Getting hassled for…architectural photography?

[Takkun]

Most of us who do street photography are used to negative reactions from our subjects, be it a nasty look or worse.
Lately, however, I've been accosted by people for photographing buildings and construction sites. Last week, at a construction site, a security guard came up to me, and I had a schpiel worked out in my head and business cards ready. Turns out he was terrified that he had parked in a restricted zone and I was going to tow him, and all was well after the misunderstanding was cleared up.

Today was a little more harrowing. In my neighborhood, there's a lot of new construction going up on empty lots on otherwise rundown streets, and I've been attracted to the juxtaposition of glass and steel apartments next to boarded-up split-levels. I noticed a couple of Jesse Pinkman (the meth dealer in Breaking Bad, for those not in the know)-looking guys had been following me for a couple of blocks. I turned the corner; they turned the corner. I ducked in an alley and so did they. I turned around to see them running, so I went into a dead sprint toward a conveniently-located museum. There's only so fast you can run in hiking boots, and they caught up to me and demanded to know why I was photographing their house. They kept interrogating me if I was a cop, and I explained I am an architecture student and flashed my ID, which placated them. Needless today, my nerves were pretty shot, so I headed downtown where people are a little less irascible.

Long story short, this is the first time I've ever seen someone so irate for me photographing a building from a sidewalk. Or confusing me for any sort of police, either--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.
Generally I carry OC spray with me, but I've never had to resort to using it.
Anyone else had to deal with such angry passerby, and how do you do so?

 

[Particular]

I have gotten so much more abuse while working with a 4x5 on a tripod than I have just wandering around snapping away. There is something about tripods and the fear that you are an official 'something' that brings out all the NIMBYs, and the security guards. I've been asked questions like "Who are they photographing for?". "They" being only me. I always try to diffuse the situation and hopefully calm people down, but when people are paranoid, they are not rational.

When I was in architecture school in London the registrars office would almost weekly get calls from some authority, often at odd times of the weekend, to confirm if so and so is really a student at your school. The student would have been sent out by their tutors to record or collect some information, and when confronted would claim they were doing it for their 'project'. This would be met with general disbelief.
I have lots of stories. One guy was documenting and photographing security cameras in the City of London (the banking district), and after less than an hour was hauled into a van and taken to a military base and questioned for 9 hours. They even developed his film for him to verify his story. They didn't give the film back, so he was back the next day retaking the same pictures.
My flatmate was on Vauxhall bridge right adjacent to the MI6 building (the one seen in some Bond movies). There must have been a smoke alarm or fire drill, because suddenly large numbers of staff started pouring out onto the terraces facing the river. My friend started snapping away with his F3. 10 minutes later his film was confiscated.
A friend and I were once pulled aside on London Bridge by un-uniformed members of some anti-terorist branch who jumped out of a car. They questioned us because "someone reported seeing someone acting suspiciously on a security camera". After a while I could go, but was told sternly:
"Don't come back, and don't do it again!"
Of course we were back there the next day doing the same thing, because it was for our project.
Be careful out there. Get your shots, but don't get hurt or in trouble for them.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

It's really sad when there is more photographic liberty in developing nations and some governed by totalitarian regimes than there is in supposedly democratic western nations.

Phil Forrest

 

[noisycheese]

The worst verbal abuse I ever encountered for doing street photography came from a scruffy little runt of a guy (early 20s) who was obviously stoned. The irony of it is that I hadn't even photographed him - he was a mad at the world kind of guy and I was his verbal target du jour.

For every one complainer, bitcher or screamer I encounter when doing street photography, I would estimate that I photograph somewhere between 250 and 500 people who either never realize they were photographed or know but don't care.

Being bitched at maybe three times a year is certainly not enough to put me off of street photography. It's just part of the fun. 😀

 

[charjohncarter]

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

 

[Particular]

Phil,
I think generally people get paranoid easy when they have something to lose. Most situations i've been in can be explained by people not understanding what I was doing or why I was there, and feeling threatened by it. At least that is how I make sense of it.
Recently I have had only positive experiences, but usually I can spot the crazy ones a block away.

