well, I never expected that!

Well, that was a day that I would class as out of the ordinary. For those of you that follow my infrequent blipping of the last few months you will probably know I don't really have time for much apart from work (sorry SJ!) - and although I still attempt to take a photo a day it is rare that I actually blip them on that day.

Last Wednesday was an exception, I felt I had to post to let people know what had happened.

I have had security guards ask me to stop taking photos before. As an avid snapper it happens (as some of you know).

Normally I will respectfully inform the guard that I am allowed by law to do so (almost exclusively I have been on public, tax payer owned, land) and have simply left it at that.

Last Wednesday was different, I was harassed - while on public land, on Elder street, outside Multree walk - video recording my friend and colleague attempting to reason with a security guard who had called for backup simply because he'd had the temerity to ask why photography was forbidden. I wasn't arguing with them about being able to take photos in Multree walk but rather taking photos of it.

When I attempted to leave they tried to stop me, they followed me, continuing to harass me, and then returned to harangue me and demand that I delete my photos while I stood at the bottom of the road.

Unusually for me I posted the video, and the amazing community here were rightfully outraged, not at my treatment but at the crazy rules that seem to have sprung up - and, yes it is YOU Rochelle Weir, General Manager St James Shopping Centre I'm talking about, it is your policy those security guards are implementing, it is YOUR diktat that they follow, in contravention of the law of the land.

The community contacted the media, contacted the shop involved, organised this flashmob - the first I knew about it was when I logged into my blip account this morning (having been to a superb wedding on Saturday - congratulations Mort! - and worked all Sunday) and saw what was going on.

I went along and faced the media, felt a bit foolish, and shocked too at all the publicity this has generated. If it stops one other photographer getting hassled then I suppose it is for the good.