I am a pervert now

stylgeo

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I got home yesterday at around 5 in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and it rained for about 20 minutes so the air was really clean and clear (in Cyprus). I went upstairs in my study to check out any emails, the forum etc and while watching outside the window I saw a flock of bee-eaters just flying outside my window. Not wanting to lose the opportunity I grab the camera with my Siggy 120-300 2.8, get on the balcony and start shooting away.
Mind you, at a distance of about 200 meters there's a High School, which for obvious reasons was closed at 5 in the afternoon. I then hear, without actually paying any attention, some teenagers shouting "What are you looking at!". I didn't really pay any attention to this, I thought they were messing around with each other. Then I hear "What are you looking at you retard??". I again dismiss this as something that wasn't addressed to me, without even thinking about the possibility that they were talking to me, the conversation was really at the back of my head at the time, I was really consetrading on getting the BIF. When I hear "What are you looking at you pervert??", I jump up and realise they were talking to me. This particular word would wake up any photographer, after everything that happened in the last year, with lone men in the parks etc etc. At first I couldn't find where the voices were coming from and then I see a few teenagers, girls and boys in the school yard, having a smoke on a wall looking my way. At that time I was still having some second thoughts as to whether they were talking to me, as I was obviously aiming towards the sky above. So I just continued shooting the birds, practically forgetting the whole thing. Then I hear some motorbikes driving by and the same teenagers driving in front of my house shouting "Pervert, Pervert". I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.:shrug: And they were gone just like that!

It was a bit silly of me taking the camera on the balcony, but it never even crossed my mind that there might be children in the school yard at 5 in the afternoon (school finishes at 1:30). I can't help but feel bad about the whole incident. One thing is that it's bad when someone misunderstands your intentions and what you are doing, and the second thing is that I'm probably labeled now in the neighbourhood. Not to mention my fear of vandalism in my property, you know kids these days. :'(

On a different note, capturing flying bee-eaters is really really difficult. They fly really fast and a bit erratical. These are the results, not really good.

1)
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You wern't doing anything wrong. If it's teenagers that are far enough away to be brave in a group, then I'd ignore them, maybe leave. If they get braver and start showing and posturing, off then its defo time to leave. Worst thing is any form of violence, from either side.

Never seen one of those fellas (let alone flying) so thanks for posting.
 
maybe you should have answered "the cute bird"

teenagers really do cause more problems than they are worth (I have 2 teenagers myself)
 
I would call the police and have the kids questioned, so at the very least they understand EXACTLY what you were doing. You DO NOT want a rumour started, and kids talk :(

The little ***** deserve a kick in the teeth, but you need to look after yourself and nip this before it goes too far.

Gary.
 
you really didn't do anything wrong, i wouldn't worry too much about it, most teenagers have short memories and were probably shouting because they were scared your we taking photos of them somewhere they shouldn't be rather than actually thinking you were a pervert.
 
I would have pointed the camera right at them and let them know I took there picture... Then they know that you know who they are.

I used to have a boat on the canal and a good trick was to have a camera at the ready... any old thing that didnt even have to work... just point it at teenagers hanging about on the many bridges you go under... they dont throw anything then :)

But its all easy for me and the other posters on here to say innit..... back in the real world.......
 
I don't really know if I should have done anything more than just ignore them. At the time that's what I thought was right. Pointing the camera towards them would just give them a reason to keep on shouting, I wouldn't have gained anything from that. The thing is that I am not really worried of vandalism or anything, I am more worried of what they might say to their parents or others in the neighbourhood. Once you get labeled it's difficult to get things straight!
 
tbh stylgeo i don't think they will say anything, as i said its more likely they just trying to provoke a reaction from you rather than they think you are a pervert. You could always tell your friends / neighbours what happened in the context of teenagers these days rather than trying to defend a roomer once its started.
 
At the time that's what I thought was right.

