Be Careful.

Dale.

Dale.

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Dale.
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Hi all,

Just a heads up, now my nerves have settled. :runaway:

I was out on Sunday after a long walk along the river, I was heading back to where I was parked. I was almost at the car and getting back to civilisation when I noticed 4 lads just ahead of me. They were having a jolly time but were obviously the worse for wear on something.

They noticed me as I got closer and started with some verbal abuse, some very bad language and then saying that my camera must have cost a lot and suchlike. It was unsettling but I stood my ground and they backed down to an extent, I had decided if I was going down, one of them was coming with me. They just carried on larking about where they had been though. To get to my car, I would've had to have walked through them, which I didn't fancy, so I doubled back, I know how to get lost, so I did.

I returned about an hour later and thankfully, they were gone and I got to the car safely.

I pondered sharing this but I feel I should, minus some details as I haven't decided yet as to whether to speak to the police about it. If it happens again, I will.

We're often carrying thousands of pounds worth of gear, often on our own and it would be easy pickings for a group like I met on Sunday.

Please be careful.

:)
 
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Dale. said:
Hi all,

Just a heads up, now my nerves have settled. :runaway:

I was out on Sunday after a long walk along the river, I was heading back to where I was parked. I was almost at the car and getting back to civilisation when I noticed 4 lads just ahead of me. They were having a jolly time but were obviously the worse for wear on something.

They noticed me as I got closer and started with some verbal abuse, some very bad language and then saying that my camera must have cost a lot and suchlike. It was unsettling but I stood my ground and they backed down to an extent, I had decided if I was going down, one of them was coming with me. They just carried on larking about where they had been though. To get to my car, I would've had to have walked through them, which I didn't fancy, so I doubled back, I know how to get lost, so I did.

I returned about an hour later and thankfully, they were gone and I got to the car safely.

I pondered sharing this but I feel I should, minus some details as I haven't decided yet as to whether to speak to the police about it. If it happens again, I will.

We're often carrying thousands of pounds worth of gear, often on our own and it would be easy pickings for a group like I met on Sunday.

Please be careful.

:)
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Must have been very worrying, I know I would feel the same too, there’s one local place that’s good for dragonflies but I won’t chance going there anymore, last time I went a few years ago got a lot of abuse form a group of young lads they were pretty aggressive so don’t chance it now
most places locally people are very friendly for some reason that area attracts a certain type
 
Hope you're ok?

I've not had the abuse..( with the camera anyway.. ) but have bumped into people I would rather I hadn't.

I feel your pain, don't let it get to you, these people are just tools, they tend to be all mouth with mates, more so with drink or drugs.

You done the right thing turning away, I've taken the long way home a few times to avoid being followed/trouble.

If it comes to it, the camera is a nice 'tool' ..
 
LCPete said:
Must have been very worrying, I know I would feel the same too, there’s one local place that’s good for dragonflies but I won’t chance going there anymore, last time I went a few years ago got a lot of abuse form a group of young lads they were pretty aggressive so don’t chance it now
most places locally people are very friendly for some reason that area attracts a certain type
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Gav. said:
Hope you're ok?

I've not had the abuse..( with the camera anyway.. ) but have bumped into people I would rather I hadn't.

I feel your pain, don't let it get to you, these people are just tools, they tend to be all mouth with mates, more so with drink or drugs.

You done the right thing turning away, I've taken the long way home a few times to avoid being followed/trouble.

If it comes to it, the camera is a nice 'tool' ..
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Cheers.

It was unsettling, it's been a long time since I was in a confrontation that could have potentially led to violence, I've learned to avoid these things but sometimes, you can't avoid having to make a stand. If I'd have had to, I would've but I had options, the best one was to melt away, which I did and that's not difficult there at the moment.

I'm ok, just a bit wiser.

I never really give walking around with high value items much of a thought, maybe that's been my bad but I have now reconsidered. I don't think this was about that for them though, although I'm sure they would've taken my gear if I'd gone down. I'd have broken the R7 on the way down, somehow. ;)
 
Dale. said:
Cheers.

It was unsettling, it's been a long time since I was in a confrontation that could have potentially led to violence, I've learned to avoid these things but sometimes, you can't avoid having to make a stand. If I'd have had to, I would've but I had options, the best one was to melt away, which I did and that's not difficult there at the moment.

I'm ok, just a bit wiser.

I never really give walking around with high value items much of a thought, maybe that's been my bad but I have now reconsidered. I don't think this was about that for them though, although I'm sure they would've taken my gear if I'd gone down. I'd have broken the R7 on the way down, somehow. ;)
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It used to be said that one reason the Nikon F4 was popular with photojournalists was because it was built like a tank..... and the pentaprism made a very good 'sharp' edged bludgeon!

Whether modern bodies are as robust, is a moot point.

But back to the point ........as you say the watchword is 'avoid confrontation' though lugging round gear on display, to some wazzocks low level intimidation if the MO. I once read that, a bit like not staring at a big cat, minimal eye contact and look(?) upright and deliberative in posture and gait. I think the expression was summed up...... don't look like a victim/target.

Stay safe and take care. Or as they used to say in Hill Street Blues, "be careful out there"
 
I hope you are a bit more settled now, Dale.
That couldn't have been nice at all :(

There was mention some years ago, someone facing a similar situation,
when asked, "how much is that worth?"
The smart arsed reply was "more than your life, now f*** off"
It seemed to work for them.
 
