"Did you take my picture???!!!"

[iandiam]

I bet all of them were blissfully unaware of all the CCTV watching them. lol

Once, at a Flea Market in a drive-in theater, a nasty old biddy with an overpriced selection of straight-up JUNK got nasty with me: "I ought to smash your camera. You should really ask to take pictures of things people are trying to sell."

I smiled and said I'll keep it in mind, then pointed to the camera on the roof of the concession stand, pointed squarely at her booth. Silence befell the old coot.

 

[Rogier]

I feel like organizing a photo mob. Once an idiot start yelling at a photographer who is reasonable taking pictures in public. Decent on that person with 10 photographers and start taking pictures like there is no tomorrow 😀😀😀

 

[JayM]

Answering yes usually does the trick and can sometimes instigates some nice small talk. In these instances I've never been asked to delete a photo or anything similar.

Sometimes I meet people that immediately ask me to delete photos (which I have no intention of doing for a number of reasons) and no matter what you say to them they just keep repeating themselves. These are the people that call the cops on you, try to bully you, or follow you down the street for a while. I've only had this happen maybe three times. I would say that it is a southwestern culture or mexican thing but I've had it happen in San Francisco too.

I'm not very good at just walking away from people because I don't want to be rude to people who are curious, concerned, etc but I need to learn to identify "repeaters" quickly and walk away. Simply put, the more energy you feed them the bigger they get. I feel like I'm being pretty nice to offer "I'm sorry, I won't do it again" but for these types it's all-or-nothing and there is no way but their way.

All part of the learning process that is life and photography 🙂

edit: When people are in the in between the poles of "nice people" and "repeaters" I apologize and tell them that I won't do it again but that since I might not remember them days or weeks later that they should remind me by waving to me and smiling 🙂

 

[celluloidprop]

For years, I thought I had a photo of a guy giving me a hateful glare while I was shooting the crowd at a baseball game. Found the ClearFile sheet with that role recently... he's not even looking at me, much less glaring.

Kind of disappointed, I thought it would make a great print.

 

[menos]

Menos; doesn't the French have really strict rules about photographing people candidly? could explain her reaction.

I'd really love to hear why the country is the way it is when it comes to street photography and photographing strangers.

I am actually not aware of the exact rules in France.
I do act though after my personal ethics in regards of photographing strangers.
You won't find aggressively pushing a flash in peoples faces, firing at half arms length, stalking miniskirts or shooting sleeping homeless on the street.

If people have concerns about me shooting them, I expect them, to give me the little respect, I deserve and approach me in a civilized manner. I am happy to discuss, but won't respond in the way, people want me to, when treated rude.

I once shot pictures inside a big supermarket, as I had my camera hung over my shoulder and saw an interesting scene, when a lady inspected groceries in a fridge.
A manager ran over to me (in a rude way approaching me, which was his fault), resulting in me discussing his personal behavior, why he wouldn't approach me as a customer respectfully.
Well, he got touchy … sad story.

Proper way would have been - Sir, please do not use your camera inside our Supermarket. Thank you.

In no way would I have taken an other picture, nor questioned his authority.

Some people really forget all manners, when seeing somebody with a camera - seems like photographers are scum to them, no matter, what person is behind the lens - seems, to be some stereotype paparazzi scheme … sad world.

Very nice 'Moto' picture. Thanks for posting.

Thanks Peter.

 

[goo0h]

I have had only one bad confrontation occur while out taking photographs. On the other hand, I have had three or four road rage incidents where I felt my life was in danger from the maniac in the other car.

When I read that, I thought: "where does this guy live?"

...looks to the left of the screen....

Oh, figures! ;-)

Anyway, back to point, I'd worry if somebody says: "Go ahead, call the cops!" And when the cops arrive, they side with the irate person.

In this day in age, anything is possible!

 

[goo0h]

In general, I find that using a classic camera like an old Leica results in people being much more likely to be amused/fascinated as opposed to threatened.

