Today i was told off

[p.giannakis]

Well, nothing new, I am very often been told off for taking pictures but usually I approach people, have a conversation with them and talk some sense to them.

I took my little daughter to an event - there was a Victorian School re-enactment. The school started, parents took their phones out and started taking pictures and recording the event.

I took my OM-2n out and tried to take a picture. The teacher stopped the event and told me that "surely this camera did not exist in 1890s and to please put it back in my bag and wait until it is over".

Surely I did and the event continued. At the end I approached the lady and asked why I couldn't take pictures with the camera but people could record with the phones. I was told that the Trust has a very strict policy regarding photographing children and cameras are not allowed. Mind you, I was trying to photograph my daughter.

Oh well. It looks like people become less and less familiar with cameras and find them more sinister that a mobile phone.

 

[Cascadilla]

I frequently see prohibitions about photography and sound recording in medical settings, but rarely any statements about cell phones that can do those things as well as recording video. Your situation is ironic in the extreme since you would have to process and scan your film to have it go public while cell phone photos and recordings can be instantly uploaded to the internet. Privacy in the way that it was understood 30 years ago is gone and society is still adapting to the change.

 

[Dogman]

This type of attitude really gets on my nerves. When others are taking pictures yet I am told I cannot, I probably would have become ballistic. I would not have been able to stop myself, probably telling the teacher, "Well you did not exist in the 1890's either so back off!" Well, maybe not but a stern look and an angry glare might have gotten my point across.



......................................................

 

[raydm6]

Sorry to hear about this and the missed opportunity to photograph a shared experience with your daughter @p.giannakis.

During the encounter, I would have whipped out my mobile phone and “video documented” her stupidity, then continue documenting the event as others were doing unencumbered. Crazy times…

Curious, about how old was this lady? Perhaps threatened by or not understanding analog photography?

 

[ChrisPlatt]

Did they stop the parents from taking photos with their phones?

Chris

 

[steveyork]

I get it that you were trying to takes pics of your own daughter, but in today's world I never pics of children, for fear of being called out as some weirdo. I'm not around children all that much anymore anyway.

 

[Leon C]

I'd have said yes as long as everyone else puts their phones away otherwise I'm taking pics of my kid/s.

We were always allowed to take pics of the kids shows and even the school used them on occasion without any mither from anyone.

 

[Dervla]

Hi Pan,

I am sorry to read this. Some people do not make sense.

That sounds like it could have been very upsetting for both of you. I hope you and your daughter made it through alright.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Several years ago- went to a Museum that allowed non-flash, film photography only. They dropped that, went to allowing all photography.
I would have just used the camera in the Cellular Telephony Device.

 

[Steve Bellayr]

Then you go to a concert: No Photography and thousands are holding up their cellphone cameras.

 

[Godfrey]

It's an unfortunate situation that the culture has turned to a level of paranoia and fear that overcomes common sense. Paranoid and fearful people can be controlled far more easily. I guess that's what the politicos supporting the current wave of nationalism and isolationism across the world are working for...

I make photographs of children occasionally. I make them when they're in the company of their parents and siblings ... I normally don't just make photographs of ANY people without establishing a relationship with them, even if it's just a few minutes chat on the street, and that goes triple for photographing people's kids. I TALK to the parents, I talk to the kids, and once a baseline of community and friendliness has been established, I then might ask to make a photograph of them. The parents have never said no, and I give them copies of the photos to enjoy ... that is the reason for taking such photos! I like kids, love their smiles and energy, but generally the purpose behind photographing them is to give them and their parents mementos of their childhood. To a one, the parents have always appreciated the photos, and years later in some cases have thanked me for them, saying the photos have been some of their most cherished memories.

Common sense is at its limits in this time of paranoia and fear. It is very sad to see this happening.

Hasselblad SWC/M​

A long time ago now, 2002: I was wandering the streets of Bride with my camera and tripod. This little gang of urchins followed me, curious as heck, asking questions. Their mom was up on the hill. I waved and asked her if I could make a photo of the gang. She looked, asked, "Why?"

"Because they're cute and curious!" I responded.

She laughed. "Go right ahead, and if you sell any of the photos, send some money because they eat me out of house and home! Get some worth out of them!" We both laughed. The kids scrambled all over the place and held still enough to get two exposures.

