Dropping in on Downtown San Jose, Ca

dadwtwins · August 17, 2010

The other day, I met up with Steph otherwise known as <a href="http://www.schmootography.com/">schmoo</a> for a San Jose photowalk...yeaaaa. It does not get much better than going shooting with Steh no matter where the location.

I had a little time to kill before I met up with steph so I went to the farmers market at San Pedro Square to see what they had to offer.
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Met this man making one of my fav foods...Naan in a traditional tandoori oven. I still have not figured out how they transported such a heavy item. Not only was the oven super hot, it must of weighed a ton.
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Since Steph does nothing ordinary, she met me by dropping in with flair and panache.

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For some reason there seemed to be a lot of fire engine activity that day. Everywhere we went, we heard and saw fire engines speeding around.
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During the mid day light, walked around a bit trying to find photo subjects. Not so easy with the high contrast of sunny San Jose.
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I stole this idea of a self portrait from Steph. Her imagination and vision for self portraits is way beyond my skill level.
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When night started to fall upon us, we were at City hall.
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In the window display, they had some seriously disturbing art.
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At the end of the night, Steph and I ended up at Sanatana Row where photography became way more difficult. Not because of the subject matter but because of the security and the San Jose police department. During the next few shots, a security guard informed us that our type of photography equipment was not welcomed there and we had to seize taking pictures. Since I did not comply, they called the San Jose Police....we were next told to either leave the premises or get arrested for trespassing. Not much of a choice but rather risk any more drama, we left.

Thanks Santana Row for being so silly with your anti-dSLR policy and making us photographers the focus of your duties while treating us like criminals. I am sure the people of San Jose are grateful that their tax money is going to such a worthy cause.
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While at the end of our photo-walk was full of drama and disappointment, the walk in general was a great time especially since I spent some time with the great schmoo. Next time hopefully we won't attract so much attention. I think in total, we had two San Jose police officers and six security officers escorting us out of Santana Row. I am such a threat, watch out world....Dan is out there taking random pics near you.....Be scared....be very very scared :-D

Qarik · August 17, 2010

some good stuff! what building is that 4 and 5 from the bottom? is that city hall?

dadwtwins · August 17, 2010

Qarik wrote: »

some good stuff! what building is that 4 and 5 from the bottom? is that city hall?

This is San Jose's City Hall Rotunda

goldenstarphoto · August 17, 2010

Some great shots there! What "type" of photography were you guys doing there that caused all that drama? Please tell me you were both dressed.

dadwtwins · August 18, 2010

goldenstarphoto wrote: »

Some great shots there! What "type" of photography were you guys doing there that caused all that drama? Please tell me you were both dressed.

Nope....they were just against dSLR's. For some reason they have a policy against the "type"

of photography equipment we were using. The "type" that is banned from this area depends completely on the discretion of the security officers patrolling Santana Row

. WTF is that about???

tsk1979 · August 18, 2010

Isn't the main road through Santana Row a proper public thoroughfare? Its not like a closed mall or something, right? The Vanity fair mall near Santana Row is a closed mall IIRC.

schmoo · August 18, 2010

dadwtwins wrote: »

Nope....they were just against dSLR's. For some reason they have a policy against the "type" of photography equipment we were using. The "type" that is banned from this area depends completely on the discretion of the security officers patrolling Santana Row. WTF is that about???

Dan, don't feel too bad. I was relating this story at dinner last night and it turns out we are far from the first photographers they've done this to. One of my colleagues here was using Santana Row as an urban backdrop for a bridal shoot and got kicked out as well (something about needing a $2k permit?).

Your shots of City Hall in particular came out so well! And oh yeah, thanks for the skydiving lesson.

It's always fun shooting with you. Have a blast next week at the workshop!

Tanveer - that's what we'd thought, and what most people think. It's a street like any other, with shops along both sides. Could be anywhere in America!

dadwtwins · August 18, 2010

tsk1979 wrote: »

Isn't the main road through Santana Row a proper public thoroughfare? Its not like a closed mall or something, right? The Vanity fair mall near Santana Row is a closed mall IIRC.

According to the officers...all of Santana Row is private including the roads that pass through it.

schmoo wrote: »

Dan, don't feel too bad. I was relating this story at dinner last night and it turns out we are far from the first photographers they've done this to. One of my colleagues here was using Santana Row as an urban backdrop for a bridal shoot and got kicked out as well (something about needing a $2k permit?).

Your shots of City Hall in particular came out so well! And oh yeah, thanks for the skydiving lesson. It's always fun shooting with you. Have a blast next week at the workshop!

Thanks Steph, I enjoyed spending time shooting with you as well.

$2000 fee for a back drop??? no wonder why they wanted us off the property so badly...we forgot to pay the bribe

dadwtwins · August 18, 2010

Just got back the rules from Santana Row....

Filming Requirements at Santana Row:
•Application must be completed a minimum of 5 business days prior to shoot date.
•A minimum of $5 million of General Liability Insurance is required, along with a signed License Agreement and Waiver of Liability for commercial
shoots.
•Fees will be determined once the application is completed.
•Santana Row will receive credit as the location site.
•Carry approved application with you during photo shoot
•Do not impede traffic –pedestrian or vehicular – or block any store fronts.
•Do not photograph any store fronts.
•Santana Row Security has the right to ask you to discontinue shoot for any reason.

looks like I broke their rules....oops:bs

schmoo · August 19, 2010

dadwtwins wrote: »

Just got back the rules from Santana Row....

Filming Requirements at Santana Row:
•Application must be completed a minimum of 5 business days prior to shoot date.
•A minimum of $5 million of General Liability Insurance is required, along with a signed License Agreement and Waiver of Liability for commercial
shoots.
•Fees will be determined once the application is completed.
•Santana Row will receive credit as the location site.
•Carry approved application with you during photo shoot
•Do not impede traffic –pedestrian or vehicular – or block any store fronts.
•Do not photograph any store fronts.
•Santana Row Security has the right to ask you to discontinue shoot for any reason.

looks like I broke their rules....oops:bs

That sounds about right

Hey thanks for clearing it up for the rest of us! I better start working on that $5M insurance policy.

ian408 · August 26, 2010

tsk1979 wrote: »

Isn't the main road through Santana Row a proper public thoroughfare? Its not like a closed mall or something, right? The Vanity fair mall near Santana Row is a closed mall IIRC.

Nope. Valley Fair has that road that leads you into the parking lot but it isn't a through road. Santana Row is the same. Both malls are private property.

Dropping in on Downtown San Jose, Ca

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