Before the City Paper makes the web version of last week’s cover story inaccessible for general viewing, be sure to take a look at its article “Don’t Shoot.” In it, the CP went around to the city’s more secure federal facilities to see whether security officers would allow them to take photos. The CP had some interesting results.

While they ran into problems shooting the Independence Avenue headquarters for the Federal Aviation Administration, DCist had no problems getting a shot when we were on an architectural photo exploration of L’Enfant Plaza and Southwest D.C. last month. (The CP was trying to get a shot of Jersey barriers protecting the building from errant cars and truck bombs; we were just trying to get a shot of the clouds reflecting off the marble and glass exterior, as you may be able to tell in this photo.)

The CP also ran into problems at the L’Enfant Plaza headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. While we understand security concerns, it’s all too bad. The mushroom-pod thingees that light up at night on HUD’s Seventh Street side make for great photographic subjects.

In June, when DCist competed in the Urban Challenge, we were scolded by a particularly ornery middle-aged security officer outside the State Department when we tried to snap a photo. (It was checkpoint No. 7 in the competition.)

On a related note, check out Observing Surveillance.