 8 round clips in the "What Do You >Bob Blakely> Carry" thread. Yah, my sword isn't going to be useful at any real distance. :-( (I do not own (or have training/experience with) any firearms yet.) >Ken Waller> I'm not familiar with either lens, but for my money, I'd >Ken Waller> definitely go with the 400. I can't imagine softness out >Ken Waller> weighing the inreased magnification. The choice of film >Ken Waller> would IMHO have more of an effect on softness. After you've >Ken Waller> got the image you might be suprised what they can reveal in >Ken Waller> Photoshop. Ah! An answer to the technical question I asked -- thanks. Yeah, I might well be surprised what someone skilled in that sort of thing can reveal in Photoshop. I'm only a basic-level user of that, and I know I only scratch the surface of what it can do. >Shel Belinkoff> Use the 400mm lens on a tripod and you'll be fine ... until >Shel Belinkoff> you have to testify in court. Then use a 9mm. I'm really hoping to use these as "here are the people you want to investigate if you decide to follow through" information for the police, and had not thought about the possibility of my photos being used in court. Hmm. Bleah. Maybe tomorrow afternoon I'll set up the tripod and look from across the street to see how visible it is. If it's easily seen, I'm in trouble. >Paul Jones> Just out of curiosity, where do you live? Baltimore, Maryland, USA. West side of town (halfway between the inner harbour and old-town Catonsville). If you know Baltimore, I'm a few blocks west of the B&O Railroad Museum (and a block north, 'cause I'm on Lombard and it's on Pratt). Until a month or two ago, I described my neighbourhood as, "not a good neighbourhood, but not as scary a place as it looks; the _bad_ neighbourhoods being a few blocks away." Recent events have left me feeling that it's gone down a couple notches and is no longer a place I can try to reassure my friends about when they think about coming to visit. I am not happy about this, and I hope the publicized police plan to dramatically increase police presence and visibility on the west side of town does some good. >Mark Cassino> I think you should ask the cops to come over and shoot this >Mark Cassino> with _their_ gear. They are better equipped if the drug >Mark Cassino> lords decide to shoot back... Not sure I could get police into my house without the neighbours noticing and figuring something's up, but I'm sure they've got their own ways of investigating local goings-on. >Dan Scott> I admire your enthusiasm for doing the right thing. However, I'd >Dan Scott> like to seriously suggest you contact the police before you go >Dan Scott> any further with your plan. Please consider these points: > >Dan Scott> 1. a photo of someone handing money over to someone else is >Dan Scott> simply a photo of someone "repaying a loan" (not prosecutable); >Dan Scott> 2. even if the photo contains a baggie changing hands, baggies >Dan Scott> are not against the law and baggies full of white stuff are >Dan Scott> baggies of laundry soap,divinity, or coconut flakes until proven >Dan Scott> otherwise; True -- as I mentioned above, I'm thinking of these as aids to an investigation, not courtroom evidence. And, if the area actually gets cleaned up, reportage. I don't think I have the guts to publish 'em while the subjects are still active though. >Dan Scott> 3. you regularly lean out your apartment window taking photos >Dan Scott> (remember, a sizeable portion of your photogear "wandered off" >Dan Scott> not too long ago); *nod* In fact, I was about to lean out my window to photograph something innocuous that had caught my eye, but decided not to make the camera visible when I saw funny business going on nearby. Folks do know I have a camera, so if photos suddenly started showing up in random places, they'd probably figure out who took them. (I'm hoping I can trust the police not to make my life more interesting than it has to be by letting the wrong people know about the photos.) >Dan Scott> 4. quite frequently, the people who burglarize apartments and >Dan Scott> homes in a neighborhood are also active buyers and sellers of >Dan Scott> narcotics in that neighborhood; Buyers I'd considered, but I hadn't thought that burglars might also be dealers. Hmm. >Dan Scott> 5. if you are seen by your subjects, they
Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
Dan Scott, AKA "the Voice of Reason", wrote: and I am quoting its entirety to emphasize my total agreement. Don't do it yourself, Glenn! > I admire your enthusiasm for doing the right thing. However, I'd like to > seriously suggest you contact the police before you go any further with > your plan. Please consider these points: > > 1. a photo of someone handing money over to someone else is simply a photo > of someone "repaying a loan" (not prosecutable); > 2. even if the photo contains a baggie changing hands, baggies are not > against the law and baggies full of white stuff are baggies of laundry > soap,divinity, or coconut flakes until proven otherwise; > 3. you regularly lean out your apartment window taking photos (remember, a > sizeable portion of your photogear "wandered off" not too long ago); > 4. quite frequently, the people who burglarize apartments and homes in a > neighborhood are also active buyers and sellers of narcotics in that > neighborhood; > 5. if you are seen by your subjects, they won't have any doubts about why > you were photographing them; > 6. you don't have eyes in the back of your head. > > By contacting the police first, you are still doing the right thing. By > letting the police decide if and how they want to follow up on your > information, you let them obtain the evidence in a way that is most likely > to be useable to them. Please reconsider. - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
Re: Drug Dealer Lens?
> And yes, I plan to ask the vice squad whether they're interested in > the film.) Sell them some prints, then sell the negs to the dealers. :) chris - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
