Street photography is a dangerous sport...

J

JohnnyT

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Feb 26, 2009
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Hell yeah...

Just got attacked yesterday... AGAIN!

I was in a park and I took a picture of a kid walking in front of me with her parents.

And...

Dad
- Can I see the picture?

Me
- No, sorry.

Dad
- You'll show me the picture! You can't take picture like that without asking the permission..

Me
- In fact, I can.

Dad
- You'll will show me that picture or I'll f*ck*ng break you and your camera...


The guy was completely furious... and I did already knew that the picture was not very good... So he was about to jump at my neck and I showed him that I did erase the picture...

I must also add that the guy was kinda really tall and athletic and I'm really small for a guy and do not run really fast...

Anyway, the only portrait that I've made this day is to show that this guy was a complete freak in front of his wife and children... :)

This kind of situation happen from time to time this one was really close...
 
Why not show him the picture? That might well be all that was needed. Indeed, I'll sometimes volunteer to show someone a picture. Usually they smile.

And if you're shooting film, "Sorry, it's an old film camera I'm trying out" or "I'm trying a new film."

Generally, a soft answer turneth away wrath.

And when it doesn't: well, they're the crazies, not you.

Cheers,

R.
 
Usually, when people are kind, I show them what I did took...

But this guy was staring at me the moment I've entered in the park. This was also what I call "the shot to break the ice"... Only the first shot of the day, I was only passing by this park to get to work...

He was already, very, but very agressive...

I should have showed the picture, you're right Roger :)
 
JohnnyT said:
Usually, when people are kind, I show them what I did took...

But this guy was staring at me the moment I've entered in the park. This was also what I call "the shot to break the ice"... Only the first shot of the day, I was only passing by this park to get to work...

He was already, very, but very agressive...

I should have showed the picture, you're right Roger :)
Click to expand...

Wasn't it sort of an odd choice for a 'break the ice' shot, then? Sorry, I'm trying to build up a better picture of what happened. Sure, his behaviour was weird, arrogant, etc., but I generally try to avoid crazies.

Cheers,

R.
 
Should have taken a photo of his asking to see the photo. "Crazies" are who I try to find. If it seems to be a norm with your style and location, perhaps you should attempt to educate people. If that doesn't work, just prepare to defend yourself.
 
This topic has been coming up a lot lately, and discussions have become very heated.

Some courtesy, manners, and finesse will go much farther than a couple of karate lessons. If you take the attitude that it is your right to take anyone's picture, their Kid's picture, anywhere in public and refuse to let them see it- buy disposable cameras and make sure your health insurance is paid up. You are not going to "educate them" out of the situation. It does not matter if you are right, they are right, or somewhere in between. That's the way it is.
 
Taking photos of other peoples children is very dangerous sport these days regardless of the nature of the parent.

Paranoia is on the rise, everyone is fearing global natural disasters, terrorism, pedophilia and people believe that their every move is being observed by some government organization and that privacy doesn't exist any longer. Photography itself may end up as a crime over the next few decades.
 
Just because you may have a right to do something does not mean it is a good idea in practice. Is taking a photo of someone's kid worth the potential trouble? The world is changing WRT photography, like it or not. I am not surprised at all by the reaction you got to taking that photo given the modern paranoia surrounding photos of children. You don't like the headache that comes from banging your head against a wall, then stop banging your head against a wall.

Bob
 
Personally I would never photograph someone's child in public these days. The combination of societal paranoia and a highly protective parent is a dangerous coctail IMO.

Being in the right is no help at all if you do happen to get your face re-arranged by an aggressor.
 
I agree to all suggestions except learning martial arts :) In very same moment he got aggressive, I'd snap him and tell - just move and I'm going to file police report, I've got picture to submit. Or retrieve phone and tell I'm calling 112.

One thing he doesn't likes your hobby and another - how to communicate it.

EDIT: anecdote came to mind: in some dangerous situation, boxer says
- look, I can smash you with only one hand.

His opponent replays:
- I can uglify you with a one finger.

- Who are you ? asks boxer.
- I'm photographer.
 
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If you were shooting digital, I'd probably have shown him and depending upon his reaction deleted it or not, it's impossible to comment as I wasn't there.

Normally I'd tell them go go fornicate with a bush but I'm trying to learn how to control my anger. :)

Funny though, that I have no problems taking pictures of kids. Parents just smile :)
 
I guess this was only just a bad day. I've always had success doing this thing and nobody notice...

I must also say that my camera is ninjetised (new term?:D)... A small DSLR all wrapped up with ninja duck tape, with a pancake lens... The camera is also attached to my arm and I hid it with a big and long scarf... And like I've said, I'm really small and usually go somewhat invisible...

I've just photographed the kid that I was not suppose to shot...

Anyway, this small adventure made me think about getting a knife or something. I really do not want to stop taking street photo just because a crazy french dad (I'm french also... no offense) wanted to kill me that day.

The funny part is that I've tried to explain him and educate him that street photography is actually permitted and threatening people is not... He did answer by removing is cumbering big bag to kick my *ss....

Like the martial art advice and the boxer analogy, thought... :)

edit : I would probably be dead now if I was using my Leica... To long to show the picture :p
 
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JohnnyT said:
I must also say that my camera is ninjetised (new term?:D)... A small DSLR all wrapped up with ninja duck tape, with a pancake lens... The camera is also attached to my arm and I hid it with a big and long scarf... And like I've said, I'm really small and usually go somewhat invisible...
Click to expand...
Someone taking pictures of kids all ninjafied camera attached to his arm & hidden by a scarf would go a long way towards setting my alarm bells off... Perhaps your efforts at stealth are crossing a line to where they could be perceived as creepy?
 
JohnnyT said:
I must also say that my camera is ninjetised (new term?:D)... A small DSLR all wrapped up with ninja duck tape, with a pancake lens... The camera is also attached to my arm and I hid it with a big and long scarf... And like I've said, I'm really small and usually go somewhat invisible...
Click to expand...

j6ppc said:
Someone taking pictures of kids all ninjafied camera attached to his arm & hidden by a scarf would go a long way towards setting my alarm bells off... Perhaps your efforts at stealth are crossing a line to where they could be perceived as creepy?
Click to expand...

+1. That is ultra creepy.
 
JohnnyT,
You might like to try a safer sport like photographing wolves wearing Ugg boots and a lambs wool jumper.

I agree with Roger H. Seems like a 'wind up' to me too.
 
Make that a third for smelling a troll, the stupid meter just went off the scale as in nobody can be that dense.

Bob
 
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