I got called a weirdo for carrying a camera...

u8myufo said:
I have had no problems myself whilst roaming the streets and footpaths in my camo gear, but then again we are all weirdos down here :lol::lol: On a serious issue though and I dont know if this has been done, what about contacting GMTV and get them to do a story on this :shrug: " Photographers fight back "
Lets tell em that it is those making the accusations that are the sad and weird people of this world :lol:
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GMTV - would they be interested ?

Now the Jeremy Kyle show - THAT would be interesting !!

Imagine the headline - " I want to tell the world Im a Photographer not a P**** "

Jeremy, rubbing his hands together,with a wry smile asks " What sort of pictures do you take"?

Audience, booing, baying for blood at the mention of the word P****.

Cue riot in studio - at least it would grab the headlines !!

( Me thinks I watch to much TV )

david700
 
Arkady said:
Here's what I do: (really this time, not comedy Luger-shots to the knees)

If you get hassled, take out a notebook and demand their name, address and home telephone number for the purposes of reporting them for harrassment or even for your own records - most people will baulk at providing details.

If they are or were serious about complaining about your behaviour then they'll have nothing to hide as those details would have to be filed as part of the police report anyway...

If they refuse to provide you with details, then tell 'em to fark orf and mind their own damn business...
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Excellent suggestion - to just add to it, why not get out your mobile and tell them that you are calling the police, their and then, to report their offensive behaviour.
I hazard a guess that not many complainers would hang around to wait for the police and would disappear rapidly ?

david700
 
When I had my one and only attempt at street togging in Bolton a couple of months ago there was a group of teenagers hanging out and I tried photographing them from afar until one of them spotted me and ran over and asked if I was a perv. Obviously I said no but was expecting to get in to a debate with him but he just said "oh cool, come over and take all our pics then, it'll be cool". As it happens I didn't take any more photos of them, I was just the old guy that hung out with the young'uns for 15 minutes.
 
DiddyDave said:
My weirdest so far went something like this...

What ARE you doing???

Taking your photo

WHAT !!!

Well you are good looking and have a natural ability to strike poses which are appealing to me

W T F are you on about !!!???!!!

Look, it's simple, you are a cool looking female, the lighting is excellent, the background is un-obstructive and everything has fallen into place for some cool shots

Get out of here you Pervert!!!

Soz babe - but as you are 18 I'm totally at liberty to take photos of you whether they depict you in a sexual light or not, as it happens you are fully clothed so what's your problem?

My problem is that you're a Pervert wanting to take photos of me - you f-ing wierdo

I see what you're saying - but honestly, you're a pretty girl and deserving of a good set of photos

F-k you m8 - I'm outa here!!!

Okay - that's up to you - but you did pay for this studio shoot, do you want a refund???

:D

DD
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Haha I just laughed out very loud at work!! Thanks I might get the sack but atleast iv got my camera :lol:
 
Ok read through the whole and jeez what a shi*ty attitude people have today... Personally iv never taken my camera out in public... yet... but after reading this thread I am tempted to do so just to see what sort of reaction I get...

Im not a big bloke, nor am I white but I dont think that make any difference or am I just being naive? The issue here seems to be mainly people dont like togs with DSLR I doubt togs with point and shoots dont get the same hostile reactions.
 
Viper said:
i dont see how people can complain about a photographer taking pictures in a busy street etc.

If it was a TV camera, they would most likely run up to it and act a fool, but not a camera!
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Great point well made!

This whole paedophile thing is ridiculous, bring back Brass Eye ;)
 
Gary said:
if you get abuse from someone who thinks you are taking pics of their kids, tell em you dont take pics of ugly kids, only cute ones.
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That DID make me giggle... :lol:


And it might just work as people with cute, good-looking kids are not likely to be the problem in my experience... :naughty:

Great debate going on here and some very interesting views, perspectives and suggestions... ;)





:p
 
when i was in latvia last year, i took my god daughter (2 years old) to the park and took some photos of her. I was a bit nervous of the other families in the park but they really didnt care and some even asked if I would take some pics of their kids.
So, i guess its only countries where the Daily Mail is sold that have this crazy attitude.
 
I was taking photos of local buildings for a slide exchange with a Canadian camera club. The Citadel is in the Castlegate area of Aberdeen - a lovely building but with an ugly skyscraper behind it. I was positioning myself so as to block out the high rise.
Meantime, there were several drinkers sitting outside the pubs and cafes enjoying the warm sunshine. One guy jumped up and shouted "Watch out guys, theres a c**t with a camera"
Next thing tables were upturned and glasses and drink everywhere as the drinkers took to their heels. They must have thought I was a DSS photographer.
It certainly gave me a laugh.
 
