Sony RX1, 35mm f2 Carl Zeiss
ISO100, f/5.6, 1/500, raw
These days it is full of security around Saint Peter’s square. When there’s any event, which gathers tens of thousands of people, the police uses metal detectors and other techie stuff to check all the people (and their bags) before letting them in. When there’s no event, which still means that hundreds of people are around plus the usual one thousand of tourists cueing to get inside the basilica, the police controls all the entrances and the exits to and from the square, monitors everything that happens in the area, and, for the most, answers tourists’ questions and gives them directions.
I saw these two cops guarding the square in a perfect relaxed symmetry, and so I was secretly framing them when this weird tourist woman arrived. I don’t know what she asked them, but a moment later the two cops were both pointing directly at me. It was just a matter of a few moments, I took the shot and then pretended I was playing with the camera’s menu, while slowly walking away.
I didn’t show the cops the shot, cause I was pretty sure they wouldn’t have been so flattered. There aren’t cops who like to be photographed anywhere in the world, and Saint Peter’s square is no exception to the rule.
Hehe, the carabinieri are a funny lot. Once I was photographing a nice looking old building in the town of Gorica and all of a sudden about 10 of them came running out towards me, speaking loudly (all at the same time) and waving their hands in the air. It turned out the building was actually the local police station and they don’t allow you to photograph that. They wanted to see my photos and said I must delete them. I pretended I didn’t understand and kind of appologized and indicated I was going to delete all photos (which I didn’t actually do, but they’re nothign special anyway). After a couple of minutes they were satisfied and all went running back inside, still talking loudly and waving their hands in the air. It was like in some Italian comedy or something. 🙂
that’s a nice story, which sounds very Italian indeed. One of the best Italian actors ever, Alberto Sordi, played the role of policeman several times, always showing the funny attitude of Italian ones…
No one likes to be photographed being lazy on the job, especially cops 😉
E
eheh, you’re right!