Confrontation

[Kragmeister]

Greetings,

After fixing a FED 3 I loaded it up with a short roll of film to try it out during my daily travels. While driving by an apartment complex I was struck by the absurdity of one of those giant fan-inflated Santas all alone on a 2nd floor balcony...no other unit was decorated. So I parked the car and started taking snaps at different distances from the parking lot and the street.

While I was on the street taking a shot of the whole place with the sign for the complex in the frame a woman starts yelling at me from the 2nd floor, demanding to know what I am taking pictures of. I told her it is no concern, I'm taking pictures of the outside. That wasn't good enough, she kept repeating herself then ducked inside. I was almost to my car when she comes back out with a large fellow and he is asking her "Where?" and she points at me as I'm getting into the car. He starts yelling at me demanding to know what I'm doing. I repeat that is is of no concern, just taking shots of the outside of the building and I drive off.

Could I have handled this better instead of just running away? Of course I was done so I wasn't missing any shots.

Later,
Greg

 

[FrankS]

If the fellow wasn't so big, and you enjoy confrontation, you could have stayed to expain everything and educate them on photographers' rights.

It was probably easiest just to drive away as you did.

 

[aad]

On a pragmatic level, it likely wasn't worth fighting in this case. I had a situation Wednesday where I was outside a store, and was taking a shot-a women demanded I identify myself. I ignored her while I took the picture, then explained myself.

 

[FrankS]

If you are doing street photography, I wonder, how is the best way to explain yourself and your photography if confronted? Do you say "I'm a photographer," or "I'm an artist,"? The former sounds like you are out to make money off them, the latter sounds pretentious.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

You did the right thing by walking away, no need for confrontation. On the other hand, if the guy was pushing it further, I'd just take out my cell phone and dial 911 and inform the operator that you are being harassed ... turn the tables on him. That should cool down the hottest of heads. Glad you escaped without ill consequences.

 

[flipflop]

I usually ask before I get in someones face, and I say im a student who has to take pics for class...

 

[flipflop]

can someone inform me what "rights" you have as a photographer...
Thanks!

 

[Frank Granovski]

Kragmeister, if you wish, I'll send you my 1st instructional bagua tape for free. Bagua really does work, and you get to hospitalize large bullies free from fear. For info, see my website: http://www.8palm.com 🙂

 

[jlw]

can someone inform me what "rights" you have as a photographer...
Thanks!

If you're in the United States, the following website (created by an actual lawyer) includes a helpful summary:

The Photographer's Right

Personally, I seldom get into these kinds of situations because I'm a fairly gifted liar. For example, in your situation, when first questioned by the woman, I'd probably feign wild enthusiasm and emote, "That inflatable Santa is just so cool! We don't have anything like that back home. My kids will just flip when I send them this picture! This may sound kind of corny, but I think you must be a really big-hearted person to want to brighten up your neighborhood this way. Do you decorate for all the holidays?" and then go on from there. People usually don't mind attention if they think it's admiring attention.

 

[Kyle]

I usually ask before I get in someones face, and I say im a student who has to take pics for class...

Thats exactly what I say. I was confronted in situations similar to this (taking photos of a building or something like that, then someone comes out to confront me). Both times I explained that I was a student, taking photos for a class assignment and that I wasn't going to publish the photos or put them on the internet. I then politely apologized and left. People's attitudes usually change when you tell them you're a student. A classmate told me that he was confronted by someone while doing his assignment and when he claimed he was a student, the person just went ahead and let him finish taking shots. This would only work if you're younger (I'm 20), but if you have to tell a white lie and say you're a student, it can usually help cool off some hot heads.

Back to the OP, you did the right thing. Avoiding confrontation was probably the best thing to do in that situation. If the big guy wasn't easing up after your explanation, nothing you could have said would have changed his mind. If you would have stuck around to explain yourself, you could have ended up in a fight.