 

[Barnackdriver]

Most of us who do street photography are used to negative reactions from our subjects, be it a nasty look or worse. Lately, however, I've been accosted by people for photographing buildings and construction sites. Last week, at a construction site, a security guard came up to me, and I had a schpiel worked out in my head and business cards ready. Turns out he was terrified that he had parked in a restricted zone and I was going to tow him, and all was well after the misunderstanding was cleared up. Today was a little more harrowing. In my neighborhood, there's a lot of new construction going up on empty lots on otherwise rundown streets, and I've been attracted to the juxtaposition of glass and steel apartments next to boarded-up split-levels. I noticed a couple of Jesse Pinkman (the meth dealer in Breaking Bad, for those not in the know)-looking guys had been following me for a couple of blocks. I turned the corner; they turned the corner. I ducked in an alley and so did they. I turned around to see them running, so I went into a dead sprint toward a conveniently-located museum. There's only so fast you can run in hiking boots, and they caught up to me and demanded to know why I was photographing their house. They kept interrogating me if I was a cop, and I explained I am an architecture student and flashed my ID, which placated them. Needless today, my nerves were pretty shot, so I headed downtown where people are a little less irascible. Long story short, this is the first time I've ever seen someone so irate for me photographing a building from a sidewalk. Or confusing me for any sort of police, either--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. Generally I carry OC spray with me, but I've never had to resort to using it. Anyone else had to deal with such angry passerby, and how do you do so?

Dude, they wanted to ask you a question and you ran away! What should they think.

It seems to me that, when we are active in street photography, we need to grow a thicker skin. No one is out there indiscriminately slaughtering street photographers. If you are going to take your craft outside, I think you need to be prepared to discuss what you are doing. We don't live in a vacuum after all. Well that's my opinion anyway🙂

 

[Takkun]

Phil- I think it's the simultaneous rise in ubiquity of mobile phones as cameras with the 'big picture' culture of surveillance of our online lives. It's amazing seeing some of the photography out there in less-developed and totalitarian countries.
Now that I think about it, the hassles I've had photographing people, especially in busy areas, were minimal. The worst was one woman screaming at me until a cop showed up and said hey, you're in public, and this guy is basically just playing tourist. Thankfully, at least where I've been, the post 9/11 paranoia of law enforcement has died down, and I photograph bridges and subways all the time.

I was just shocked (and fearful of my life) at how many ordinary citizens have taken offense to snapping pictures in neighborhoods off the proverbial beaten path. There was one story I recounted here a while back where I turned around to stare down a shotgun.

 

[Takkun]

Dude, they wanted to ask you a question and you ran away! What should they think.

It seems to me that, when we are active in street photography, we need to grow a thicker skin. No one is out there indiscriminately slaughtering street photographers. If you are going to take your craft outside, I think you need to be prepared to discuss what you are doing. We don't live in a vacuum after all. Well that's my opinion anyway🙂

In my defense, my camera was long put away, and they started running first after following me! 😉 I was more afraid of being robbed, again…
I've long learned not to take offense to people taking offense to me snapping away at them--I'm pretty shy myself and wouldn't take too kindly either. I'll just say again these guys sort of came out of nowhere, long after I had photographed the street in question.

 

[K14]

Better off downtown, 700,000 12th man fans are tame compared to those 2.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Maybe 25-30 years ago I was trying out my new 6x12 cm back on an MPP Mk. VII in rural Gloucestershire.

A helicopter came in near me; hovered; and took off again without landing. A few minutes later a police Range Rover turned up to ask me what I was doing.

I've often wondered who was involved. I think -- I'm not sure -- that it may have been somewhere near where Camilla P-B lived. And that was when Diana was still alive. Or it may have been a politician.

