Invading personal space

[x-ray]

This past week my wife and I were in Omaha NE for her family reunion. Over the time we were there Omaha hosted a fairly large art and craft festival in the old market area. On Friday we were walking around the festival and noticed a number of folks roaming the area with cameras. No problem with folks making images (street photography) but these guys became annoying after a while. They systematically worked through the crowd like assassins stalking their prey. It seemed as though no matter where you turned there was someone with a camera pointed at you or in your face. As a photographer I hate to see this. This kind of behavior annoys people trying to enjoy themselves and gives a negative impression of the ones of us that don't do this.

I never thought another photographer could annoy me like this but it happened. It just became too much. A persons space is their space and when three photographers pick someone out in a crowd it has a very negative impact. The subject feels uncomfortable and the enjoyment of the moment is gone.

If you find yourself out in a crowd or around other people and making photographs please consider the subjects privacy. Unless it's a news worthy happening be easy on your subject and respect their space and privacy. As a photographer it was a good learning experience and makes me rethink how I handle public photography.

Let's not abuse our rights to make photographs of people in public places.

 

[photogdave]

Do you think they may have been students? I have seen students from a local college's Street Photography course doing the same sort of thing; moving about in packs and all photographing the same subject at the same time.

 

[kully]

Oh dear, I think you may have experienced what it feels like to walk past one of the RFF meets 🙂

 

[kshapero]

Good to keep in mind. Respect is the name of the game. That is why I love RF's because you can do your thing and not be so intrusive. I hope.

 

[x-ray]

No they weren't students unless they were older students. They looked to be in their 30's. I don't know if they were working together or not.

 

[Pherdinand]

For gods sake!! It was a FESTIVAL.
If you don't like "invading personal space" you should not go to a festival.
Sorry, i really think so.

 

[back alley]

i never hunt in a pack.

 

[Pherdinand]

I can't judge since i was not there at the crime scene,...but i think from what i read, the "hunting in pack", the "assassins stalking their pray" is way too paranoid.

 

[rogue_designer]

For gods sake!! It was a FESTIVAL.
If you don't like "invading personal space" you should not go to a festival.
Sorry, i really think so.

Exactly what my thought was.

 

[feenej]

I was at a festival with my camera on Saturday, and this drunk chick got right up in my face and started blah-blahing at me. I didn't take her picture, not enough room between our faces.

 

[dmr]

On Friday we were walking around the festival and noticed a number of folks roaming the area with cameras. No problem with folks making images (street photography) but these guys became annoying after a while. They systematically worked through the crowd like assassins stalking their prey.

If it hadn't been for that very nasty storm Friday, I might have been one of those photographers down there! 🙂 I was planning to go down there (I had the day off) but when the weather started getting nasty I stayed put.

People in Omaha are, in general, quite courteous, and this surprises me to hear. Very atypical of people in Omaha, photographers or otherwise!

I'm going to cross-post your note on a local board and see what kind of responses it generates. Who knows, I may know one of the assassins down there. 🙂

 

[swoop]

I usually don't like to do street photography for this reason. Sometimes I like how it feels kind of naughty. Other times I hate being annoying.

 

[back alley]

i never considering myself annoying and it never feels naughty to me.
but it's more fun than shooting a mountain for me.

 

[sepiareverb]

I like the Leica VF because I can see the folks coming and put the camera down. I really dislike having people in my images.

 

[back alley]

I like the Leica VF because I can see the folks coming and put the camera down. I really dislike having people in my images.

seriously?

 

[sepiareverb]

Yep. Sans people all the time. I do make some images of the family, but when I'm out on the street I like 'em empty.

 

[kshapero]

I love shooting "normal" people in public. It is more of challenge to come up with something inspiring than shooting weirdo's. BTW I am terrified to shot children with the climate we live in nowadays.

 

[x-ray]

People in Omaha are, in general, quite courteous, and this surprises me to hear. Very atypical of people in Omaha, photographers or otherwise!

I agree with you completely. The people of Omaha and midwest in general are some of the friendliest people anywhere. I certainly don't judge the people of Omaha by a hand full of people.

Why am I not surprised by a couple of the responses. This is the kind of attitude that gives street photography a bad rap and photography in general. And if done right the photographer is never noticed. I'm not paranoid and I don't have a problem being photographed but some people do and they should be shown the respect they deserve. Why are are we as photographers so special that we can violate others space or privacy? Other countries are moving to restrict such photograph so do we want this to happen here? I'm not saying stop doing candid photography but saying use some respect and be a little more discrete in how the photo is made.

 

[back alley]

discrete and friendly works for me.

 

[Chris101]

Yep. Sans people all the time. I do make some images of the family, but when I'm out on the street I like 'em empty.

I can see that. If you are going to shoot the street, people or cars just mess it up!