What do you think you're doing?

Nick T

Nick T

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Yep - it finally happened to me.

So, I recently bought a Canon 500D to replace my Olympus E420. Unfortunately, since buying it I've been in a bit of a photographic rut. I've barely taken any photos and I'm completely lost for inspiration - today I thought I'd venture outside my front door and try out 'panning' for the first time on the road through the village where I live.

About 6 or 7 shots in, a car with a couple of youths pulls up slowly next to me, the window wound down...

Car: "Excuse me mate"
Me: "Yep?"
C: "Why are you taking photos of people?"
M: "Because I want to."
C: "You're not allowed to just take photos of people without their permission"
M: "Actually, I think you'll find I am"
C: "But you're not allowed to do that."
M: "I am"
C: "Well, I don't want you taking any more photos of me"
M: "Not a problem"

And then he disappeared off. Yes, I could have probably been a little less short with my replies, but he sounded slightly agressive and the git shook me up - first time I've been confronted, didn't particularly like it and has put me off going back out (I don't have that much in the way of confidence to begin with!)
All I wanted to do was go out and try and get some experience doing something I'd never done before :(

Anyway, here's to you 'mate' :razz:

2iggf13.jpg


Wasn't even a good photo :cuckoo:
 
Sounds like you were sufficiently blunt to me. If you'd have given a more in-depth reply he'd most likely have loved it and got a bit more 'angry'.
He probably went off grumbling saying "grr should've 'it that guy whodahell duz 'e fink 'e iz?"

Don't worry mate after your first few 'encounters' you just reel it off automatically :p
 
Nick T said:
Yes, I could have probably been a little less short with my replies
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Not at all. Sounds polite enough to me! You don't have to explain or justify your actions to anyone, what business is it of his?

He said he didnt want any photos taking of him, you agreed, job done. He has no right to insist you aren't allowed to take photos of anyone.....
 
well at least he was polite....ish, you could of pointed out that he is filmed/photographed possibly twenty times a-day without his knowledge.
If he was on his own he would of probably driven straight on by.
Don't let this put you off your photography, go and capture a train or something.
 
foodpoison said:
Don't worry mate after your first few 'encounters' you just reel it off automatically :p
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:) I'm sure you do - and to be brutally honest I think he was playing the 'big man' because he had a female in the car with him. Oh well, at least that's my 'encounter' virginity gone! :lol:

retired said:
well at least he was polite....ish, you could of pointed out that he is filmed/photographed possibly twenty times a-day without his knowledge.
If he was on his own he would of probably driven straight on by.
Don't let this put you off your photography, go and capture a train or something.
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Very very valid :)

Trains - not a bad idea, may well just do that.
I normally like landscapey type photography, just fancied doing something different for a change! I'd love to go out and do some 50mm street stuff - guess I'd have to get a bit of a thicker skin before I do that then! :lol:
 
Marcel said:
Not at all. Sounds polite enough to me! You don't have to explain or justify your actions to anyone, what business is it of his?

He said he didnt want any photos taking of him, you agreed, job done. He has no right to insist you aren't allowed to take photos of anyone.....
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I know - but I just felt I should be quoting the photographers rights to him! Don't know why :cuckoo:
 
I think he was up to no good and was nervous that you had him at the scene, probably banging someone else's wife no doubt. That's why he drove away in such a hurry... What is it they say about assumption, oh yeah it's the mother of all ****** up's...
 
Marcel said:
Not at all. Sounds polite enough to me! You don't have to explain or justify your actions to anyone, what business is it of his?

He said he didnt want any photos taking of him, you agreed, job done. He has no right to insist you aren't allowed to take photos of anyone.....
Click to expand...

Totally agree.

If that's the way it went then good for you, he knew straight off that you knew your rights and he was guessing, the fact that you agreed to not take photos of him was a good thing, stopped him in his tracks.

Other situations require a certain amount of diplomacy, some a level of self defense :D

Know your rights off by heart and express your freedom to execute them, after all, a lot of Granddads died for your rights your entitled to today.

Don't put a piece of paper in your bag, put it in your head.

:thumbs:
 
He'd probably nicked the car he was driving...**** him and the car he drove...lol
 
a tug of war needs a minimum of two
one per side
drop the rope and the contest is over...and you win
 
PerfectSpeed said:
If that's the way it went then good for you, he knew straight off that you knew your rights and he was guessing, the fact that you agreed to not take photos of him was a good thing, stopped him in his tracks.

Other situations require a certain amount of diplomacy, some a level of self defense :D

Know your rights off by heart and express your freedom to execute them, after all, a lot of Granddads died for your rights your entitled to today.

Don't put a piece of paper in your bag, put it in your head.

:thumbs:
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:thumbs:

Yep, that's exactly how it went - it's funny, because I'd never dream of driving up to someone and questioning what they were up to - I don't know why some people have to be confrontational :shrug:... live and let live!

Just a shame I'm 'normal' looking, 6ft and 16.5 stone of pure weedy blubber - maybe if I'd been a big beefy skinhead he may have not wanted to chance it!