The police were very polite but a bit puzzled. No confiscated films or anything.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mfogiel]

I think the answer is simple: there's a lot of stuff going on in Seattle, that people don't want the cops to know about...
Thinking about it deeper: you could propose a project to the city major, where for a fee, you will randomly shoot in 100 places each week, and then record, how many times you got mugged, and what were you photographing at the time 😀
This would give them a statistical basis for assessing the degree of crime/tax evasion and countermeasures to take.

 

[MichaelW]

You know things are getting bad when you're getting hassled by the meth dealers and the security services.

 

[Steve M.]

I think this is a big city thing, but then I don't photography construction sites. I DO photograph buildings and what not if I see a shot there. I'm not an architectural photographer though. The only encounter I've has in several years occured about a week ago when I was riding my bike thru a strip mall and saw a barber shop w/ neon signs in the window. Looked like there might be a shot there. So I came back around and took a couple of quick snaps (making sure beforehand that I had the focus and exposure preset so I could do it quickly), and the barber came out suddenly, scissors in hand, and hollered "hey, what are you doing"? I told him I was a B&W film photographer (that usually gets some sort of reaction), and I thought there might be a shot there w/ his window and signs, and I would be glad to bring a print by for him. He was happy.

You just have to address people's concerns and smile, but of course this is no help w/ rent a cops. Turns out the shot was bad w/ lots of reflective glare, and my reflection showed up in the shot, but I'll bring him a print by anyway. I may be able to dodge myself out in the darkroom. There is definitely a shot there, I just need to come 'round when the sun is not in the window.

I've also had a confrontation or two w/ mall security, but it's barely worth mentioning. They just want to make sure you aren't photographing stuff in the mall, and if they get testy I get irate and mention the word lawsuit a few times, tell them I'll call a cop and have them charged w/ harassment, and say "why are you coming up to me when there are people walking all around w/ I Phones, sitting at the food tables w/ laptops who could be sending a live feed for all you know, etc". They leave after my hisey fits, and yes I will sue them if they harass me.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I think this is a big city thing, but then I don't photography construction sites.

It does seem to happen anywhere. The only time I ever got hassle, believe it or not, was when I was photographing chimneys in a southern English town. 😱

As in Noisycheese's case, I reckon the bloke was drunk, stoned, nuts or, quite possibly, all three. He kept going on about it being his town and people had no right to take pictures. Arguing with someone like that is pointless. I took out my 'phone and told him I was calling the police, at which point he lost interest and wandered off.

Apart from that, my 45 years of photography has been quite boringly devoid of hassle. 😀

 

[Addy101]

I think the answer is simple: there's a lot of stuff going on in Seattle, that people don't want the cops to know about...
Thinking about it deeper: you could propose a project to the city major, where for a fee, you will randomly shoot in 100 places each week, and then record, how many times you got mugged, and what were you photographing at the time 😀
This would give them a statistical basis for assessing the degree of crime/tax evasion and countermeasures to take.

😀😀
Maybe I should propose this in our city council 😎

 

[Richard G]

Logical explanation usually applies. I once caused a guy unloading window frames some concern. He thought I was from the council.

 

[NY_Dan]

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.

 

[Jonathan]

Had this a while ago with a PCSO (or plastic plod as we call them).
The road not far from me was being resurfaced over a series of nights & there are a couple of fuel stations at a junction.
Combining the hot tarmac steaming on a November night & all the associated lights it looked really great. Film Noir? Even when he accepted I was on public ground, going about my lawful business he kept hassling me.
Thankfully one of the construction guys told him in a blunt midland accent that they did not consider me a threat.
Be polite & stick up for yourself I say.
Regards, Jonathan

 

[zauhar]

I made a guy nervous by taking pictures of a brick wall in an alley. He challenged me, was very suspicious, but did not get violent.

Later in the day I saw a guy in a suit with a DSLR taking photos of the same wall, which I then realized belonged to a storefront owned by the nervous guy. The guy in the suit looked official, probably with the city, insurance company, etc.

In brief - people sometimes have good reason to be paranoid!

Randy