emraphoto
Veteran
tell him to bugger off. my patience with this sort of thing has worn very thin lately.
What would you do?
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Paddy C
Unused film collector
I'm not much of a street shooter perhaps because I'm timid and like to avoid confrontation.
The photos aren't, in this case, worth the hassle. It's rare, I guess, but sometimes the type of confrontation you described goes really wrong. Best to keep moving.
As for the woman in the bikini – sounds creepy and I can totally see why she would get angry.
The photos aren't, in this case, worth the hassle. It's rare, I guess, but sometimes the type of confrontation you described goes really wrong. Best to keep moving.
As for the woman in the bikini – sounds creepy and I can totally see why she would get angry.
peterm1
Veteran
I think I would have been polite and when he threatened to call the police I would have gotten out my phone and dialed them myself. Or at least offered to. If the guy had a hint of rationality about him he would should have then realised you were not up to something criminal.
StillKicking
Established
Usually when I see someone appears unhappy that I am taking pictures I smile or nod at them, finish what I am doing and then move on. Generally there is no confrontation and I don't take the shot if the person obviously objects.
However, I have had a similar experience.. First I smiled and was polite (even mildly apologetic) but the guy just kept on and on.. so I walked away.. he followed.. at which point I called the police.. They were there in under a minute.. at which point he went very quiet and then ran off. The police woman who I spoke to said he was "known to the police" but was considered generally harmless!!
It was the word "generally" that worried me.
However, I have had a similar experience.. First I smiled and was polite (even mildly apologetic) but the guy just kept on and on.. so I walked away.. he followed.. at which point I called the police.. They were there in under a minute.. at which point he went very quiet and then ran off. The police woman who I spoke to said he was "known to the police" but was considered generally harmless!!
It was the word "generally" that worried me.
back alley
IMAGES
i would pulled out my glock and say, 'back off asshole! i'm just tryin' to have a nice day!!!'
j/k
j/k
Gerry M
Gerry
+++1. What Joe said.
jsrockit
Moderator
I have no time for that nonsense... so I would have said Who the hell are you and what makes you think you have any say in whatever I'm doing? However, I'm not sure where this happened to the OP and I'm not middle eastern. I would say those two things could complicate things more than a white guy photographing and telling someone off in NYC.
nighstar
eternal beginner
this is part of the reason why i can't really get into street photography. i don't have the self-confidence or social abilities to deal with potential confrontation like this. i would have jumped into my car and driven away asap too. i'm learning from the responses in this thread as much as you.
anthony_semone
Established
Except for the fact that in Canada, as an ordinary citizen, you cannot legally own a Glock 😀
loneranger
Well-known
While I am learning from all your comments, the above is what I wish I would have done, but did not have the guts.
Now I need to go and find out what a glock is.
emraphoto
Veteran
no you don't
al1966
Feed Your Head
I seem to get by with either "for fun" or "Im just recording my home town" the latter works quite well with a lot of people as it shows a form of civic pride. Of course there is always the temptation to say some witticism, but they will probably get you in to trouble or hurt. Smiling helps diffuse a situation and being open and friendly will make you less threatening. Trouble starts if you get some form of nut job or idiot, I have only ever had to deal with one power crazed security guard. I don't think a gun is sensible at all, more likely to end up in a serious situation.
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I'll add to what others have said...Offer to call the police yourself and then get whatever info on the guy screaming at you that you can get...in other words turn the table on him...
The police will show up and inform this crazy guy that he is in the wrong and that you have every right doing what you are doing...
Check out information on Photographers Rights...learn your 1st Amendment Rights...mostly the Freedom of Speech part of it...
I too have some good color to my skin so I may, at times be looked at as a foreigner...
Knowing your Rights is key to defending what you're doing...
The police will show up and inform this crazy guy that he is in the wrong and that you have every right doing what you are doing...
Check out information on Photographers Rights...learn your 1st Amendment Rights...mostly the Freedom of Speech part of it...
I too have some good color to my skin so I may, at times be looked at as a foreigner...
Knowing your Rights is key to defending what you're doing...
back alley
IMAGES
a minor detail...
actually in canada you can be sued or charged for shooting someone who breaks into your home...crazy...
i carry a good sized pocket knife, just in case and it's all legal...
foto_mike
Established
I'm surprised nobody has considered the angry man's point of view.
You're on his turf, in his neighborhood. He doesn't know who you are or what you want, but he's 99.9% certain whatever you're doing will NOT benefit him in any way. You may be a city code enforcer, the tax auditor, a burglar casing the area, or a comparatively wealthy interloper exploiting his poverty and overall lousy situation for your own personal gain.
