Alright... so I had some free time after a night of hard drinking...
First... forced designated driver to go uptown... took some pictures of trains around the Purina plant. No problems.
Then, found ourselves at the natural gas refinery. Camera in-hand; figured just had to.
Jumped the fence. Snapped some pictures (35mm; will have to wait for pictures to come back)
And security guard showed up.
In one of those serial killer stalker panel vans...
Took down my DL number...
Gave me a sheet of paper:

Suncor Energy in conjunction with local police is concerned anytime people are taking pictures of the refinery. Since 9/11, security measures within the industrial sector have increased. Security must follow up on anyone found taking unauthorized photographs of the refinery. If you are a photography student who has been given the assignment to take pictures of an industrial setting, please take pictures from one of these two locations: 1. The bike path from the parking lot on the west side of Colorado at 70th. It isn't well-marked, but there is a nice parking lot and easy access to the path. You can get good pictures from this area, without being so close as to raise suspicion. -OR_ 2. Go to the top of the hill on 58th between Washingon and Franklin. (Exit I-25 at 58th and go east on 58th). There is a parking lot at the top of that hill and you can take photos from there. Although it is unlikely that site security will stop at these two locations, the local police may stop and as you questions. Be prepared to show an ID and explain why you are taking photographs. Other options: 1. Call Suncor Energy Security at 303-286-5775. Inform security of your name, shool, purpose for needing photographs and time you plan to take photographs. Security will seek approval from Suncor Management and return your call. 2.Call the other refinery's owner, Valero, to ask if they will let you take pictures. Other information: 1.Take ID with you including student ID if you have it. 2. Take a copy of your work assignment. 3. From the 2 locations recommended, the private guards for area industry are unlikely to interrupt. The police may still ask you not to take pictures, one of the reasons to have good ID. 4. We do not recommend taking photos from I-270 - it is dangerous and the police will ask you to move on.

Mind you, I was over the fence; on refinery property...
Should have been arrested for any number of infractions.

Frankly, I'm confused.

sweet ! they even gave you directions.

As bizarre as this situation is, it does present an interesting credibility prop:

Posted by statik If you are a photography student who has been given the assignment to take pictures of an industrial setting... Take a copy of your work assignment.

Hmmmm... it wouldn't take long to write up a quick sheet with a fake course number (or even a real one!) and class assignment (for those not of traditional college age, use the name of a local community college, adult education center, etc.). 'Course it won't help much if they search your bag and find a ninja mask and a night vision scope, but hey...

-- Mat

Thats pretty sweet. I can't wait until im in college and I do take photography, that way I have a good excuse. I'll just be straightfoward and honest. It might work =P

Plythe even if you can pass for a high school kid you can often get away with stuff involving projects. Many high schools offer State & Local history courses which come in handy if you need a quick explanation of why you are on the site. In those types of classes they often have you do reports on active businesses or buildings and you can easily use it for some leverage to either gain information about a specific site or to actually gain access to one. Or in some cases to be escorted off the property rather than get arrested. Just tell them you were trying real hard to get an A and they'll have sympathy

i was in the same area across the street from the refinery a few months ago taking pics of an abandoned grain thingy, security promptly made me scram...and delete my pictures...yah right..anyway..cool that they did it this way...being by a refinery would seem they would get very pissy..

See, I tried to do that thing, to pass as an HS student searching for places that might be dangerous to society (looking for UE places) and I went into a police station to ask. It worked but when I posted that story here, they all said that I was a liar, and flamed me etc. But believe it or not its posible and very easy.





http://www.uer.ca/forum_showthread.asp?fid=1&threadid=5002&currpage=1&pp#post6

Remember guys, the FBI wants to help you UE.

Posted by joexplore ... I was a liar, and flamed me etc. But believe it or not its posible and very easy.

You're right, it is very easy... to be a liar.

Refineries are a no-no. Most place WILL call the police on you.

Joe, I simply mentioned posing as a high school student. I don't see any connection between what I said and what you claim happened. Calm down.

And don't count on people of authority giving you any tidbits. Those type of people are around to rescue idiot high school kids who fall down holes, not lead you to them.

And like I said overthere, I dont have to prove anything to anybody. Try reading my small litle slogan on the bottom.

Posted by joexplore Try reading my small litle slogan on the bottom.

...working on it.

Pretty sweet that they just gave you instructions and didn't call the cops or anything. If you posed as a college student with a homework assignment you could probably take pics, but might they even take you on a tour of the facilities?

Posted by MrSTIX Pretty sweet that they just gave you instructions and didn't call the cops or anything. If you posed as a college student with a homework assignment you could probably take pics, but might they even take you on a tour of the facilities?

It kind of freaked me out... I was all expecting to recieve another Maglite beatdown and get hauled away in handcuffs...
And the guy was like, "you're a college student, aren't you?"
And I said yes, of course.
I've been a college dropout for the past 2 years.

Good thing for me my honesty chip isn't installed until next Wednesday.

But no-go on the tours. I already asked 'em a few years ago.
Hell, I had the audacity to call NORAD and ask if they offered tours.
They don't, by the way.

Thats cool, I wish I ran in to a security guard like that on a few of my explorations. I've always wanted to explore that same Purina Plant you where at, I pass it on the interstate alot. How did your pictures turn out?

Posted by SnArF Thats cool, I wish I ran in to a security guard like that on a few of my explorations. I've always wanted to explore that same Purina Plant you where at, I pass it on the interstate alot. How did your pictures turn out?

No go on the pictures, at least on the Purina plant (refinery photos are on another roll that's currently being developed).
Hard drinking and aperture settings don't mix, apparently.

Posted by statik No go on the pictures, at least on the Purina plant (refinery photos are on another roll that's currently being developed). Hard drinking and aperture settings don't mix, apparently.

hehe, i love night photography, too bad you were a little to drunk to get good pictures...heh heh

Eh... I'll go back later.
It's not like they're gonna run out of film to sell...

But we're no-go on the refinery pics, too.
They're all either completely black or washed-out white...

Here's the best one from Purina:

click to view