had my collar felt for the first time by a security gaurd today (happy ending)

Rob 80386

Rob 80386

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I was out shooting around the Colchester area, used the m4/3 camera and left the D90 at home.

How ever the issue started when I was checking my lens by photographing an equipment room door, which was closed and faced out on the public foot path, a security person was just concerned about why I was photographing it, I explained what I was doing and showed him some of my other shots from the day, he was happy and it was resolved in 30 seconds, I said thank you and we parted ways :thumbs:
 
Just goes to show that not all security guards are mindless slackjaws and that being cooperative rather than confrontational can work wonders.
 
Good attitude, maybe because you are a Lady, wonder if he would have been so understanding if it had been a Man
Dave
 
nikonuser said:
Good attitude, maybe because you are a Lady, wonder if he would have been so understanding if it had been a Man
Dave
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I guess it would depend on the attitude of the man :shrug:
 
Steve Smith said:
Understanding about what?



Nothing to resolve (other than his curiosity).


Steve.
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this is it, I'd stopped it becoming a problem by explaining what I was doing,

the bottom line is, man or woman is all about communication and being polite.

:)
 
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Lost count of the times I have been stopped, even had the police turn up at the front door, but politeness and showing them what you have shot has always led to a happy outcome.
 
nikonuser said:
Good attitude, maybe because you are a Lady, wonder if he would have been so understanding if it had been a Man
Dave
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Definitely. The best thing to do here is to try and find a way to condemn the guy.

Wonder if he'd have been so understanding if it was a fully grown African elephant with a machine gun.
 
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Rob 80386 said:
I was out shooting around the Colchester area, used the m4/3 camera and left the D90 at home.

How ever the issue started when I was checking my lens by photographing an equipment room door, which was closed and faced out on the public foot path, a security person was just concerned about why I was photographing it, I explained what I was doing and showed him some of my other shots from the day, he was happy and it was resolved in 30 seconds, I said thank you and we parted ways :thumbs:
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That's because you did the sensible thing, and not the whole "I know my rights" thing.
 
I had a similar recently :D

A pal of mine wanted inspiration, so I told her to meet me in her own village centre for a 'challenge' shoot

When she arrived with all her kit I told her to choose just one lens, so chose a mid range zoom

I told her to choose just one focal length and stick to it, she chose 40mm

I told her to choose just one aperture and stick to it, she chose f5.6

I then told her she had 20 mins to go shoot as creatively as poss but could only shoot 20 images

With the mini challenge set (I did the same) off we went

We ended up both attracted to the same door and all its bolts and various locks, whereupon a man appeared - as if by magic :D

He was the shop manager, and it turned out we were being watched on CCTV from inside the betting shop - which had been burgled twice in the previous month hence his interest in us !!! :eek:

After a few secs we all had a laugh and he then realised he'd seen me give a talk somewhere too, so now he may be joining our new club as well :)

It is easy to jump into the 'I know my Rights' mode, but normally best not to bother really



Oh - and on a TP meet in Salford at the height of the 'terrorist' alerts about 10 of us were approached by a HUGE cop, so I went over for a chat as some others were looking decidedly worried (and 'dodgy' as a result) :lol: Turned out he was concerned we'd get carried away shooting something and thieves would nick our gear left on the ground nearby - it had happened a few times apparently

Dave
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Sensible is subjective. Is it a good idea to stop randomly on a road to let pedestrians (and children) cross where they like, or is it a better idea to ignore them so that they eventually use the pelican crossing. (safe for children)

Education is better right?
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Sorry.. not seeing the parallel here.. what are you saying?
 
London Headshots said:
Definitely. The best thing to do here is to try and find a way to condemn the guy.

Wonder if he'd have been so understanding if it was a fully grown African elephant with a machine gun.
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If you had a machine gun, you'll have more than a security guard to worry about. Cue fully armed police.



Steve Smith said:
It's best not to use that as your opening statement but it's equally useful to know your rights for when you might need them.


Steve.
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Indeed, in the two situations highlighted bleating about your rights would be more of a hindrance than a help.

:)
 
I had a similar experience last autumn in a local park. I was walking around with a camera on a monopod, photographing the trees in their seasonal glory, when I came upon a man and a small child in a play area. So I just walked on by, only to be approached a little while later by a chap who turned out to be a park ranger. We chatted, he never directly asked what I was doing but I volunteered it anyway. I showed him my pictures, he commented on them and we said goodbye. A few minuets later I was back by the play area, the ranger and the man were talking, I waved they waved back. I continued back to my car.
Had the person with the kid phoned the rangers? Who knows but it could have been so different had the rangers’ attitude been contrary.

Rhodese.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Sorry.. not seeing the parallel here.. what are you saying?
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Im saying sensible is not always the correct choice, sometimes one has to lead by example, even if it is hassle and a pain and leaves you open to incorrect assumptions about the motives, its not an incorrect choice....just a choice between leading by example or as we all know, sensible indifference.
 
I always struggle with this. The easy and sensible way is to answer any question the police ask, and tbh this is probably what I would do.

But our civil rights are there for a reason. Why should I give the police my name and address for example, if I am not required to do so by law? By doing so may be the 'sensible' thing to do to avoid any hassle. But I am uncomfortable with the notion of a police state, where anyone who tries to assert their rights is viewed with suspicion.
 
Dexter247 said:
Lost count of the times I have been stopped, even had the police turn up at the front door, but politeness and showing them what you have shot has always led to a happy outcome.
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What basis did they have for turning up at your front door?
 
