Reflections

Every morning sunlight reflecting off of the bluish California Plaza buildings hits the ATT building in downtown Los Angeles and creates interesting patterns.  The last time I was photographing this building years ago,  a guard came out and questioned what I thought I was doing.  Eventually she was informed that there was nothing wrong with this so long as I did not trespass on ATT's property.

Yesterday I spent some time photographing the same effect and was eventually chased off the California Plaza property by a polite, but pushy security supervisor and his burly henchman.  He handed me a note suggesting that while they were aware that I had a right to take photographs, if I spent too much time doing so, they would report me to the police.

When I was much younger I had heard that in Russia there was a cultural attitude of being suspicious of one's neighbors and reporting them to authorities with little provocation.  At the time it seemed rather strange and unbelievable, but it seems we have moved much closer to that attitude here in the U.S.  Now people seem to think suspicion and distrust are virtues; that anyone who does not conform quite likely is up to no good.

I suppose there will always be people who think it is more important to follow the rules than it is to show people something interesting and beautiful.

Anyway, I thought this looked neat.