Confidence really knocked...

Jellycat said:
Personally I would go nuts if someone turned up and started taking photos of my kids! However if the same person was to approach and explain what they wanted to do and ask permission I would be fine with it.

I think if you are wanting to take photos of strangers you need to get their permission first and if they agree let them see the photos you are taking all they way through the shoot and give them a link where they can see the photos (like Facebook).
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I think this has already been covered but this is a really poor attitude.

For the op, do you have a smart phone you can put some previous images on, or a website/ facebook page you could point them up. If you could leave them contact details and offer them images I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Plus if you go a few times you're face will be known. Whilst chatting you could also ask who does the biggest, best tricks, gets the most air etc or even what sort of shots they could think of.
 
Try going along to one of the Scott Kelby Photowalks Kris on Oct 13th and walk around taking photos with lots of like minded photographers - I think the nearest one to you is Brighton - link below but there are others to the East and West of you.

Friendly advice, good company and possibly some new friends on your doorstep.

Got to be worth a try to get the confidence up again.

http://worldwidephotowalk.com/walk/brighton-and-hove-united-kingdom/

Nearly a 1000 walks planned and nearly 16,000 togs taking part around the world - a lot of fun
 
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ernesto said:
You go and photograph kids at a skatepark and don't expect to be called a P****?

Not sure if you have children and have any awareness of how a lot of them interact these days but I would be surprised if they didn't shout that. Not commenting on whether I think it is right or wrong, parenting, schooling etc, etc, but commenting on how it is. Skateparks don't usually attract the best behaved section of society.

You need to just laugh about it and move on.
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I think that's quite a naive comment.

I've been using skateparks across the country for the past decade, and have never had any trouble, there's a few kids who think they're 'hard' but it's no different to any other segment of society. Most people who use skateparks are respectful of each other.

I'd rather see a bunch of kids doing their chosen sport at a skatepark than hanging around on the street corner...

@ Kris, I think you got unlucky with the slection of little tw**s there. As I said above, the majority of skatepark users are more respectful than society would let people believe.
 
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Thinking about your experience Kris - I went to the Hastings Photowalk last year (organised by Mike in this forum - great day thanks)

There was a street musician with magnificent dreadlocks sat on the pavement, back to the wall playing his heart out in the sunshine. He was good and lots of people were giving money in appreciation.

One of our group lifted his camera and he threw down his guitar and ran over, shouting in a very threatening manner that no-one was allowed to take his photograph.

He would not even consent to his photograph being taken for some money.

He was in a public place and he was quite happy to take people's money for his musical skills but if you had clicked the shutter he would have become violent of that I have no doubt.

Sometimes it's best to put the camera down and walk away
 
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Ash. said:
I think that's quite a naive comment.
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Nothing naive about it at all. I have also spent a good bit of time at skateparks over the last 30 years.

As an example. There are 4 skateparks reasonably close to me. 3 of the 4 are based in deprived areas and not everybody is there to skate, believe me.

And ultimately the people who are there to skate are largely kids with a group mentality and would find it funny to shout P**** at people. This has not changed since I was a kid...
 
ernesto said:
Nothing naive about it at all. I have also spent a good bit of time at skateparks over the last 30 years.

As an example. There are 4 skateparks reasonably close to me. 3 of the 4 are based in deprived areas and not everybody is there to skate, believe me.

And ultimately the people who are there to skate are largely kids with a group mentality and would find it funny to shout P**** at people. This has not changed since I was a kid...
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Unfortunately it's not just kids who get the group mentality thing :(

I was at a playpark with my two kids a couple of months ago and I had my dslr taking some pics of them. I was standing at the side as a football team who had been playing on the pitch next to the playpark walked past. I heard one of the players comment, "look at that guy standing with a camera in the park, there's a name for people like that" Which his team mates all found hilarious.

I shouldn't have said anything. But I did. And it probably wasn't the best thing to do.

I said, " I'm actually taking pictures of my two kids who are playing over in the sand-pit but you run along to the changing rooms to get naked and shower with 10 other men. There's a name for people that do that"

Needless to say after it sunk in (about 10 seconds) they weren't too happy. Fortunately it didn't come to violence but after they'd said their bit and I said mine i'd like to think that they got the point I was trying to make.
 