Steve said:
I always struggle with this. The easy and sensible way is to answer any question the police ask, and tbh this is probably what I would do.

But our civil rights are there for a reason. Why should I give the police my name and address for example, if I am not required to do so by law? By doing so may be the 'sensible' thing to do to avoid any hassle. But I am uncomfortable with the notion of a police state, where anyone who tries to assert their rights is viewed with suspicion.
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I'm in the school of thought, that if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about.

:)
 
Rob 80386 said:
I'm in the school of thought, that if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about.

:)
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I'd prefer it if you would change your "you" to "I" please, feel free to give up your own rights :bonk: but please don't think you speak for us all :bang: :shake:

Nothing personnel but i loathe this saying..
 
Bassit said:
I'd prefer it if you would change your "you" to "I" please, feel free to give up your own rights :bonk: but please don't think you speak for us all :bang: :shake:

Nothing personnel but i loathe this saying..
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I'm not saying anyone should give up their rights and I don't speak for everyone, only myself, you've missed the point.

What I'm saying is without proper communication a minor issue can blow out of proportion, causing a "I know my rights" argument needlessly.

I nipped it in the bud, just like a couple of other posters in this thread by simply talking to the person concerned, whether that be security, building manager or the police, its called diffusing the situation.

:)
 
Rob 80386 said:
I'm not saying anyone should give up their rights and I don't speak for everyone, only myself, you've missed the point.

What I'm saying is without proper communication a minor issue can blow out of proportion, causing a "I know my rights" argument needlessly.

I nipped it in the bud, just like a couple of other posters in this thread by simply talking to the person concerned, whether that be security, building manager or the police, its called diffusing the situation.

:)
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IMO you did quite right and in doing so made it easier for every tog coming after you.
 
I agree about how you diffused the questions from the security guard, it was your "nothing to hide" comment i had a problem with, i thought i had made that quite clear by quoting that particular comment !?.
 
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Saying 'you' in that context is a general term and doesn't necessarily apply to you in particular. If you're that pedantic then I can pretty much guess how you'll react in a similar situation.

The way the OP dealt with the situation will probably be beneficial for future photographers in the same situation. Being a pedant will have the opposite effect.
 
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I will say this one more time, i have no problem with how the situation (?) was dealt with, it is that term that i have a problem with..

I personally don't even see that there was ever a "situation", a question was asked and answered in the appropriate manner, where's the situation?
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Im saying sensible is not always the correct choice, sometimes one has to lead by example, even if it is hassle and a pain and leaves you open to incorrect assumptions about the motives, its not an incorrect choice....just a choice between leading by example or as we all know, sensible indifference.
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So you'd immediately challenge the security guards, get his back up, and asked to leave on principle?

Your choice... I'd rather get the shot I want :)
 
Rob 80386 said:
I'm in the school of thought, that if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to worry about.

:)
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I sometimes wonder if people who say this ever draw their curtains at night - after all if they are doing "nothing wrong" they should have no objection to the world looking into their home.
 
That must be one of the most ridiculous things I've heard for ages.

Someone has a job to do, asks a couple of questions, be polite, answer like a sensible human being, not some paranoid conspiracy theorist and all problems get avoided.
 
The more difficult situation is where the person asking you what you are doing is just another busy body member of the general public. I'm more than happy to explain my actions to a person in a position of authority doing their job, but I have to admit that I find it difficult sometimes when approached by a complete random on the street. Right or wrong, I haven't been as helpful or forthcoming to the nosey gits that just assume I'm doing something wrong.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
The more difficult situation is where the person asking you what you are doing is just another busy body member of the general public. I'm more than happy to explain my actions to a person in a position of authority doing their job, but I have to admit that I find it difficult sometimes when approached by a complete random on the street. Right or wrong, I haven't been as helpful or forthcoming to the nosey gits that just assume I'm doing something wrong.
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How do you know that they assume you are doing something wrong and are not just interested in what you are doing?
 
gramps said:
How do you know that they assume you are doing something wrong and are not just interested in what you are doing?
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You can usually tell by the way they ask and the tone of their voice.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Or will that security guard now stop every photographer thinking he has a right to?
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I think he did have a right to do what he did, assuming that he was 'responsible' for said building/door ...

Rob 80386 said:
I was checking my lens by photographing an equipment room door, which was closed and faced out on the public foot path, a security person was just concerned about why I was photographing it,
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Sounds like a reasonable person diligently doing his job who made no fuss or issue once an explanation was given. Did the O/P have to explain, probably not but what good would not explaining do and of what possible benefit would that be to any other photographer following him?
 
gramps said:
How do you know that they assume you are doing something wrong and are not just interested in what you are doing?
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when they chase after you shouting "what the f are you doing taking my picture"
 
gramps said:
Wow you must go into some weird areas!
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Probably not! There are paranoid people absolutely everywhere and you don't even have to go looking for them ... they'll often come and find you if you've got a camera in your hand. In fact, they'll sometimes go out of their way to find you.

Like the bloke that accosted me on Dartmoor a while back. He had to walk at least one hundred yards to ask why I was taking photos of him. I threw open my arms to indicate the mass of wild, rugged terrain in front of me and then asked him what on earth made him think that I required a picture of his ugly mug. That stumped him. :lol:
 
gramps said:
I think he did have a right to do what he did, assuming that he was 'responsible' for said building/door ...



Sounds like a reasonable person diligently doing his job who made no fuss or issue once an explanation was given. Did the O/P have to explain, probably not but what good would not explaining do and of what possible benefit would that be to any other photographer following him?
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No he didn't, the door was in a public street as I understand it, we have rights too.
 
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