jrong
Too many cameras
I just need to pick everybody's minds on the subject of candid street photography. A lot of us use RF's specifically for that reason, it's small, it's sleek and quiet, and not very threatening nor visible.
I was in a restaurant ordering takeout food a few weeks ago. I am in the process of documenting old cafes and greasy spoons, and although the restaurant itself was not strictly in that category, it had an interesting "old cafe" feel to it, and I had my Bessa R with me, so I peered through the viewfinder to check my exposures. It was much too dark. The place was pretty crowded with diners, and I was standing up in the takeout queue. I'd say there were about 15-20 people in there. When a waitress decided to clean up a table, I got a quick grab shot of her back against the glass door and windows.
I went outside to wait for the takeaway, and while I was pacing outside the restaurant with my camera, some guy came out of the restaurant with a really foul look on his face. He told me he did not appreciate having pictures taken of him while he was having dinner, and asked me whether there was film in my camera. From his intimidating manner, I thought he was going to punch me or rip the film out of my camera... I was flummoxed, and frankly did not even recall seeing him in the restaurant, or having pointed my camera at him. So I told him I was mostly checking exposures in the restaurant and most likely had not taken a photo of him. He was irate and EXTREMELY RUDE and demanded to know why I had taken a photograph.... he then demanded my business card, threatening me if he "ever found his photograph anywhere in print". I was even more flabbergasted and said I had no idea who the hell he was. Did he think I was a paparazzi photographer? Clearly, he thought he was somebody. He was rude and bullying throughout, and his manner did not change throughout our interaction, even though I insisted I was only waiting for a takeout.
I developed my film and yes, he was actually seated at the corner of the photo that I took of the waitress cleaning the table. He was very clearly not the subject of my photo, nor is he instantly recognisable unless I enlarge the photo many times. I'm really quite peeved by this behaviour. If he had been polite, or asked me nicely what I was doing, and would I kindly not publish the photo, I would have happily respected his wishes. His extreme rudeness and bullying behaviour makes me think that he has either something to hide, or has serious delusions of grandeur.
What I want to know is... is it completely legal to take photos of someone in a public place? I mean, the restaurant is privately owned, and so I suppose strictly speaking, I should have asked the owner for permission, but then again, how many of us do that while shooting off candids? Most owners don't usually care either way. Was the guy's threat mostly an empty threat?
But if I made the face of this man unrecognisable by blurring and darkening/burning, would it still be OK to post his image on my website?
In some parts of London, it feels like there is a "war on street photographers" at the moment. 🙁
Curious,
Jin
I was in a restaurant ordering takeout food a few weeks ago. I am in the process of documenting old cafes and greasy spoons, and although the restaurant itself was not strictly in that category, it had an interesting "old cafe" feel to it, and I had my Bessa R with me, so I peered through the viewfinder to check my exposures. It was much too dark. The place was pretty crowded with diners, and I was standing up in the takeout queue. I'd say there were about 15-20 people in there. When a waitress decided to clean up a table, I got a quick grab shot of her back against the glass door and windows.
I went outside to wait for the takeaway, and while I was pacing outside the restaurant with my camera, some guy came out of the restaurant with a really foul look on his face. He told me he did not appreciate having pictures taken of him while he was having dinner, and asked me whether there was film in my camera. From his intimidating manner, I thought he was going to punch me or rip the film out of my camera... I was flummoxed, and frankly did not even recall seeing him in the restaurant, or having pointed my camera at him. So I told him I was mostly checking exposures in the restaurant and most likely had not taken a photo of him. He was irate and EXTREMELY RUDE and demanded to know why I had taken a photograph.... he then demanded my business card, threatening me if he "ever found his photograph anywhere in print". I was even more flabbergasted and said I had no idea who the hell he was. Did he think I was a paparazzi photographer? Clearly, he thought he was somebody. He was rude and bullying throughout, and his manner did not change throughout our interaction, even though I insisted I was only waiting for a takeout.
I developed my film and yes, he was actually seated at the corner of the photo that I took of the waitress cleaning the table. He was very clearly not the subject of my photo, nor is he instantly recognisable unless I enlarge the photo many times. I'm really quite peeved by this behaviour. If he had been polite, or asked me nicely what I was doing, and would I kindly not publish the photo, I would have happily respected his wishes. His extreme rudeness and bullying behaviour makes me think that he has either something to hide, or has serious delusions of grandeur.
What I want to know is... is it completely legal to take photos of someone in a public place? I mean, the restaurant is privately owned, and so I suppose strictly speaking, I should have asked the owner for permission, but then again, how many of us do that while shooting off candids? Most owners don't usually care either way. Was the guy's threat mostly an empty threat?
But if I made the face of this man unrecognisable by blurring and darkening/burning, would it still be OK to post his image on my website?
In some parts of London, it feels like there is a "war on street photographers" at the moment. 🙁
Curious,
Jin