You shouldn't worry too much about it, they clearly were having a go at you, they are aware of the connotations, power and sense of vulnerability it has on adult people when used in public places. Seeing you with a camera make you the perfect target for some of them to bait you and gain kudos with their friends. You can always come back with you hockey stick and roller blades and see what they say.
 
ernesto said:
Nothing naive about it at all. I have also spent a good bit of time at skateparks over the last 30 years.

As an example. There are 4 skateparks reasonably close to me. 3 of the 4 are based in deprived areas and not everybody is there to skate, believe me.

And ultimately the people who are there to skate are largely kids with a group mentality and would find it funny to shout P**** at people. This has not changed since I was a kid...
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I guess we'll have to agree to disagree ;)

Sounds like you have some dodgey parks though, I've never seen any trouble and I use them every week up and down the country.
 
VintageCam said:
If they were threatening you with violence. You should call the police. For the 'P' word, I'd have got them done for slander etc.
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The Police may be able to help with threats of violence, but there's nothing they can do about slander. The police's respnosibility is criminal law not civil action and if you fancy trying to sue minors for damages good luck with that! :bonk:
 
kris3291 said:
As I arrived I was met with a lot of verbal abuse, threats and generally angry behaviour. I hesitated and as I fumbled with my bag, considering my options, the dreaded 'P' word was shouted and after a few people said if I didn't leave the police would be called, for some reason I panicked and left.
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I'm 40 now with a son but used to be a regular at Southsea skatepark. You have to remember it's their space that you have walked into and they will be territorial. All part of growing up. What better way of showing off to your mates than being the big man and shouting abuse at someone? I know I did it the past so don't take it personally.

Did you introduce yourself before shooting? Your post implies you didn't but I would seriously recommend you do. A quick chat, intro and say your a photographer and would like to take some shots. Most of the time they'll be absolutely fine and if they say no then only right you walk away.

Also how do you look and dress? Jeans, trainers and a t shirt will make you more approachable than say walking boots and a photographers utility waistcoat.

Sad fact is though the subject of the abuse you received is a problem in society. I recall vividly the time I wanted to video my son doing toddler gymnastics. The person running it clapped her hands, stopped everything and shouted "THIS MAN WOULD LIKE TO VIDEO HIS SON. DO ANY OF THE PARENTS HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS?" a few moments of awkward silence followed by "OK SIR THAT'S FINE. APOLOGIES BUT YOU APPRECIATE WE HAVE TO ASK IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. OK CARRY ON CLASS!"

That wasn't abuse, that was standard procedure and yet I was put in a situation whereby it was implied i might but up to wrong just for wanting to film my own son!!
 
It is about time the law came crashing down on people who call others "P****" with out any justification. It is after all a very nasty form of slander.
 
agent orange said:
I'm 40 now with a son but used to be a regular at Southsea skatepark. You have to remember it's their space that you have walked into and they will be territorial. All part of growing up. What better way of showing off to your mates than being the big man and shouting abuse at someone? I know I did it the past so don't take it personally.

Did you introduce yourself before shooting? Your post implies you didn't but I would seriously recommend you do. A quick chat, intro and say your a photographer and would like to take some shots. Most of the time they'll be absolutely fine and if they say no then only right you walk away.

Also how do you look and dress? Jeans, trainers and a t shirt will make you more approachable than say walking boots and a photographers utility waistcoat.

Sad fact is though the subject of the abuse you received is a problem in society. I recall vividly the time I wanted to video my son doing toddler gymnastics. The person running it clapped her hands, stopped everything and shouted "THIS MAN WOULD LIKE TO VIDEO HIS SON. DO ANY OF THE PARENTS HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS?" a few moments of awkward silence followed by "OK SIR THAT'S FINE. APOLOGIES BUT YOU APPRECIATE WE HAVE TO ASK IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN. OK CARRY ON CLASS!"

That wasn't abuse, that was standard procedure and yet I was put in a situation whereby it was implied i might but up to wrong just for wanting to film my own son!!
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I'm 24, tend to wear jeans and a tshirt, navigators and converse.

Cheers for the comment.
 
Oggy said:
It is about time the law came crashing down on people who call others "P****" with out any justification. It is after all a very nasty form of slander.
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Surely though you should aks permission before taking people's pictures?

Taking a photograph of someone or someone's children without consent is always going to be a bit hit and miss.