Where was this Dale, Ayrshire?
 
Recently, if I'm walking back to the car, I put the camera away in my backpack. Out of sight out of mind is my theory.

A number of years ago my son was getting bullied by a group of lads in their late teens outside his school (He's 34 now!). I picked him up from school one afternoon, asked him to point them out, and had a serious word with the "leader", telling him that my son was now his responsibility, and if anything happened to him, he would be responsible. That cured it, he wasn't touched again. (BTW, I did turn up on my Fireblade, full leathers, and black visor, I think that helped....)
 
I'm glad you're OK, albeit a little shaken up. Not a nice experience at all I'm sure.

My problem is overconfidence and I'm sure one day it'll work against me. In my head I'm still the Karate instructor that would fight to keep what's mine, but in reality I'm a knackered old 'raspberry' in a wheelchair that probably wouldn't stand a chance. Like you though Dale, at least 'one would go down with me' . . .

If I ever gave advice to someone, it would always be 'leave it'. Kit can be replaced, but if you get stabbed while fighting for it (more likely in today's youth culture) - then you're buggered.
 
There is a reason people only go out with limited cash and leave watches etc at home.
Its not worth putting up a fight for valuables like a camera that can be replaced and risking injury or death in the process.

Also remember hitting someone and getting hit hurts, its not like in the films or a computer game.
You also have to be ok with causing harm to someone, again not like its shown on the screen.
Obviously there are situations where you would have a go, but this isn't one of them.

One other consideration is should you maim or kill the offender you could still be liable to criminal action.
Reasonable force goes out the window when fear and adrenalin takes over.
 
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This has always been on my mind , Out on your own in daylight or at night with £1k of gear in hand sort of puts me of , Different if I am at a RSPB site or wildlife trust site . It does hold me back wondering who or what is around the corner :(
Pleased you are OK Dale
 
Box Brownie said:
It used to be said that one reason the Nikon F4 was popular with photojournalists was because it was built like a tank..... and the pentaprism made a very good 'sharp' edged bludgeon!

Whether modern bodies are as robust, is a moot point.

But back to the point ........as you say the watchword is 'avoid confrontation' though lugging round gear on display, to some wazzocks low level intimidation if the MO. I once read that, a bit like not staring at a big cat, minimal eye contact and look(?) upright and deliberative in posture and gait. I think the expression was summed up...... don't look like a victim/target.

Stay safe and take care. Or as they used to say in Hill Street Blues, "be careful out there"
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That was the original Sgt. His replacement used to say "Do it to them before they do it to you"

I've been lucky, never had a situation quite like that, but I was leaving an event in the centre of town once, weighed down with cameras and lighting, there was a group of youths outside, all looking at me, and one of them said "Look what he's got there" or something similar. I just pretended not to notice and walked off at normal speed, nothing happened.

A couple of lads clearly wanted to mug me one night in the local park, pitch black. What they didn't know was that I was there because I was walking my dog, a well-trained GSD, and he had wandered off to water the grass. They both walked up to me and one of them asked me for a light, I shouted "Jet" and he came out of the darkness straight at them. I know that a GSD can't run at 90 miles an hour but it seemed that fast:) I shouted "Down" as soon as he came into view and he came to a sliding, snarling stop just in front of me and where one of the lads had been a moment before. They both left.
 
That's not a pleasant experience Dale. I'm glad you're OK....
I had a similar experience in Leeds a few years ago. Was taking photographs near a canal I think, not far from the centre. A guy appeared and he was a bit odd. Showing interest in my camera and asking if he could "have a shot".
I said "sorry pal, I need to go" and put the camera away. I did have a heavy tripod with me and thought I may need to "use" it.
He followed me for a bit then went the other way.....
 
Keep your gear out of sight, walking around with a big expensive looking camera might attract the wrong kind of attention.
 
I think this sort of thing is pretty rare.

In fifty plus years of taking pictures in public I only ever had one incident and the bloke involved was, I'm quite sure, either drunk or on something. I'm not very big but just telling him to "remove himself" and walking away seemed to work well enough. Interestingly, I wasn't even taking pictures of people on that day but photographing some roofs for a local charity!
 
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Usernameuser said:
Keep your gear out of sight, walking around with a big expensive looking camera might attract the wrong kind of attention.
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This raises a fair point.

I only started carrying my camera out of a bag this last 18 months. Previous to that, my camera, lens etc would be in my bag until I got to site, which is usually a fair step. I was missing a lot of opportunities though, particularly Roe Deer, even Otter on occasion. I mentioned this to a friend and he chuckled, then advised me to carry my camera in my hands, which I now do. My other gear goes in the bag now, scrim, ghillie etc. I carry a tripod in one of the external pockets, strapped in.

I've gotten quite a few more Deer shots, as well as others, recently, a pair of Bullfinches, which were near to where I had my altercation last weekend.

I think it's a judgement call, I'm now a bit wiser, I now know the spot where it happened is a bit of a magnet for wrong 'uns and I will take precautions in that area from now on. I know the lay of the land there very well and I can check the area out visually before anybody would know I'm around.

Putting the camera in the bag would be a last resort (not saying I wouldn't if need be) as there are other precautions I can take to manage things. I have to walk through a subway at one point, I won't commit to that again, I will cross the road above from now on, on the way out and on the way back.

I will be sensible about it but they won't win or put me off either. (y)
 
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