You have a legal right to be there, of course. You also have the legal right to fart in crowded elevators. That doesn't make it non-offensive to some. You can legally stare, point, and laugh at homeless people too. Putting an obvious camera in their face without their permission is legal, but probably boorish behavior.
So, back to the guy yelling at you. Your best response is a rational explanation for what you're doing there that gives him a reason to believe you're not offensive. "I'm an art photographer and I liked the way the light and shadows complemented each other on the house porch." He still probably won't like you being there, but it might take the edge off his anger if he believes you to be essentially harmless.
You're on his turf, in his neighborhood. He doesn't know who you are or what you want, but he's 99.9% certain whatever you're doing will NOT benefit him in any way. You may be a city code enforcer, the tax auditor, a burglar casing the area, or a comparatively wealthy interloper exploiting his poverty and overall lousy situation for your own personal gain.
You have a legal right to be there, of course. You also have the legal right to fart in crowded elevators. That doesn't make it non-offensive to some. You can legally stare, point, and laugh at homeless people too. Putting an obvious camera in their face without their permission is legal, but probably boorish behavior.
So, back to the guy yelling at you. Your best response is a rational explanation for what you're doing there that gives him a reason to believe you're not offensive. "I'm an art photographer and I liked the way the light and shadows complemented each other on the house porch." He still probably won't like you being there, but it might take the edge off his anger if he believes you to be essentially harmless.
Spicy
Well-known
good input, especially from foto mike (always important to consider the other point of view, just in terms of overall understanding).
i think offering to call the police would be the best option, after (as foto mike said) explaining you're an art photographer and have an exhibit that you're in the middle of finishing (who cares if you lie a bit). if that causes a problem with the police, just say "oh yeah, i'm a private photographer and i'm making an exhibit for myself" lol.
important thing is just to be light-hearted and comfortable. acting confrontation is only going to reinforce a) the dude's suspicion, and b) the police' reasoning/thinking that you're potentially problematic.
i think offering to call the police would be the best option, after (as foto mike said) explaining you're an art photographer and have an exhibit that you're in the middle of finishing (who cares if you lie a bit). if that causes a problem with the police, just say "oh yeah, i'm a private photographer and i'm making an exhibit for myself" lol.
important thing is just to be light-hearted and comfortable. acting confrontation is only going to reinforce a) the dude's suspicion, and b) the police' reasoning/thinking that you're potentially problematic.
Richard G
Veteran
Yep. I came around the corner to have lunch, toting my X100. A very alert silver haired builder spotted me and my camera immediately and was ready to engage in battle. He was worried I was from the council and would be after him for unloading window frames onto the pavement (side-walk) against council regulations. I was able to defuse the situation telling him I was an amateur who always took a camera to lunch. The old-style of my camera supported my argument I think. I didn't ask to take his photo and further convinced him by disappearing indoors. But when I finished lunch and came out of the cafe he was still unloading and I asked if I could take a photo of him up on the tray, supervising the unloading and he agreed. I think if you just say you are an amateur photographer it might help. And tell them something else about yourself that is also the truth and they might settle. I told this guy I lunched at the cellar there two or three times a week and I worked around the corner. It's believable because it's true. I wouldn't run.
jsrockit
Moderator
This is the type of bull**** I can't stand... do these people think there is a whole network in place to watch for regular citizens putting window frames on the sidewalk? It's irrational.
My favorite response to why are you photographing is: "Because I like photography." They have no clue what to say other than "oh..."
Roger Hicks
Veteran
"Trying out a new camera" is always one of the best defusers there is.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
unixrevolution
Well-known
The only real confrontation I've ever had about shooting was actually in my own yard. I was chasing a little rabbit around with an SLR and a telephoto lens, and it hopped across the street. From my side of the street I kept shooting it, when the lady across the street came out and angrily demanded to know what I was taking pictures of.
"The rabbit." I said.
"Get your own rabbit!" she yelled, and disappeared inside. I didn't have a chance to tell her it *had* been in my yard at the start.
I also wanted to tell her that if I really wanted to take pictures of her house she'd never know I was doing it, but that probably wouldn't have been wise.
"The rabbit." I said.
"Get your own rabbit!" she yelled, and disappeared inside. I didn't have a chance to tell her it *had* been in my yard at the start.
I also wanted to tell her that if I really wanted to take pictures of her house she'd never know I was doing it, but that probably wouldn't have been wise.
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