Gaining access to private property

I have come across an old petroleum refinery building that appears to be in very bad repair. It is located on land that is currently being used for current refinery operations. I would like to gain access and do some photography of the interior and exterior of the old building.

I will be bringing a 12x20 and 4x5 cameras and about 5 additional fellow photographers from my little group of friends.

I would like to know if someone could provide an example or examples of letters or written requests to help gain access. I know this is going to be tough due to liability issues and security, but one can hope can’t they?

I have already made a phone call and could not get past the initial person on the phone.

Their response was “get lost!!!”

BTW the location is in Southern California.

I appreciate any help. Thanks

Gary

Your asking quite a lot .....................

But your going the wrong way about it, start by going to the site and approaching the people on the gates and asking them who you should contact.

Chances are they will give you the right person to ask but my guess is they will say no. Obviously the site is operational and as such needs good security, perhaps if you suggested your group be chaperoned by one of their people.

Ian

My experience is that unless you have a contact within the company, it has become hopeless. The safety/liability issues are the deciding factor. Security is usually the excuse. I work on high-profile construction projects and even I have a tough time photographing on my jobsites for non-work related shots.

With current insurance premiums nobody wants unnecessary personnel on the property, especially documenting possibly hazardous conditions that could be used in future lawsuits to show a state of disrepair or unsafe practices, etc.

Furthermore, companies don't want any negative aspects of their operations shown. One photo of an oil-stained pool of water can be a public relations career-ender for somebody.

not to say it can't be done, but without inside contacts pushing for you . . .

In the past I've used letters from my bosses, or other references, to gain access, but in the last four years it's all dried up.

What you and I view as photographic masterpieces, they view as liabilities and negative PR. The PR photos they DO do are strictly controlled and edited before the image is even made.

For reasons cited by both Ian and Terence, I think you're on a Quixotic quest.

But if you do make contact - be prepared to offer a blanket liability waiver for starters.

One possibility would be to find out who is the PR rep at the refinery is and see if they have some sympathy for your interest. By any chance, is the old refinery about to be torn down? If so, maybe suggesting you and your group do a documentary shoot of it before and after might pique some interest.

But all in all, I don't give you much of a chance of obtaining authorization.

Only ask permission of someone who can grant it. Doormen, guards, gate keepers or any security person cannot grant permission. Find the guy who can say yes.

This is a delicate situation if yu really, really want to get in. There's really no right or wrong answer to this. Several suggestions made are good ones, but no gaurantees they will get in the door.

In my former company, because of my position and contacts there, I had access to everything and took a lot of 'industrial' images - with permission. Naturally, all I had to do was 'inform' really and never really had to ask permission. Many of my images were used within the company and for external publication too.

Now, some photographer - 'better' than me, more experienced, bettr equipment, etc... - if they asked 'the powers' - say the VP I reported for permission - inevitably they would be denied. Regardless of the fact he/she would have performed the same activities with the same caution and professionalism as I - even far 'better' images. Why? Liability? Sort of. It really boild down to time. When I did it, because I was an employee I could juts do it on my own time and I knew when not to bother anyone.

An outsider has no luxury to know production schedules, etc... for one thing and secondly, you can't just let a stranger loose running around taking pictures. That person will need supervision. No time for that. That's the real reason. So companies citing liability, safety, etc... sure those reasons make sense, but the real reason is time. They have no time baby sit an outsider. Period.

So, with that being said, none of that helpsyou get in. Here's some methods:

1. Someone said find the decision maker. That's a good start. Better yet, find the guy that has the influence to get you in and walk you around a bit.

2. Propose something. Free images, whatever. I always had my camera when something 'big' was going on. One of projects required the side of the building to be removed so a large machine could be brought in by helicopter and crane. Had my camera there. If some photographer wanted to take images for free that day, I would have said sure. As long as I got images to use.

3. Find a contractor that doing a job there. Combine that with #2 above. During the same event, one of the contractors asked me if his sone could take images. I said sure. As long as I got free images to use.