My 7 year old daughter was packing shopping with the Brownies at Waitrose last Saturday raising funds for St Catherines Hospice and CHASE Childrens Hospice. After getting permission from the Pack Leaders and Permission forms signed from parents I offered to go along and take some shots of the kids packing for a newspaper article and for the Brownies Memory Log.

I had been there about an hour and I suddenly had an old lady standing next to me. 'Why are you taking photos'? I replied 'I am taking photos of the Brownies raising money for 2 Cancer Charities'. She then went into a complete rant saying 'well maybe some people dont like their photo being taken and you have not even asked them'. I managed to keep my cool and calmy told her that I was not taking photos of the general public but of the Brownies and I had permission from their parents'. She continued to go on and on and even got her friend to join in. I turned my back on them in the end and they eventually left the shop. Totally over the top!! :shrug::nono:
 
Gary said:
So, i guess its only countries where the Daily Mail is sold that have this crazy attitude.
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Nah... :suspect: ...we're just a country full of disgusting, load mouthed, ignoramus types who revel in giving it over-large, to innocents going about their daily lives, with their foul over-sized gobs and feeling somehow 'big' when doing so... :shrug: ...as has been said so many times in this thread alone our country is full of sad, ignorant, un-educated, trouble-making spongers who should be transported to the other side of the moon now Australia is no longer available... :cuckoo: ...imhgo... :D


They can't read let alone afford the Mail... :eek:


I am now going to return to my fence... :gag:






:p
 
Was threatened with the "neighbourhood watch" if I wouldn't stop shooting pictures of some houses. Having a German accent obviously only made it worse, as the guy immediately kept talking about break ins by eastern europeans etc.

Funnily enough he then claimed that I was taking pictures of the alleyway leading behind his house - which in my life I would not have seen if he hadn't pointed it out, as it was totally overgrown - and refused to have a look at the shots on my camera (actually he backed off when I came closer, I should probably start shaving more often ;)

I must have looked more secretive than I thought, standing there in the middle of the road, in bright afternoon with a massive DSLR. Oh and this was the picture. Scary eh?
 
Ticktockmy said:
I was in Guildford High street taking pic, of the Guildhall, when this women started to shout at me, for taking pictures of her kids, right mental she was, when I told her that I had not, and would happly show her the Pics on my memory card, she would have none of it, of course people gather, to hear her ranting on, luckly two women police officers come on the scene, having explained the problem, and checked my memory card, they tried to reasure the lady.. but she was having none of it.. stormed off calling me a bent pervert.. much to the amusement to all alround

What is happening in this country.
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I would have asked the attending police officer to intervene as what she is saying is slander and personally offensive and potentially damaging.
daft tart! :bang:
 
to be completely honest I really dont have much of a problem taking pics on the street, at least not as many as you guys seem to.

its quite odd, because taking photos in the street is my main job. I do it 4-5 days a week all around West London and just outside. I do get stopped by PCSO quite a bit in the mainly Asian areas like Hounslow and Southall, and I get busy bodies that want to know what I'm up to in posh places like Guildford and Windsor. But not a lot really considering the amount of ground I've covered in the last 3 years.
 
mstphoto said:
I was taking photos of local buildings for a slide exchange with a Canadian camera club. The Citadel is in the Castlegate area of Aberdeen - a lovely building but with an ugly skyscraper behind it. I was positioning myself so as to block out the high rise.
Meantime, there were several drinkers sitting outside the pubs and cafes enjoying the warm sunshine. One guy jumped up and shouted "Watch out guys, theres a c**t with a camera"
Next thing tables were upturned and glasses and drink everywhere as the drinkers took to their heels. They must have thought I was a DSS photographer.
It certainly gave me a laugh.
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Thanks for that. I now have coffee all over my keyboard.
C
 
ripclaw said:
Was threatened with the "neighbourhood watch" if I wouldn't stop shooting pictures of some houses. Having a German accent obviously only made it worse, as the guy immediately kept talking about break ins by eastern europeans etc.

I must have looked more secretive than I thought, standing there in the middle of the road, in bright afternoon with a massive DSLR. Oh and this was the picture. Scary eh?
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Neighbourhood Watch is nothing to be scared of... :shrug: ...generally a bunch of busy-bodies with nothing better to do than peep from behind net curtains... :suspect: ...although that is a bit of a generalisation... :D


The associated picture is only one to be scared of if, like me, you are pretty rubbish at taking photographs... :( ...as it is a lovely, chocolate box type of image imhgo... :thumbs: ...and you shouldn't let busy-bodies put you off enjoying your interests... :shake:

Your site is very attractively laid out and very easy to navigate, I like... ;)





:p
 
This is a reflection of how society is changing. I seem to remember that set subjects in the camera club competitions of 35 years ago regularly used to include titles such as 'Men at Work' and 'Children at Play' - of course that's not going to be the case now!!