"What kind of camera is that?"
"Can you still get film for that camera?"
Etc.

Man, I get that even with my Zeiss Ikon that isn't that old! It's one of the cool things about using film these days.

 

[JayM]

When I read that, I thought: "where does this guy live?"

...looks to the left of the screen....

Oh, figures! ;-)

Anyway, back to point, I'd worry if somebody says: "Go ahead, call the cops!" And when the cops arrive, they side with the irate person.

In this day in age, anything is possible!

Yeah I worry about that a little bit too especially after a local sheriff said he'd kick my ass if he saw me taking photos of any of his kids.

In spite of this I'd rather have some faith in my fellow man than stop doing something I like because of my sometimes negative (though not necessarily unjustified) views.

Some girl in San Francisco did call the cops on me and I was pretty surprised that they didn't come after me. Might have had something to do with the fact that I was right in a super tourist camera zone though. Who knows!

 

[AgentX]

Ah, should have thought of that.

For the record, photography in Nigeria itself is a very dangerous prospect. It seems a nationwide sentiment. I suppose that's why the chaps u encounter are less than thrilled.

DRC's even worse. Had a pretty thrilling day after stopping to take a pic of the volcano just north of Goma. Not even a person in the pic, yet AK-47s became involved.

 

[AgentX]

On another note, while the "security state" seems to get the blame for people's seeming newfound suspicion of photography, I really think it's the Internet that has raised people's hackles.

The fact that your image is instantly available worldwide, for whatever appropriation and use in whatever context any individual may decide, has, I believe, led people to a stronger feelings of ownership thereof.

 

[menos]

That's a great shot Menos!

Thanks Christian ;-)

On another note, while the "security state" seems to get the blame for people's seeming newfound suspicion of photography, I really think it's the Internet that has raised people's hackles.

The fact that your image is instantly available worldwide, for whatever appropriation and use in whatever context any individual may decide, has, I believe, led people to a stronger feelings of ownership thereof.

That's a valid point AgentX !

 

[JackForster]

On another note, while the "security state" seems to get the blame for people's seeming newfound suspicion of photography, I really think it's the Internet that has raised people's hackles.

The fact that your image is instantly available worldwide, for whatever appropriation and use in whatever context any individual may decide, has, I believe, led people to a stronger feelings of ownership thereof.

Yeah, I agree; it's possible for a photograph to become something millions of people can view overnight, if for some reason it strikes a chord, and many people have become understandably leery about strangers taking their picture, perhaps in a way and for reasons that they weren't before. s

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I usually pay attention to people's cues and if I perceive a negative effect, I simply don't push the button.

One time in Washington DC, though, I did photograph a crowd exiting a museum. One guy asked me, in a rude tone and accented English, why was it I had taken a photograph of him.

"'cuz you look cute" I said smiling.

Boy, did he walk fast... AWAY from me. I chuckled all the way back to the hotel.

 

[menos]

… I did photograph a crowd exiting a museum. One guy asked me, in a rude tone and accented English, why was it I had taken a photograph of him.

"'cuz you look cute" I said smiling.

Boy, did he walk fast... AWAY from me. I chuckled all the way back to the hotel.

😀😀😀

Too short message and so on … one, two, three …

 

[Ampersand_Jones]

I've been approached several times with the "Did you just take my picture?" accusation. I usually just answer, "No, I took my picture..." It's my camera, it's my film and therefore my picture!

-Thomas

 

[robert blu]

There are several reasons for which people do not like their photos to be shown in the internet. Imagine that anyone says to his boss to be sick at home in bed but he's not and his picture when he's drinking in a pub will be published in the net; another one tells his wife he's making extra work and he's caught walking along the street with a nice girl. Maybe they are only in the background for the photographer, but for them it will be a problem! For this reason where I live it is not forbidden to take pictures in a public place but it is forbidden to publish them. It's a complicated world...
robert