Shooting Alone

[Mark A. Fisher]

I teach photography at one of the local community colleges, and need to pass along this story about shooting alone. I have been taking pix - mostly by myself - for about 40 years now, and on occasion have found myself feeling a bit uncomfortable in my surroundings. On more than one occasion there has been that uneasiness, that vague suspicion, that either my surroundings or the people around me might possibly want to do me harm, take my equipment, or both.

My fears came to pass this week, but not for me. One of the photo students was photographing under an overpass in a rural area, and was approached by 3 men, who pulled their car in behind his, got out and beat him within an inch of his life with a wrench of some sort. Had he not been found by some construction workers, the paramedics said he would have bled to death.

He has two rows of staples in his scalp, 2 black eyes and is badly bruised head to toe, but tests show no brain damage or other permanent damage. In short, he'll be physically ok soon; psychologically time will tell. It is assumed the thugs were meth addicts (I am located in one of the major methamphetamine producing areas in the world) just looking for money for their next hit. They took only his wallet, leaving behind his brand new Canon 7D and a laptop.

There is no moral to this story, nor any solution, other than shooting more with a buddy or two whenever possible, and watching your back if you get "that feeling" in the pit of your stomach.

I'll still shoot - alone, most of the time - but I hope to ratchet up my awareness to optimum levels, and avoid the pain, suffering, and fear that that young student has had to endure.

I only pass this along in the hope that others might also make themselves more attentive when practicing their art and craft.

Be safe,

Mark

BTW, if I've posted this in the wrong area I trust the moderators will redirect it to the proper location.

m

 

[bbrovold]

A monopod, if not good for shooting, is also formidable weapon and a deterrent in some cases. Also a 5D or a Leica can also do some serious damage. I'm not condoning violence but I'm not going to stand still without a fight either.

 

[huntjump]

First off, my heart and prayers go out to this student and his family. May he recover to 100% and live to just have a story to tell. The violence and pure disregard for human life always amazes me. I guess i'll never understand how some people can be so evil or whatever you want to characterize it. I guess once you get that addicted to something, nothing else matters but your fix.

may i ask where in the world this event happened? My brother lived in TN and had a lot of runins with meth addicts. So much so that this very pacifist person got a license to carry and practices shooting at the range all the time. He's never had to use it, but has had to lift his shirt on two occassions already. (My brother is a doctor).

I live in San Francisco, in one of the drug central districts, and for the most part do night excursions alone...but never let my guard down. But you never can be 100% careful and if 3 men wanted to mug me, they probably easily could.

Just shows how desperate those drug addicts were. They wanted cash and cash only it seems, as taking a $1k camera and laptop to pawn off would be too slow.

Sickening.

 

[TXForester]

I hope the student has a full recovery mentally as well as physically.

may i ask where in the world this event happened? My brother lived in TN and had a lot of runins with meth addicts. So much so that this very pacifist person got a license to carry and practices shooting at the range all the time. He's never had to use it, but has had to lift his shirt on two occassions already. (My brother is a doctor).

I thought about that when reading the post. However, if you carry a gun then you need to have the nerve to use it. It not, it could be taken and used on you. Some people just can't pull the trigger. As an alternative, I'd suggest the hottest, legal pepper spray. Non-lethal and can buy you enough time to get away. Don't get mace, get pepper spray as it will work on dogs too.

 

[nigelll]

There has been a few instances like that around my area as well, there is an old industrial area in Kansas City that is very popular for photographers and several robberies have happened in the past year. Nothing as sever as this though!!

Hoping for your students full recovery, and possibly some vigilante justice.

 

[Corto]

I feel sorry for your Student. I really do.

It is extremely hard to survive Mentally after a serious beating.

It leaves you with a very deep feeling of Despair and helplessnes.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

may i ask where in the world this event happened?

I live in the metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri area, but the surrounding rural areas unfortunately have become known regions for meth production in recent years. Whether true or not, I've seen recent reports touting Missouri as "The Meth Capital of the World". I am a native Missourian and can unequivocally state that it is a fine place with wonderful people and gorgeous scenery - and an occasional thug or ne'er-do-well that attempts to wreck it for everyone. This student had the misfortune to have run across some of these lunatics. This was an isolated incident, but they seem to be increasing in number and severity. I hope the trend soon slows and becomes much less prevalent.

Thank you all for your concern about the young man. I've not spoken to him since the incident, but will pass along your good wishes.