It was fun. They were great. The next time I was on the island (two years later), I dropped off a packet of a dozen prints at the house and we had a good party remembering the horde of urchins and that day in the sun, on the wall...

A different time, I guess. Sad.

G

 

[MNS]

This always amazes me the amount of times I hear "you can't take pictures here mate"

Once I was told this while using a Leica, so not conspicuous camera. I pointed out to the security guard, the phone users around us and the idiotic reply "they're phones not cameras!" was the answer.

 

[p.giannakis]

Curious, about how old was this lady? Perhaps threatened by or not understanding analog photography?

Mid-50s i would say. I don't know whether she felt threatened but to her it sounded like a strict dedication to an out-dated policy.

Did they stop the parents from taking photos with their phones?

Chris

Nope, everyone kept recording as usual. I didn't want to make a fuss and point to what others where doing .

That sounds like it could have been very upsetting for both of you. I hope you and your daughter made it through alright.

No feelings hurt, daughter has seen me being told off before when photographing in the street. She went into eye-rolling mode.

 

[p.giannakis]

It's an unfortunate situation that the culture has turned to a level of paranoia and fear that overcomes common sense. Paranoid and fearful people can be controlled far more easily. I guess that's what the politicos supporting the current wave of nationalism and isolationism across the world are working for...

I make photographs of children occasionally. I make them when they're in the company of their parents and siblings ... I normally don't just make photographs of ANY people without establishing a relationship with them, even if it's just a few minutes chat on the street, and that goes triple for photographing people's kids. I TALK to the parents, I talk to the kids, and once a baseline of community and friendliness has been established, I then might ask to make a photograph of them. The parents have never said no, and I give them copies of the photos to enjoy ... that is the reason for taking such photos! I like kids, love their smiles and energy, but generally the purpose behind photographing them is to give them and their parents mementos of their childhood. To a one, the parents have always appreciated the photos, and years later in some cases have thanked me for them, saying the photos have been some of their most cherished memories.

Common sense is at its limits in this time of paranoia and fear. It is very sad to see this happening.

Hasselblad SWC/M​

A long time ago now, 2002: I was wandering the streets of Bride with my camera and tripod. This little gang of urchins followed me, curious as heck, asking questions. Their mom was up on the hill. I waved and asked her if I could make a photo of the gang. She looked, asked, "Why?"

"Because they're cute and curious!" I responded.

She laughed. "Go right ahead, and if you sell any of the photos, send some money because they eat me out of house and home! Get some worth out of them!" We both laughed. The kids scrambled all over the place and held still enough to get two exposures.

It was fun. They were great. The next time I was on the island (two years later), I dropped off a packet of a dozen prints at the house and we had a good party remembering the horde of urchins and that day in the sun, on the wall...

A different time, I guess. Sad.

G

That's true. I don't photograph children in UK anymore. Most of the pics I have of them are more than a decade old. Going abroad on holidays is still a bit more easy but things change fast.

 

[p.giannakis]

This always amazes me the amount of times I hear "you can't take pictures here mate"

Once I was told this while using a Leica, so not conspicuous camera by a security guard. I pointed out the phone users around us and the idiotic reply "they're phones not cameras!" was the answer.

Once I was asked to delete the picture from my Leica IIc. It was in the Bullring in Birmingham.

 

[MNS]

Once I was asked to delete the picture from my Leica IIc. It was in the Bullring in Birmingham.

Well I hope you press the delete button. 😂

 

[Ken Ford]

This seems to have mostly been a UK issue (and Germany, maybe?) but those attitudes are starting to be seen in the US, too. Luckily my candids are as people-free as possible by choice. My mentor fifty years ago would laugh about needing a .45 people filter in his bag, cracking that these days would probably result in a visit from the police.

 

[Horatio]

I prefer scenes with no people, in general.

 

[Michalm]

Maybe it is a good thing that I have mostly lost the drive to shoot candid photographs of strangers/ street photography in general , as it seems real mine field nowadays.

 

[boojum]

The woman is no doubt active on her condo's HOA and just as asinine and officious. We are being ruled by the least common denominator. It is everywhere, the dumbest want to make the rules, and worse, are allowed to make the rules.