My first hit...

Hi Juan,

Firstly, so glad to hear that you're OK after such a violent ordeal.

Secondly, it shows that you have a very fair way of looking at things when you say that you could sort of understand where the working girl was coming from. Life on the streets couldn't be easy and I guess sometimes the fuse gets blown - you were in the wrong place at that time, unfortunately.

Thirdly, re the female cop, why not go and see her at the station now that everything (and everyone) has calmed down and explain your situation to her. Add that you were a little taken aback by her attitude if you like but it would be worth it to try and get her to see that you weren't actually doing anything wrong - that in fact you were the victim. It might be enough to convert a foe into a potential ally.

Lastly, I have bad photographic memories of Las Ramblas. My wife and I parked there in an underground carpark and were taking stuff to our hotel nearby. One time we went back and somebody had broken into our car and stolen all my camera gear, exposed film - everything (this was 1988 and I had an extensive Canon FD system). We reported it to the police, and their response was to laugh and tell us that is what tourists should expect in Barcelona. Still, at least there was no violence towards us.

I hope you are able to move on and continue photographing in the area, as I can imagine that it will reward you with some incredible images in the future.

All the best.
 
"What's different in street photography compared to other fields like urban or portrait or landscape or fashion or product?"

A possible answer : the hit.

I'm happy to know nothing bad occures to you and your camera

Cheers
 
phil.wright said:
Thirdly, re the female cop, why not go and see her at the station now that everything (and everyone) has calmed down and explain your situation to her. Add that you were a little taken aback by her attitude if you like but it would be worth it to try and get her to see that you weren't actually doing anything wrong - that in fact you were the victim. It might be enough to convert a foe into a potential ally.
Click to expand...

Why should he explain something to the cop. The only reason I can imagine is if Juan wanted to date her.
 
hey cool story😀
I was confronted once in a similar situation but go tno punch and did not escalate to police showing up... The (2) persons in question were holding my camera strap...i was holding the camera body... same discussion abt delete it- not digital - took pic of me - no i didnt - you are not allowed - yes i am allowed - no you are not - yes i am - bla bla yadda yadda,
however it was a silent sunny afternoon, and those two got bored, and ended up by one of them saying "ok then you must come in" (like, to make peace) - i ask "what for?" - answer: "for fukin" LOL that was then difficult to refuse!
i was like "phew" at the end. But i got a shot😀 But it's not impressive at all 🙁
 
This is not the first time I've heard of people getting literally violent in Spain with a photographer. What's going on over there?! I've had experiences with people getting a bit testy, but nothing like this.

I'd for sure carry an ID...fake one...I'm sure it'll calm these people down.
 
dan_sutton said:
but juan, think you could find her and talk to her? sounds like an awesome character study. see if you can follow and photograph her for a few months. but, uh, with EXPLICIT permission 🙂
Click to expand...

I expect only drugs. Don't go that route.

Juan Valdenebro said:
Anything's valid for getting the shot: what to offer her? There must be something she appreciates and calms her down... 🙂

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

Probably nothing moral or legal. I would stay far from her. She is obviously unstable, and no matter what your relationship, you never know when she will go off again.
 
Juan Valdenebro said:
If you asked me who to date between the girl and the cop, I'd have a hard time LOL!

Both so they could fight? 🙂

Cheers,

Juan
Click to expand...

That's funny! But given your story, you may be right.

Anyway, glad you are alright, and you have such a good attitude about it all. Continue to be safe!
 
I dunno, Bill; people can be strange. New Mexico, moonrise, early evening and Ansel is taking a shot when a wild figure emerges from the shadows and accuses him of sneaking pics defiling the burial ground. Ok, Ansel is setting up for a shot in Yosemite Valley and an angry guy yells at him that's his sister up there climbing Half Dome, and what are you doing hiding under that black cloth, you pervert... whack! Maybe Ansel had some close calls too...
 
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Doug said:
I dunno, Bill; people can be strange. New Mexico, moonrise, early evening and Ansel is taking a shot when a wild figure emerges from the shadows and accuses him of sneaking pics defiling the burial ground. Ok, Ansel is setting up for a shot in Yosemite Valley and an angry guy yells at him that's his sister up there climbing Half Dome, and what are you doing hiding under that black cloth, you pervert... whack! Maybe Ansel had some close calls too...
Click to expand...

The wild figure is probably just Georgia O'Keefe. Let's not forget about bears though. 🙂
 
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Dear Roger,
Phew! And I was thinking of going to Barcelona next week...
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If next week is next week and not next weekend, please don't come! We've got a mobile phone congress scheduled and hotel prices have tripled. Even if you've got a friends place to stay, there are some 60.000 white collar executives occupying your terrace seat. (But Barcelona in February has the most beautiful light of the year, if the weather is ok, that is, but this year sure looks good!
 
Juan, I know this ain’t going to be any consolation, but as a veteran expat (or should that be inpat...?) living in Barcelona for over 20 years, I’ve been taken for a tourist one billion times, been nicked, robbed and even beaten up more than a few times in the exact area you’re talking about, both by locals, arabs and easterners, but when I lived in Escudellers street, nothing ever happened to me.
So I guess it’s basically a case of bad luck. Things like these happen ever so often, and not necessarily at the lower end of the Ramblas. What’s important though, is to take it as a mere accident. Would you never again drive by the Plaza Cataluña if you’d have had a traffic accident there?
So get your guts and Hexar out there as soon as you can. The best antidote to a bad experience is to go back to the scene, just like – supposedly – criminals do. But if you like street photography, you have to be just like them. Stealing images.
 
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Nescio said:
Juan, I know this ain’t going to be any consolation, but as a veteran expat (or should that be inpat...?) living in Barcelona for over 20 years, I’ve been taken for a tourist one billion times, been nicked, robbed and even beaten up more than a few times in the exact area you’re talking about, both by locals, arabs and easterners, but when I lived in Escudellers street, nothing ever happened to me.
So I guess it’s basically a case of bad luck. Things like these happen ever so often, and not necessarily at the lower end of the Ramblas. What’s important though, is to take it as a mere accident. Would you never again drive by the Plaza Cataluña if you’d have had a traffic accident there?
So get your guts and Hexar out there as soon as you can. The best antidote to a bad experience is to go back to the scene, just like – supposedly – criminals do. But if you like street photography, you have to be just like them. Stealing images.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Yesterday I went out shooting and I was really surprised because anytime I was about to raise my camera I was worried about doing it... Taking time to see who was around... I mean what happened has had an incidence on me, and a bigger one than I had consciously admitted... But well, I started to gain confidence through the hours, and by the end of the day I was doing it normally... I decided not to shoot in the precise place it all happened, at least for some weeks.

Cheers,

Juan
 
deirdre said:
Juan, we're going to Barcelona in a couple months, you can let us know where to avoid.... 🙂
Click to expand...

Basically when you go walking down Las Ramblas to reach the port, avoid taking any of the final five streets to the right: that zone is a bit dangerous, as criminals live there and that's the heart of hard drugs dealing and prostitution. Going straight down Las Ramblas is OK. Turning to the left is no problem either. Anyway I've walked the dangerous zone for 15 years with no problems: I think the aggressive girl was surely anxious and paranoid, and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong moment AND doing the wrong thing there... I see Leicas everyday in Las Ramblas, and as most people around have a camera with them and shoot permanently, there's no danger in general...

Cheers,

Juan
 
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