Shouting out "Peter files" at someone is not actually slander is it? is it not more if you approach someone and make a statement/claim that they are a P****/bacon/charlie/nonce, and even then you would need witness'es


Turning up at a play park wearing a pair of High length hiking boots and a waistcoat is always going to get you noticed! :lol:
 
Oggy said:
It is about time the law came crashing down on people who call others "P****" with out any justification. It is after all a very nasty form of slander.
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You really want to spend tax payers money on police time and effort and subsequent failing slander cases because a few kids shouted P****?
 
ernesto said:
You really want to spend tax payers money on police time and effort and subsequent failing slander cases because a few kids shouted P****?
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What Police time and effort? Slander is a civil offence, not a criminal one, so the Police will have nothing to do with it.

The offences they could be charged with might be assault etc, but insulting someone - by itself - is not a criminal offence and is none of the Police's business.
 
ernesto said:
You really want to spend tax payers money on police time and effort and subsequent failing slander cases because a few kids shouted P****?
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Yes. It is the thin end of the wedge and symptomatic of a lot of problems today. When I was young I would not have dreamed of calling anyone anything like this. I had been taught right and wrong. This is something that is seriously missing today. The longer we leave it the harder it will be to rectify and the more extreme measures will need to be.

See last summer for details.
 
This happens to us all at least once. Just learn from it and move on. Sounds like a pack of bored kids looking to impress their mates by slagging off a stranger.

I've not had exactly the same experience [I tend not to take the camera out in parks, apart from taking shots of my own kids] , but have been approached by security guards, telling me I can't take photos here or there [public areas, nowhere near the building they're working for] - I've tried both responses - Get lost, I'm well within my rights ... and fair enough, I'll go elsewhere. Doesn't seem to make any difference. They've made you feel out of place, you just shake it off, laugh about it and move along in the end.
 
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Llamaman said:
What Police time and effort? Slander is a civil offence, not a criminal one, so the Police will have nothing to do with it.

The offences they could be charged with might be assault etc, but insulting someone - by itself - is not a criminal offence and is none of the Police's business.
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I was responding to the point "It is about time the law came crashing down on people"
That suggests to me making it a law and subsequent police matter.
 
Oggy said:
Yes. It is the thin end of the wedge and symptomatic of a lot of problems today. When I was young I would not have dreamed of calling anyone anything like this. I had been taught right and wrong. This is something that is seriously missing today. The longer we leave it the harder it will be to rectify and the more extreme measures will need to be.

See last summer for details.
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Sorry, that's all a bit too Daily Mail for me.

When I was young (1970's) kids did exactly the same. It wouldn't have been P**** because the press had not blown that out of all proportion back then and would have probably been 'homo' or something to that effect.

As for last summer, the same could have happened in the 60's or 70's quite easily if the technology was in place to get the communications going.
 
kris3291 said:
Well this has gone a little off topic.
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Whoops, yes it has - sorry.

A lot of advice has been given around ignoring it, moving on etc,. and I don't think you can do much else as long as you don't let it get to you next time?
 
The sad thing is that most adbuse still happen to children by people they know :(, but we as photographer have become an easy target.
 
ernesto said:
Whoops, yes it has - sorry.

A lot of advice has been given around ignoring it, moving on etc,. and I don't think you can do much else as long as you don't let it get to you next time?
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I do appreciate all the advice and a lot of things have really helped. It hasn't bothered me since (as much).
 
simonblue said:
The sad thing is that most adbuse still happen to children by people they know
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Whoah! Steady on there! You've used facts to reach a sensible point of view - what the hell are you doing on the internet? Be gone!
 
Llamaman said:
Whoah! Steady on there! You've used facts to reach a sensible point of view - what the hell are you doing on the internet? Be gone!
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Thank you, youve just caused me to spit energy drink all over the monitors at work (which, incidentally, is how the cctv controller pad died :naughty: )
 
looks at my mobile...

naked pic of a newborn grandchild, Other grandchild in his pants in the paddling pool having a right old splash, and a shot of a mole on a breast which was taken for reference..

Funnily enough, I never shot the grand kids naked with a DSLR

Whilst people complain about DSLR's, it;s the person "texting" you need to worry about... "right under the radar"

I once had a similar experience to the OP. I invited them to call the police, they buggered off. You usually cant reason with a blinkered idiotic mentality
 
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