I've never actually been called a weirdo but I did have a run-in with a security rent-a-cop once. I was standing on the verge alongside a public road and had a camera set up on a tripod - I was waiting for the sun to just dip behind a building before I took the shot I wanted. Along came the pretend-plod from the building and asked me what I was doing. "Minding my own business" was my reply. A bit confrontational, perhaps, as he seemed a bit miffed with that but he then started to explain that he was concerned about people 'casing' the place for theft. I suppose in a way he had a point but I refused to budge and told him if he thought I was breaking the law he should call the Police. He went away and the Police never came so I assume he thought better of it, but it wasn't the most pleasant of photographic experiences.

Rob
 
Venomator said:


The associated picture is only one to be scared of if, like me, you are pretty rubbish at taking photographs... :( ...as it is a lovely, chocolate box type of image imhgo... :thumbs: ...and you shouldn't let busy-bodies put you off enjoying your interests... :shake:

Your site is very attractively laid out and very easy to navigate, I like... ;)
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Cheers :) Yeah I like that shot too, was pretty lucky with the light that day. The site is just one of zenfolio's templates (they don't offer custom ones yet), but you're right it's easy to navigate and nice to share whole albums with people (and sell too).
 
geminip said:
My 7 year old daughter was packing shopping with the Brownies at Waitrose last Saturday raising funds for St Catherines Hospice and CHASE Childrens Hospice. After getting permission from the Pack Leaders and Permission forms signed from parents I offered to go along and take some shots of the kids packing for a newspaper article and for the Brownies Memory Log.

I had been there about an hour and I suddenly had an old lady standing next to me. 'Why are you taking photos'? I replied 'I am taking photos of the Brownies raising money for 2 Cancer Charities'. She then went into a complete rant saying 'well maybe some people dont like their photo being taken and you have not even asked them'. I managed to keep my cool and calmy told her that I was not taking photos of the general public but of the Brownies and I had permission from their parents'. She continued to go on and on and even got her friend to join in. I turned my back on them in the end and they eventually left the shop. Totally over the top!! :shrug::nono:
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This is a bit trickier than some of the other scenarios in this thread. The supermarket is a private place and the Brownies, you and the old bats were there by tacit invitation and/or the manager's permission. I doubt if the manager would be very happy if you insisted on some sort of intervention, unless they actually started accusing you of anything, because he wouldn't have wanted any a scene in his store. I suppose you could have followed them outside, with a witness, and told them you were going to report the matter to the police. I doubt if the police would be interested, but they sound like the sort of righteous old biddies who would be horrified by the idea of anyone calling the police about them. I can imagine them waiting for the knock on the door..............!
 
dod said:
Ummm :thinking: :D
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well from my point of view, if someone started calling me a paedophile then it could affect any reputation and other parts of your life
what if your partner was a school teacher
what if you are a pro togger and it affects your family portrait business
I know I'd be rather upset it it affected my right or ability to teach in the community (fortunately I teach 18+ students normally)
but I have been asked to photograph a junior martial arts event next month as a favour. In a small community this could have greater implications.

it's not just an insulting word without meaning, it deliberately depicts and act which is immoral and illegal.
example, if I came to your place of work and started calling you a toerag...it means nothing. If I came in and started calling you...? I don't know. a wife beater...then that's something else.
 
I think what was being referred to was the "daft tart" statement.
Getting riled up over the slander of a photographer and then saying that is a bit contradictive. I assume that is what was meant anyway.

And I realise it can't really be slander since we don't know the identity of the person, but the principle is there.

I've been out in public quite a bit with my camera and as of yet haven't had any "run-ins" with anyone, maybe the occasional odd look here and there but I'm usually busy getting my pictures to notice. Shame to hear so many stories of people getting confronted and accused of things totally out of nowhere.

Tom N.
 
I had my first run-in with the "What are you doing" crew about a month ago. Was happily practicing panning outside my house and some chap in his car decided to stop and tell me I wasn't allowed to do that sort of thing.

Story - here
 
Whenever you're doing something you love to do, you'll be apt to get taken down a peg or two by the people around you. Most people don't like to see others following their dreams or indulging in their passions, it irks them. Especially if it's something that requires either technical or artistic knowledge. Worse if it combines them.

People who don't have a passion seem to find the idea of someone elses self-indulgence completely abhorrent.
 