4. Take images from the public sidewalk. I did that here in New Haven of the oil tanks at the harbour. Sure I was stopped a couple times by the cops, by security. Eventually, they got to know me and now I take images regularly. In fact I've gotten to know the site manager, showed him my portfolio and he's promised to let me in one day!

5. Find a beautiful model, bring her with you, and say you'd like to use the place as a backdrop for a 'fashion editorial' shoot. A beautiful young female model does wonders when it comes to men.

Regards, Art.

Liability is definitely an issue, and a legitimate one -- the reasons should be of concern to anyone trying to get into some of these plants. I did some control system start-ups in papermills a few years back. I just about needed stone tablets brought down the mountain to get permission to take some pictures, even though it was to help the company I worked for understand the nature and scope of the project. That said, before anyone went beyond the office area, we had to watch a half hour video on various safety issues and procedures. During regular operations, overhead cranes are whisking multi-ton rolls of paper overhead. (Picture a roll of brown "kraft" paper 35 feet long and 8 feet in diameter!) Railroad cars and tractor trailers are being shifted around the grounds, etc. During shutdowns, all sorts of major hunks of machinery may be hanging in the air and about head high. Chemicals, including chlorine by the railroad tank car full, are in use and on the grounds, 400 PSI superheated steam lines and all sorts of things. Industrial plants can be very bad places to be, especially old ones at or near their end of life. (Superheated steam leaks can be invisible until they create third degree burns or take your hand off.)

In abandoned plants, most of the live steam, electrical and chemical hazards may be gone, but there can be all sorts of structural hazards -- rusted out stairways, flapping rusty corrugated steel roofing, etc. -- since maintenance may have stopped a decade or too ago.

I suspect some of the fairly significant fees for a steel plant shoot I'm waiting to get confirmation on is to pay someone who knows the site to play tour guide and watchdog.

DaveT

I would not deny the security/sabotage issue.
If you start from public ground or just outside the fenced perimeter on whatsoever ground for preparing a from-the-outside portfolio and are sure to be able to do so unseen. OK. But with the slightest chance of contact with any kind of security agency be prepared to deliver the utmost professional image apt for such sites: amber kojak light at/on car, reflective/fluorescent vests with your name/activity professionally imprinted, safety helmet/safety boots in the car, business card at hand, gear that looks professional (to them) even if you intend to work with a hundred years old swinglens. You have got no permission whatsoever, nor will they discuss whether it is needed at all, but you did anything to avoid the impression of secrecy. Some good reasons for making the photographs to offer at time would be good too.

Though, I wonder about that girl thing… Well, that stuff above could be handy anyway…

i did this years ago at an electrical plant.
i called the pr office and the director of plant operations
and gained access that way.

but that was 20 years ago, and if was to ask the same people tomorrow,
the answer would be no --- i have liability insurance and profesional credentials too ... post 9-11 = no fun.

I certainly agree with the general theme. Liability, time, personal injury, etc...
My problem is I couldn't sell Ice Water in Death Valley. I am not a sales person and I am not very persuasive in my arguments. So even if I was able to get in touch with the person that could grant access I probably could not close the deal.
I was hoping for some convincing arguments to get me in the door.

I have found out the name of the person who owns the building. I am thinking of crafting a letter that would spell out exactly what I would like to do and how many people would be involved as well as offer to cover some costs of supervision. I have decided to limit this to two people, myself and my friend that could sell you your own shirt. I will also offer prints of what we photograph if he is interested.

If I succeed I will let you know, and if I fail I will let you know that also.

Thanks for all the advice.

Gary

If I were you Gary, I'd make a point of including a print or two of your existing work, especially if it gave a good indication of what you had in mind.

Matt

Gary892 said:

I have already made a phone call and could not get past the initial person on the phone.

Click to expand...

Just do it the time-honored way, and break in!

or find out who the owner is - and make an offer on the land and ask him if he minds if you send a 'survey crew' for a few hours...!! THERE'S AN IDEA!

Sparky said:

Just do it the time-honored way, and break in!

Click to expand...

Urban splunking. There's a whole underground culture that does just that.

Regards, Art. (Not that I would partake any such activities ...)