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Welcome to PentaGRAFX.

Before you read this, please take a moment to read the previous blog entry. I’ll wait.

. . . .


I'm RE-E-EALLY Pissed Off. Why am I pissed? This morning, as I was doing some copystand work (photographing old photos and memorabilia) for a video I’m producing, I was half-listening to the radio, just to cut the dead silence in the house while I worked.

The news came on and there was a story about a 19-year-old Jordanian, Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, who had been caught in an attempt to blow up an iconic Dallas skyscraper, Fountain Place. The FBI apparently caught him in a sting operation after watching him for several months and the “bomb” had been rendered harmless.

Fountain Place

First, I was furious that someone had made an attempt on a building here in Dallas. Then, I was relieved that the attempt was only that and that no one had been harmed.

Once my relief subsided, I became furious again. Why? Because, quite likely, I may not be able to photograph buildings in downtown Dallas or the Dallas skyline — one of my favorite subjects — for months. . . or even years because of this Muslim bastard. That’s right, I called him a Muslim bastard. The chances of the failed bomber being a Christian or Hindi or pagan or anything else is slim to none. And Slim’s outta town.

My experience with a Homeland Security wannabe the other day as I shot a 360° panorama of the Dallas skyline (in the rain, I might add) at Harwood and Woodall Rogers left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was my very first run-in with someone claiming I couldn’t photograph something from a public thoroughfare, which happens to be perfectly legal despite what some over-zealous fools would have photographers believe.

The likelihood of being left to pursue my photography in peace has suddenly diminished by several orders of magnitude. And I’m pissed. So, it looks like I won’t be shooting more photographs like these for a while — unless I want to be harassed by some big guy with a badge, a gun, and a nasty attitude. Who knows? I’ve taken bigger risks. Hell, I’ve beaten cancer! What are they going to do to me? Eat me?