There's a lot of self righteousness on this thread, if some people give off the arrogance displayed here I'm not surprised that they get grief from the public.

Yes you may be legally allowed to take photos in some of these situations but you also have to respect peoples privacy and show consideration. Responding aggressively to a challenge will be met with nothing but aggression.

Be a diplomat for photography not a contributor to the bad stereotype.
 
DiddyDave said:
My weirdest so far went something like this...

What ARE you doing???

Taking your photo

WHAT !!!

Well you are good looking and have a natural ability to strike poses which are appealing to me

W T F are you on about !!!???!!!

Look, it's simple, you are a cool looking female, the lighting is excellent, the background is un-obstructive and everything has fallen into place for some cool shots

Get out of here you Pervert!!!

Soz babe - but as you are 18 I'm totally at liberty to take photos of you whether they depict you in a sexual light or not, as it happens you are fully clothed so what's your problem?

My problem is that you're a Pervert wanting to take photos of me - you f-ing wierdo

I see what you're saying - but honestly, you're a pretty girl and deserving of a good set of photos

F-k you m8 - I'm outa here!!!

Okay - that's up to you - but you did pay for this studio shoot, do you want a refund???

:D

DD
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Probably not going to find popularity by posting this, but hat seems a stupid thing to do.

Have you ever thought that she just didn't like having her picture taken and the attitude you gave her is going to make her tell everyone that "some perv taking pics of me talking about sex or sumfing". I am sorry but the sexual light thing disgusts me a little bit and is uncalled for, that makes you sound a bit weird to me.

Easily avoided by being polite and offering to take her photo if she allows you, and leaving her attitude to her rather than goading her on further. If someone said to me that I would have been p***ed and probably would have given them a mouthful myself, probably a little more.

We have freedom to do it, but if someone is clearly uncomfortable (no matter how they phrase it) with you taking pictures leave them to it, don't live up to the stereotype of hassling people. It just makes it worse for us all. I have shot street portraits with willing models and have been told to eff off by a few, but you don't argue and find a more willing subject.
 
ding76uk said:
Probably not going to find popularity by posting this, but hat seems a stupid thing to do.

Have you ever thought that she just didn't like having her picture taken and the attitude you gave her is going to make her tell everyone that "some perv taking pics of me talking about sex or sumfing". I am sorry but the sexual light thing disgusts me a little bit and is uncalled for, that makes you sound a bit weird to me.

Easily avoided by being polite and offering to take her photo if she allows you, and leaving her attitude to her rather than goading her on further. If someone said to me that I would have been p***ed and probably would have given them a mouthful myself, probably a little more.

We have freedom to do it, but if someone is clearly uncomfortable (no matter how they phrase it) with you taking pictures leave them to it, don't live up to the stereotype of hassling people. It just makes it worse for us all. I have shot street portraits with willing models and have been told to eff off by a few, but you don't argue and find a more willing subject.
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Did you NOT read the last line Carl... :shrug:





:p
 
Venomator said:


Nah... :suspect: ...we're just a country full of disgusting, load mouthed, ignoramus types who revel in giving it over-large, to innocents going about their daily lives, with their foul over-sized gobs and feeling somehow 'big' when doing so... :shrug: ...as has been said so many times in this thread alone our country is full of sad, ignorant, un-educated, trouble-making spongers who should be transported to the other side of the moon now Australia is no longer available... :cuckoo: ...imhgo... :D


They can't read let alone afford the Mail... :eek:


I am now going to return to my fence... :gag:






:p
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Lol!!! I was having a similar rant on another thread last night, until it was closed down!
 
I have never had any problems taking pictures, although I havent really taken any of people in a public space.

One thing I did think of is progams like street wars, road wars and traffic cops. They have a camera man round with them and tell the criminals that they are allowed to video them in a public place...............
 
Daily Mail sales must do well with TP readers...

bar-stewards
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right mental
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No mouthy twerps, ill informed coppers or pcso's - or tabloid comic readers
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Some cretins just love a ghost of an excuse to get all self-righteous and indulge in self-important bellowing. Tabloid-reading scum. Rule 303 for the lot of 'em.
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..the world is turning to this state, paranoia and thoughts of disgust everywhere you go...
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..I don't know what the police are like in your area, but where I live it takes them ages to respond to a serious car accident, the ambulances are there long before the police pretty much every time.
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And it's worth remembering that police officers (and politicians and council representatives, etc.) are our servants, not our masters.
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...we're just a country full of disgusting, load mouthed, ignoramus types who revel in giving it over-large, to innocents going about their daily lives, with their foul over-sized gobs and feeling somehow 'big' when doing so... :shrug: ...as has been said so many times in this thread alone our country is full of sad, ignorant, un-educated, trouble-making spongers who should be transported to the other side of the moon now Australia is no longer available... :cuckoo: ...imhgo... :D
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...they sound like the sort of righteous old biddies...
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This is a reflection of how society is changing. I seem to remember that set subjects in the camera club competitions of 35 years ago regularly used to include titles such as 'Men at Work' and 'Children at Play' - of course that's not going to be the case now!!
Click to expand...