Best,

Mark

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

That was truly horrible, poor guy. Hope he gets on his feet again soon and the assault doesn't leave psychological signs on him.

I'm speachless when I think of how brutal some people can be to others. And why then? It almost sounds like they hit to hurt or kill, not just to get a wallet... so sad.

 

[mfunnell]

In short, he'll be physically ok soon; psychologically time will tell.

I'm very glad to hear he's physically OK (or, rather, that he should make a full recovery). Psychologically? Well, everybody reacts differently but I'm of the view that people are generally more resiliant than some give them credit for. I very much hope that's so in this case.

...Mike

 

[JHenry]

My thoughts go out to your student.

I hope he makes as quick a recovery as possible, and then chooses to get out there and shoot more. The bad people win if we let fear of what might happen stop us from doing what we love.

Jeff
www.pixelsandgrain.co

 

[btgc]

They must have been too much in trip as they didn't realized it's a camera and notebook (which they usually sell for $50 to pawn shop).

Hope young man recovers fully and keeps passion for photography.

 

[jsrockit]

Wow, that sucks. I must admit I've been careless lately when photographing by myself. I need to watch my back. I do go with a few friends from RFF at times...especially when going into supposedly bad areas. I hope your student can get on with life after this... sounds like it'll be rough.

 

[John Lawrence]

Sorry to hear about what happened to the student.

Like others in this thread, I hope he makes a full recovery both physically and psychologically.

John

 

[Gumby]

What a horrible story. Sounds like a case of random senseless violence. Best wishes for his complete recovery - physically and emotionally.

 

[Mark A. Fisher]

He is a terrific young man, and I doubt this will do anything to discourage his passion for photography. His plan is to continue his education at a 4 year university to obtain a BFA in Photography. He is creative, talented, and driven. I'm certain he will exercise greater caution when he returns to the field, but he definitely will continue shooting. There is a wealth of imagery for him to explore, so I expect him to be back at it when he is physically ready to do so. And you're right mfunnel when you say

I'm of the view that people are generally more resiliant than some give them credit for

Young people especially seem to be able to deal with such events and bounce back better than one might expect.

Again, thank you all for your concern. I hope to see him sometime in the next week, so I'll pass along his progress when I can.

Mark

 

[boomguy57]

That's pretty scary. I'm usually very cautious, and if I think there's even a chance of some such encounter, I stay away. Better to miss that shot than have this horrible scenario happen to you.

Best of luck, and get well soon.

 

[oftheherd]

Please add my concerns and best wishes for your student. I wish him speedy physical and mental recovery as well.

You know him and I don't. But your school offers it, you might suggest he consider counseling. It might also help to be able to discuss this in front of his fellow photography students.

Shame such as this goes on anywhere in the world, but especially disheartening to hear of it in my home state of Missouri (I grew up the the northwest of the state). But the world is changing. I agree with carrying a monopod or aluminum tripod, if you are certain you know how to use it, and against multiple attackers. Otherwise, just try to comply and survive. I did carry a tripod often 35 years ago in Korea. Korea slicky boys have the reputation of being able to steal your radio and leaving the music. ;-) But thank God, nothing ever happened.

 

[mawilliams]

Sorry to hear of this - I think this is a scenario a lot of photographers imagine and fear when working in public - Eugene Smith was beaten brutally both in Minimata, Japan and in NYC in a mugging and never really recovered - so it literally happens to the best of photographers. Although this sounds like pretty random violence - it shouldn't deter people from photographing. I was just reading in the latest "Rock and Ice" last night about a pair of people taking in a panoramic sunset, sitting on a rock when they were shot in the back by a lunatic with a shotgun... one guy died... but that shouldn't keep us from heading to the crag - it's a crazy world out there though...

 

[paulfish4570]

mercy ...

meth use is pandemic. it's a murderous cancer.

speaking of meth hotspots, i grew up in one. it is the hills where tennessee, georgia and alabama meet. when the feds busted up a midnight auto supply ring, the hillbilly thugs went to meth production and sales. this was almost 50 years ago ...

 

[sevo]

meth use is pandemic. it's a murderous cancer.

Well, maybe. On the other hand, truckers and rockers have been traditionally and predominantly on meth ever since the late forties, and while they could be considered road hogs and eyesores, they aren't really the end of all civilization. There must be something additional wrong with the current bout of meth addicts in the US.