Another "No photo please" Case...

[LeicaFoReVer]

This time it was in T&T Chinese market in Canada.

I have several Chinese friends and I love to shop in these markets. Last time I decided to take my NEX+canon 50mm f1.2 combo to photograph plethora of different foods in the market and show to my parents and friends. But no, as usual they behave you like you are terrorist or an NGO member, I dont know. One of the customers prevented me taking photos of the seafood section...I was very surprised as he was not even someone working in the market (camera was not pointed at him, just sea animals)

Then at another section, this time security guy warned me but he was much more polite than that customer!

I dont understand if I ever have a bad intentions there is now thousands of ways to do, like cell phones, spy cams, I can take photo without even someone notices...So why no freedom to take photos...

 

[Gumby]

In a private establishment it is generally considered polite to get permission to photograph first.

As a non-asian person I've found Aisan markets to be rather nonacommodating even when just trying to spend money there. Who knows what they really think of people like you and me.

 

[Gumby]

At least the security guy was polite. Language barriers and cultural differences often prohibit that.

 

[Brian Legge]

I can imagine a degree of sensitivity based on how animal rights/etc people have portrayed various ethnic markets over time. No idea if that was the case here, but there are plenty of reasons for places to be concerned about your intent or what may be done with the photos (by you or by people who see your work). Or they may have customers who'd rather not be photographed. Or there are always health department concerns, etc.

Private establishment and all, they can set whatever policies they want. Not trying to start a debate about that part - just thinking about why they might have the policies they do. Very little good may come to the people who own the store by people taking photos but there are plenty of risks and down sides to it for them.

 

[Gumby]

... Or there are always health department concerns...

BINGO. (Plus a few mandatory additional lteters)

 

[ampguy]

Many years ago at the downtown Uwajimaya in Seattle, I was photographing foods and goods, and just the interior, I think I was using a pentax dslr. After a while a plainclothes caucasian guy approached me and very politely mentioned that they didn't mind people photographing casually, especially friends and family in the food court area, but they preferred not to have photos taken of their shelving and products and stuff.

I was very pleased with the politeness of the security guy and put my camera away, until I was over at the food court.

In SF Chinatown, I don't take photos in shops without asking first, after getting some nasty looks once. At Pikes Peak marketplace, I had a weird request - I was photographing t-shirt slogans and the vendor requested that I not take close ups, but further back was fine. This was totally fine with me.

 

[newsgrunt]

I'm Asian and get the same thing at TnT and this was with a BB. No different than if I went to Loblaws or Metro or Piggly Wiggly. If I were a shop owner I'd probably do the same but if you asked for permission and told me why, I'd probably stop and talk cameras, then let you take photos 🙂

 

[JohnnyT]

It happens to me all the time in public place. But I often have my Ipod, which usually cut the part of tge guy telling me to not take any pictures ; I just grasp gesture of their partial argumentation. 😎

They often take me for a jerk, but I really love to be in "my world" when I do take pictures, even if a leica geek what to talk about my gear.

If the things goes too far, I tell them that I am in my absolute right to take pictures of who I want as long as I am in a public place or that I don't put anybody in danger. I even gave the choice to a guy one day to call the cop if he wanted to put that messy powertrip any further... 😉

Anyway, I usually not very intrusive working with small and discret cameras.

They just hate people who don't take wide shots of their family in front of something popular. :angel:

 

[le vrai rdu]

street photo is always a "no photos please" generator, but well, you have to deal with that

 

[JohnnyT]

street photo is always a "no photos please" generator, but well, you have to deal with that

Absolutely right...

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

But I saw many other people taking photos with their cell phones. So cell phone photos are ok but camera photos are not ok?

why in the hell if I dont photograph the guy, the customer stops me taking photos, what is his concern? probably thinking I am a member of NGO and put the photos of sea food to animal right activist webpage or what?

 

[btgc]

But I saw many other people taking photos with their cell phones. So cell phone photos are ok but camera photos are not ok?

No idea. Maybe they imagine - cellphone pics are technically not sufficient to submit them to...well, somewhere and been paid for them? And seeing camera they feel threatened? Or maybe they just don't feel they will be able to prove someone took picture using cellphone? Camera is obvious target....

 

[Todd Frederick]

I had a very good experience in San Francisco Chinatown with no hostile comments, nasty stares or confrontations at all, but perhaps that's because I was using a mini-digital camera I simply cupped inside my hands, although some were taken up-close and in their faces. All were very nice except for one lady who was playing some kind of group table game in the small park waving her hands at me to get lost...gambling ??? Who knows.

 

[jsrockit]

A fellow RFF member of Chinese decent told me that some people in Chinatown parks in NYC may not want to be photographed due to their status. I'm not sure if that's true, but there could be many factors. I've never been told not to photograph in Chinatown or Flushing, but people will turn away from the camera and perhaps get upset. It's best to take your fish pics quick and get out of people's way. It could simply be that it is busy and you are in the way when making photos.

 

[mooge]

people can be strange. if you went in and did the same thing some other day, people might have just ignored you.

 

[GSNfan]

In case you were in a public place and people did not allow you to photograph I could sympathize, but inside a grocery store? Even I don't want to see people taking photos inside a grocery store, its just one of those places that people prefer to be left alone doing their shopping.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

There are a lot of reasons why people prefer not to have their picture taken. As a few people have mentioned earlier that immigration status or anything legally related could give people a fear of cameras. Most "no picture" directed to me have been hands to cover the eyes or the middle finger. Public places outdoors are fair game, but on someones property they can be as nice or rude as they please.

I was at a deli once and took a picture of a large pile of grilled chicken, the store owner came out harshly declaring I could not take any pictures. I resisted the urge to throw the sandwich on the ground and tell them where to shove it. I guess I should have since that sandwich turned out to be pretty awful.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Again, like I said, camera was not pointed to a person...nevermind, I dont want this discussion to be a cultural discussion. It is not about Chinese people. I have many Chinese friends and I have been to china town of every city I visited. I always got positive reactions even photographing without asking...

It is about photographing in stores-shops-shopping centers.

 

[le vrai rdu]

It is just an irrationnal reaction, so it is not evident to have any solution

 

[umcelinho]

People - wrongfully - assume that cell phone photos can't be used for printing or any other use, so they won't bother those. With a bigger camera they think that it can be used for something they would want to approve before comes public.

It's like the stupid rule of "no filming" on venues but allowing photographic cameras in. Every moron should be aware by now that even cell phones make pretty decent movies, so there is no point in forbidding, really. Still, they do.

Now, about TnT, I also felt like taking some photos there, because it's so cool (and I drool while walking down the aisles...), but as commercial and private building I understand if they forbid photos, it's their right. On a public space, like streets, parks, subway, one should not be forbid to photograph.