Getting hassled for…architectural photography?

[noisycheese]

Our world is becoming defined as paranoic. They find something wrong with everthing.

That's a big part of it. People are paranoid these days because officials from The Government tell them to be.

Another cause of paranoia is that lawful and peaceful people who have done nothing to warrant it are being spied on by The Government - and they understandably resent it.

When I use the term, "The Government," I am not referring to a specific government as this is a multinational forum; rather, I am referring to all governments that unjustly spy on their citizens. "Because we are The Government and we'll do whatever we want" is not a legitimate justification.

Last I heard, terrorists prefer to commit their crimes against humanity by employing AK47s, bombs and hijacked jetliners - not cameras.

 

[traveler_101]

. . . I had a schpiel worked out in my head and business cards ready. . . .Anyone else had to deal with such angry passerby, and how do you do so?

Good point about the business cards. Had a couple of serious problems recently in a poor area of St. Petersburg FL where drugs are being dealt, but my story exonerated me. The business card is a good back up, though.

. . . .-these days I'm wearing hiking boots, flannel shirts and a neon-orange down jacket, and carrying a taped-up Leica or Fuji--hardly official or covert.

Sounds like the description of an undercover cop to me. You'd be better off wearing a bow tie and tweed jacket.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I digress

I digress

I was in Katz's Deli taking photos with my Rolleiflex, NYC, prior to going to an RFF meet up at Puck Fair, when a man comes up behind me, stand near me and says in a low voice "I would appreciate it if you stopped taking my photo." He came on as a Brooklyn tough guy. He looked kind of familiar, but I couldn't place him. I told him I was taking photos of the old guy eating a pastrami sandwich. He had this angry face, and he was beginning to annoy me. So I said to him, "Who are you?" And he responds, "Who am I? Who am I? Who are you?" So I say, "Well you came over and started talking to me, so you go first, who are you? Do you work here or something? Are you a busboy?" The man looked dumbfounded, shook his head, and went back to his seat." I didn't even know where his seat was. As I walked toward the exit, I looked over at him, he had his hand by the side of his head, and was busy eating. I yelled, "and for the record, you weren't even in my shot." I was shooting 2.8 at 1/30 of a guy 5 feet away from me, so even if he was in the background he would've been totally out of focus. A month or so later I was watching a movie on TV and realize the guy was actor Aidan Quinn. How funny.

I've missed or turned down all of my paparazzi opportunities.

A few years ago I was sitting in the Chelsea Market, eating a sandwich and I realized that Emma Stone was sitting right next to me with some guy. Some guy turned out to be her co-star, Andrew Garfield and had I taken a photo of them being somewhat friendly to each other, I may have been able to sell it to TMZ and pay off a year's worth of student loans. Oh well, they looked like nice people and I prefer to not act like a tourist.

More recently, I was walking down 6th Ave. near 12th St and looked in the window of a mani/pedi place. There was a guy in there, dressed in sweat pants and hooded sweatshirt (not matching) who looked familiar and I was trying to think of who he looked like when he saw me in my bright red jacket carrying a D3 then he mooshed his face to the side and covered it up as best he could. i asked my friend "is that?" and she said "Michael Moore. Holy cow, it's Michael Moore getting a pedicure." I really wanted to take that photo and have it pay some of my college loans off. Oh well.

I'm no paparazzi nor do I want to be.

Phil Forrest

 

[Takkun]

Good point about the business cards. Had a couple of serious problems recently in a poor area of St. Petersburg FL where drugs are being dealt, but my story exonerated me. The business card is a good back up, though.



Sounds like the description of an undercover cop to me. You'd be better off wearing a bow tie and tweed jacket.

It's funny. I wear bow ties and tweed jackets the rest of the time. (those of you showing up to the Seattle meet up will see what I mean).

 

[Particular]

It's funny. I wear bow ties and tweed jackets the rest of the time. (those of you showing up to the Seattle meet up will see what I mean).

...and round glasses?
Is this you?


PS. I'm sorry, architects joke.

 

[NY_Dan]

I've missed or turned down all of my paparazzi opportunities.

A few years ago I was sitting in the Chelsea Market, eating a sandwich and I realized that Emma Stone was sitting right next to me with some guy. Some guy turned out to be her co-star, Andrew Garfield and had I taken a photo of them being somewhat friendly to each other, I may have been able to sell it to TMZ and pay off a year's worth of student loans. Oh well, they looked like nice people and I prefer to not act like a tourist.

More recently, I was walking down 6th Ave. near 12th St and looked in the window of a mani/pedi place. There was a guy in there, dressed in sweat pants and hooded sweatshirt (not matching) who looked familiar and I was trying to think of who he looked like when he saw me in my bright red jacket carrying a D3 then he mooshed his face to the side and covered it up as best he could. i asked my friend "is that?" and she said "Michael Moore. Holy cow, it's Michael Moore getting a pedicure." I really wanted to take that photo and have it pay some of my college loans off. Oh well.

I'm no paparazzi nor do I want to be.

Phil Forrest

Hey Phil -- you should of shot that Emma Stone photo 🙂 Michale Moore getting a manny pedi? hahahahaha! Those ladies were earning their money.

I once was seated next to Mary Steenburgen at a vegan restaurant in Greenwich Village -- she glanced at my camera bag numerous times -- I didn't shoot. And another time I saw Zac Posen walking his dogs in a royal blue skinny suit and picking up doggy ***. Didn't shoot that time either -- but only because I recognized him a moment too late. I did get a bad shot of Hugh Jackman, and a shot of Bethenny.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Hey Phil -- you should of shot that Emma Stone photo 🙂 Michale Moore getting a manny pedi? hahahahaha! Those ladies were earning their money.

I would have had no problem introducing myself to Stone and Garfield, saying honestly that I hadn't seen Spider Man and had only seen her in Superbad but loved that movie. I'm not one to get star struck though and figured they would have enough fans swarming on them so I didn't need to add to their stress. She's a stunningly gorgeous woman in person though, just walking around doing regular NYC stuff with her BF.

As for Michael Moore, champion of whatever he's champion of, getting a pedicure was definitely a socio-economic statement. i hope he tipped those poor women a ton.
Had he not assumed I was paparazzi, again, I wouldn't have had a problem walking up, introducing myself and NOT taking a photo. I always prefer meeting people, engaging in conversation then taking a photo when they get comfortable because then you get to see more of a real person, not a guarded one.

Phil Forrest