Last month I learned the hard way that avoiding confrontation whenever possible is the best route to take. I was leaving a local show when I noticed a guy was leaned on my truck. I asked him if he could get off, becuase I was trying to leave. He started rambling about how he wasn't ruining it. I told him it was just rude and I needed to go. Anyways, long story short... he was a very hot-headed fellow who had a couple buddies with him (I was alone) and he punched me twice in the jaw. I wound up with a broken jaw. Now, I can't fight for beans so I wasn't looking for a fight. I wound up with a broken jaw. Looking back, I realize that you never know how people are going to react. The best thing I could have done would have been to just get in my truck and leave. Its not quite the same thing, but now I know to just avoid any unnecessary confrontation whenever possible.

 

[aad]

Picking a fight is never good-unless there's some real threat, walking away is best. In the case of the original situation, if you were standing by your car and a big guy started charging at you,what would you do?
The truck thing-there's a world of learning in that story.

 

[kmack]

I am normally shoot older cameras, a Zorki, Kiev or my IIIF. I just tell people that I am testing an old camera and what ever I was shooting "looked cool" and thanking them for letting me shoot it. I have gotten into some nice conversations with some nice people about the old cameras they had, or that looks like s camera my grandfather had and a few "don't point that at me again you wacko". The latter is quite rare.

 

[skipc]

can someone inform me what "rights" you have as a photographer...
Thanks!

http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

 

[Frank Granovski]

Thanks!

Rights are rights but getting attacked is ilegal, and one should have the basic skills to preserve oneself, whether verbal or physical. There's never a cop around when you need one. 😉

 

[Bryan Lee]

People can be weird about getting their picture made by strangers. You never know whats going on either, They could be getting a divorce, dope dealers, on Americas most wanted, or just schizophrenic. Ive had some major confrontations with people in the past and I gaurentee leaving immediatly is always the best choice if its available. If someone is already agitated and confrontational, you making a sensable explenation of what youre doing is unlikely to be understood. The size thing is a issue but just the oppisite of normal thinking, The smaller a guy is, the more likely he is to shoot or stab you.

 

[oftheherd]

Confrontation is usually best avoided. These days who knows why someone is objecting to anything. You have to wonder what the woman objected to and what the man would have done. Perhaps they were drug dealers and thought you were taking photos to put them out of business. Perhaps they thought you were a thief who was casing their abode. Perhaps they were just obnoxious people. People are known to attact for some awfully obscure and seemingly stupid reasons. People are known to shoot others for some obscure and seemingly stupid reasons.

While it is true it is worth while knowing how to defend yourself, I think most martial arts encourage practitioners to avoid fights to begin with, even walking away if possible.

I think your leaving was the best. That said, some of the methods given here for defusing a situation are well taken. Again, ways to avoid confrontation if possible.

 

[Frank Granovski]

While it is true it is worth while knowing how to defend yourself, I think most martial arts encourage practitioners to avoid fights to begin with, even walking away if possible.

Yes, this is true, but some attacks can not be avoided; and that's where knowing how to end it quickly comes in handy.

 

[Bobbo]

It's always better to just have a cell phone with a charge on it. Fighting is ovverrated, anyway. You always lose...you either get the crap beaten out of you and your camera and wallet stolen, or you get arrested for assault and, just to keep things interesting, you get sued for $500,000 for humiliating the guy in public.

Well, this is one instance I wish I was a 19-year old 34-24-34C brunette named Molly wearing "Daisy Duke" cutoffs and a halter-top😀.

 

[ch1]

We had one of these a few days ago too. Consider that perhaps the woman and her fella were - shall we say engaged in an illicit liasion d'amor.

Her defensiveness then become quite understandable. Perhaps she thought you were hubby's private eye!

And, given the apparent size of the guy - getting out of there as quickly as possible sounds like a good move!!!!

 

[Frank Granovski]

Make sure there are no witnesses or the witnesses are impartial and see that the attacker did attack (first). Also, pepper spray or a Tazer would be handy. 🙂