Then that was the right thing to do... Had you done anything other than what you thought was right at the time then it would have been the wrong thing. We cant go back.. you did what you thought was right.. thats it.. others can comment what they would have done and thank the lord that we arn't all the same :)
 
next time put in some ear plugs...best way really.
as for the shots; great stuff...i tried catching some swallow/swifts the other day, nothing. they're so fast! you've done well here.
 
girls and boys in the school yard, having a smoke on a wall looking my way

Indeed, sounds like they were more worried about you having a record of their wrong doing and having teenagers myself,I know they are not quite savvy enough to work out that by keeping schtum and NOT attracting your attention they are more than likely to be not noticed - shouting at you is their way of trying to assert themselves and make it seem someone else is in the wrong. Don't let it worry you until there is something to worry about, which will probably not happen.
 
Hi i was a youth worker for years and years i had a skin as thick as a rhino's, and my back was like a dartboard with all the back stabbing;), but that's teenagers for you, judge and jury:) i would not worry too much they will have forgot you by tomorrow when that bright red Zit appears on there nose:lol:.

Regards Mark.
 
Thanks guys for your thoughts and input. I do feel a lot better now. It wasn't more than 10 years that I was a teenager myself and I remember things were quite a lot different, even only 10 years ago. We used to respect our elders, even if only in their late 20s and early 30s. How things change. :shake:

I remember one time, 4-5 years ago that I had to go to work at 7 in the morning and some kids started ringing the bell of my house at 1 in the morning. I was talking to a neighbour the day before and she told me that there were a bunch of kids doing that exact thing all over the neighbourhood. I woke up furius and started chasing them around. It was quite silly really:lol:. I caught a couple of them, about 15-16 years old and gave them a good shake. I never had a problem since, until yesterday :p
 
If i'm honest i used to be "one of those kids", i would cause trouble and generally be a pain in the arse. From my experience the kids will remember things like this... Its and "easy" target when they are bored.

I would document the incident and also keep the pictures WITH EXIF (date and time) just in case and future issue's occur.


BTW, i have grown up now and an a good chap :)
 
Thanks G. Good to have an "ex con" in our gang to see how they think:clap::lol:.

Seriously though, I think we all went through our "pain in the arse" period. I'll see how things happen, but I am definitely not an easy target if I don't want to be! :D
 
Sorry to hear this and hope nothing untoward comes from it.God forbid that it gets to stage where you have to check an area out before you take a picture :(
 
That is sad George
Ignore em mate:thumbs:

At least you got pics that looked like bee eaters in flight
I have got plenty of ones with empty sky or just a blurry blob:D
 
I'm a teen myself; And tbh they had no right saying that, but then again what do you expect... I was never like what 13 14 and 15 year old are like now of days... I may have had my rebel times called growing up.. but half of them thinking beating someone up at school is fun.. not caring about school and most of all getting drunk and some taking drugs..

I'm sure you wont have a bad name for yourself.. if you ever see them next time.. go over to them and say.
 
its a shame some narrow minded people are in this world today, i remember when i got my camera a few days after i seen light trails from cars so though id try this my self. i was aiming the camera at the cars on a long exposer, when some kids Far up the Road shouted Perv and stop taking photos of me, eventho the camera wasent in there direction. it anouyed me as i had my partner and child with me. as we were on the way back froma firework display. i dident say or do nothing just carried on.
 
teenagers really do cause more problems than they are worth (I have 2 teenagers myself)

a chap on a forum I visit regularly thinks of himself as a bit of a photographer and snaps his mates on their skateboards.
Bearing in mind he is only 15, him and a few of his cronies walked past a park (not through it), him with his Canon 20D draped round his neck, turned off pointing at the floor.
Next thing he knew, he had a bunch of mothers surrounding him calling him a pervert and asking him to wipe his memory card. IIRC a few choice words were said and he walked off
So its not just teenagers..and they're not all bad ;) I'm only 3 years out of being a teenager and I think I was fairly normal :whistling:
 
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