Whenever you're doing something you love to do, you'll be apt to get taken down a peg or two by the people around you. Most people don't like to see others following their dreams or indulging in their passions, it irks them. Especially if it's something that requires either technical or artistic knowledge. Worse if it combines them.

People who don't have a passion seem to find the idea of someone elses self-indulgence completely abhorrent.
Click to expand...

...and that's what you think of them and you wonder why they think ill of you. Behaviour breeds behaviour.
 
Gary said:
So, i guess its only countries where the Daily Mail is sold that have this crazy attitude.
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I was in Belgium last weekend (Antwerp) with my 2 year old daughter and took her to the fancy kids playground in a park there. Took some photos of her including some playing with other kids - no problem at all. Lots of kids parents there and if they were looking then only curiously. This is what I could call normal behavior ... Pity it is mostly in the past here in UK.
 
thought I would post these two pics, taken about 20 yards apart at Ocean City and nobody gave a hoot. I have the advantage because I could see the subject (lets just say bikini clad teenagers):naughty:
now who would you say was the quirk, both with DSLRs and both up-front with what they were taking. The guy in shorts was with the group.
3989499667_f53775c7af_o.jpg

3989499807_9882264889_o.jpg
 
bbb said:
Daily Mail sales must do well with TP readers...
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As will many other TP members, I find that remark offensive in the extreme... :nono:


bbb said:
...and that's what you think of them and you wonder why they think ill of you. Behaviour breeds behaviour.
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Totally out of context and completely unnecessary imhgo... :shrug: ...this is a discussion thread not an action thread... ;)

I believe not a single one of our respectable members would conduct themselves in the manner some of us find ourselves submitted to when going about our hobby/passion/business... :suspect:






:p
 
Venomator said:
:p
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:p Indeed :D

It really does amaze me though that alot of people moan about the press and media promoting certain groups in certian ways and then instantly propagate those sterotypes themselves by posting them on the internet :cuckoo:

Someone who has never photographed in the street will read this thread, go out and behave differently, get treated differently and the whole thing goes round in a vicious cycle.
 
bbb said:
Someone who has never photographed in the street will read this thread, go out and behave differently, get treated differently and the whole thing goes round in a vicious cycle.
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Someone who will read this thread will know what to expect when taking the SLR out on the street and how to react to possible offensive behavior towards photographer. That someone will also learn about legal rights and how to counter that offensive behavior.

I honestly don't get your last 3 posts - what is that you are trying to say that I am (as well as any other togs here) not supposed to shoot anything on a street at all? Or am I supposed to submit to those self elected "law" enforcers and "turn the other cheek" for slapping? They need to be educated and if simple words are not enough (as numerous examples here seem to suggest) then direct references to the law, and possibly turning the table by filing a complaint against offensive behavior (or at least warning to do so) may have a better effect.
 
bbb said:
There's a lot of self righteousness on this thread, if some people give off the arrogance displayed here I'm not surprised that they get grief from the public.

Yes you may be legally allowed to take photos in some of these situations but you also have to respect peoples privacy and show consideration. Responding aggressively to a challenge will be met with nothing but aggression.

Be a diplomat for photography not a contributor to the bad stereotype.
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Most of the incidents on this thread began with photographers being challenged/confronted about what they were doing - all legal activities which don't seem to attract much attention anywhere else - by other people in a rude, arrogant and ignorant manner. Responding with a bit of attitude may not be the best way to deal with it, but it's perfectly normal behaviour in these circumstances. I would also suggest that your own post makes this point. People tend to respond according to how they are approached, and most of this would never happen if the initiator showed some manners and common sense.

I don't think any of us belong to the paparazzi, or get into peoples faces as a rule, so where is the "bad stereotype" coming from?
 
Two points I'm trying to get accross but not doing a good job.

1. If you go out of your house thinking the country is full of scum who hate photographers then that's exactly what you will find as you will be making assumptions.

2. The propaganda of paranonia. People are complaining about a paranoid society brought about by the media/goverment. This thread is exactly the same, making photographers paranoid and reinforcing the message that everyone out there hates them.
 
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