This image stirred up a fair amount of drama. I've had my run-ins with the photography gestapo in the past, but never quite like this. I spent the better part of an hour flanked by two security guards threatening me with arrest, confiscation of my equipment, being turned over to various agencies and interrogated.

I know some people like to get in security guard faces and instigate things just for the sake of it, but I try to approach things differently. I'm usually respectful, calm, and talk with people rationally. However, when they demanded I turn over my camera; my eyebrows shot up in an arch and I had a few things to say about that idea. When pigs fly, basically, was my response. Emphatically!

They backed off a little bit and we went back to talking semi-rationally and finally came to an understanding. I asked them if I deleted the photos and agreed to go quietly, could we put this all behind us. They got on their radios, exchanged information with their masters, and eventually agreed as long as they got to watch me actually delete each and every picture I had taken of the place.

Some people would balk at that idea and refuse to delete anything. And that's fine, but I didn't see the point. All I wanted was my pictures and to be able to leave peacefully. It's not my fault the idiots don't know anything about digital media and how easy it is to recover "deleted" data.

So, I put on the show they wanted. I feigned disappointment and deleted each one. I eventually got back to my car and promptly removed the memory card from my camera to ensure I didn't overwrite the deleted data. When I got home, I recovered each and every last damn one of them!

It reminds me of the story of Br'er Rabbit and the Tar Baby... "Please don't make me delete my pictures Br'er Bear... anything but that!"

I got news for ya, you technologically ignorant, badge-heavy buffoon; I was born and raised in the digital brier patch!