Have you ever been interrupted when taking photographs?

All the talk of people being interrupted and 'advised' reminds me of a TV show in the UK by a comedian called Harry Enfield. The character in question can't help but interfere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwk38srACrA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkZdTHmX0TQ&feature=related

Several years ago I was supplying an agency with stock images and as they were big on transport I was shooting the vapour from my car exhaust on a cold morning. At floor level with a tripod, Nikon F5 and Tokina 20-35 lens. My none to bright neighbour and her equally un-shiny boyfriend walked past and I heard him say to her
"Why is he taking a photo of the exhaust". To which she replied "I dunno"

I had to resist the urge to stand up give them both a long lecture on how stock photography is a feature of our everyday lives. Of course the reflex action would have to been to tell them to "Foxtrot Oscar".
Steve.
 
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Couple of days ago I was with a friend at the Apple store who was buying a spare battery. I was just walking around snapping cool still-life stuff, when this couple say "what about us"? so I snapped their photo:

1072527607_MQ9S4-M.jpg
 
Woke up early this morning feeling fine, had my slice of Marmite on toast and a cup of tea. Took myself for a short walk with my camera, it was a very misty quite morning , very still no wind. Started taking photographs of a beautiful yellow leafed maple when a voice behind me shouted, "what are you doing, have you seen something?" I ignored the nosey busy- body but she carried on "what are you doing, is there something in there?" With dismay I replied "I'm taking a photograph of a tree". The middle aged woman replied, Oh! I thought you were up to somthing, it will be rubbish that photo, what do you want to take a photo of a tree for? I grabbed for my tripod just as her Yorkshire Terrier cocked its leg up and squirted a steam of hot yellow piss all over my tripod leg. Too late the hot steaming liquid trickled down the black paint and onto the fallen leaves. I put my camera in its bag and shouldered my tripod and silently walked wearily back home. I thought of a thousand things I could have said or should have said to the woman but at the forefront of my mind the words F**K OFF would not go away. Have you ever had your thoughts, peace or solitude interupted and what did you do about it?:mad::bang:

I would have told her to f-off. People are crazy. Just assume they are too dumb to understand photography. Also, was she correct? Was it a rubbish photo? ;)
 
The only people who get disappointed by others are the optimists. they expect the best in people and when their expectations are not met, they feel disappointed, angry and sad.

On the other hand, if you have a realistic-bordering-pessimistic view of others, then you're not only more careful but you don't get disappointed as well that often, especially with small things.

In the case of OP, for not sticking out there and being sent home by a nosy woman, he retreated and lost the battle. He should have stayed even longer on the same location.
 
I interrupted 3 people yesterday. People were walking around with some serious cameras. An M3, M7, M9, Mamiya 6, a few big Canon's with L lenses. I asked a few of them what they were up to. Apparently there was a Mary Ellen Mark workshop at a Halloween Parade.
 
I get it all the time when I'm working...

My most notable was when using a 6x17 on a 9 foot tall tripod, standing on a ladder with my head under a dark cloth, I noticed a guy hovering just on that point of your vision where its annoying. After about 10 minutes he plucked up the courage tapped me on the back, I looked down and he uttered those immortal words:

"Are you a photographer?"

I get that question all the time and never know what to say...

Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated :)

When asked, "Are you a photographer?"

Answer: "No. he went up this ladder and through the curtain 5 minutes ago and hasn't come out since! I'm getting worried!"

Al
 
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