Arkady said:
He'd probably nicked the car he was driving...**** him and the car he drove...lol
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Knowing this area you're probably not wrong there!
:lol:
 
Had a similar thing in Paris earlier this year. I was taking panning shots of cars when this old bloke pulled up and asked me what I was doing. I explained and he was totally fine with it. He even had a quick chat with me about Paris. :thumbs: Turns out the cops sometime go plain clothes and take pics of people registrations and do speed traps that way. He thought I might be a cop despite me having my Lowepro bag on. :lol:
 
I use our local bypass to practice my panning and always get strange looks , don't let them bother you and get out and enjoy it

looking at your EXIF on the photo you posted , your shutter speed is far too slow , its worth using a faster speed and reducing it as your panning skills improve
 
mrgas said:
I use our local bypass to practice my panning and always get strange looks , don't let them bother you and get out and enjoy it

looking at your EXIF on the photo you posted , your shutter speed is far too slow , its worth using a faster speed and reducing it as your panning skills improve
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I tried it a while back with the70-200 on the D300 whilst wearing my flourescent jacket, but the cars didn't seem to be going all that fast....:shrug:
 
Hmm. We read more and more about this sort of thing, and I take your point, but how much of this is because of the government's success in promoting fear and paranoia, to "justify" their increasingly intrusive surveillance/control measures, and encouraging people to snoop on each other? After all, there's a terrorist or a paedophile lurking round every corner, and you never know about the neighbours.........better check their dustbin when they're not looking.

One thing does trouble me, a bit, though. Many of us complain about the increasingly hostile attitude towards photographers, by the police and the public. Fair enough, and a lot of it has no legal basis, but a recent poll on these forums indicated that a lot of us don't like being photographed either. This was about "posed" shots, but if we don't like being photographed, when we are asked by people we know, why do we get uptight about other people objecting to being photographed by strangers when they're not asked?
 
Martyn, I have to agree with your views on the "fear and paranoia" thing, because it has been creeping stealthily into everyday life over the past eight years. What is also evident, is the misuse of the law by the police on occasion, a good example being when Walter Wolfgang was arrested at the Labour party conference, and held under the Terrorism Act, after heckling Jack Straw. There has also been an ever increasing focus by the media on child abuse (some of it quite justified), and possible terrorist plots. The whole picture being painted by the government and media, is of a society where we have to be vigilant all of the time, just in case something terrible happens. The knock on effect of this, is that we are all told to look out for people acting suspiciously, as if this is something which is easily defined.
As to whether or not, we should photograph other people, their vehicles, or property without their consent, well this is very complicated. I do not like my picture taken, and I would be suspicious of someone photographing my car, house or myself without asking me. I would always ask someone if I wanted to take a portrait shot of them.
 
I went out to a bridge over a motorway near to where I live a few months ago, to catch some night time long exposures. There's a shopping centre near there but an even closure supermarket pretty much right below the bridge with a car park, and there were people going in and out of the store. I couldn't see anyone doing anything wrong. But I was approached by a woman who must have been with the lads down there and she asked me what I was doing, she said something like 'my friends were worried you were taking pictures of them' or something. Thankfully she seemed quite friendly but i'm guessing the guys were up to no good. The shots weren't working anyway so I left soon after.
 
PerfectSpeed said:
I tried it a while back with the70-200 on the D300 whilst wearing my flourescent jacket, but the cars didn't seem to be going all that fast....
Click to expand...

Funny you should say that, I was teaching two junior togs the art of panning and then noticed that all the cars were sticking nicely to the speed limit (on a road they normally scream past on) it was only then I spotted a police car parked behind mine and that I was wearing black trousers a white shirt and black body warmer.... wonder if that was the reason??;)
 
mrgas said:
I use our local bypass to practice my panning and always get strange looks , don't let them bother you and get out and enjoy it

looking at your EXIF on the photo you posted , your shutter speed is far too slow , its worth using a faster speed and reducing it as your panning skills improve
Click to expand...

:thumbs:

Will go to the local bypass this eve and increase the shutter speed :)
May leave the flourescent jacket at home though - or maybe not :D
 
Well, didn't go out last night, but went out this evening instead. Left the dayglo at home, although with the amount of photos I got of people staring straight at me I think I'll make myself less conspicuous next time by taking it with me!

Still, felt apprehensive going out, just in case anyone took offence, hit the brakes and then came over to 'have a word'. Nobody did - which was nice. Got a few OK photos, but I think the best of the bunch was the last one I took...

3901479306_31713c18f6_o.jpg


:lol: :lol: :notworthy:
 
haha, thats a good one.. I like that!
At least she kept her eye on the road
 
Nick T said:
Well, didn't go out last night, but went out this evening instead. Left the dayglo at home, although with the amount of photos I got of people staring straight at me I think I'll make myself less conspicuous next time by taking it with me!

Still, felt apprehensive going out, just in case anyone took offence, hit the brakes and then came over to 'have a word'. Nobody did - which was nice. Got a few OK photos, but I think the best of the bunch was the last one I took...

3901479306_31713c18f6_o.jpg


:lol: :lol: :notworthy:
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Asolutely brilliant! Just choked on my coffee!
 
Why do peeps care enough to do that....:thinking:
I wouldn't mind, being the shooter, it makes for an interesting picture.

I mean, I'd do it myself as a joke and probably wouldn't be able to prevent cracking a smile whilst doing it.

I don't think I could summon up enough care, to do it out of anger...

Are peeps just paranoid, or up to no good........has nobody on Earth got bladdy car tax or something.....:shrug:
 
you sure shes not indicating you need to lower your shutter speed by 2 stops?

:)
 
Nick T said:
Well, didn't go out last night, but went out this evening instead. Left the dayglo at home, although with the amount of photos I got of people staring straight at me I think I'll make myself less conspicuous next time by taking it with me!

Still, felt apprehensive going out, just in case anyone took offence, hit the brakes and then came over to 'have a word'. Nobody did - which was nice. Got a few OK photos, but I think the best of the bunch was the last one I took...

3901479306_31713c18f6_o.jpg


:lol: :lol: :notworthy:
Click to expand...

Does she know she's dropped her cigarette .... :D
 
Nick T said:
Well, didn't go out last night, but went out this evening instead. Left the dayglo at home, although with the amount of photos I got of people staring straight at me I think I'll make myself less conspicuous next time by taking it with me!

Still, felt apprehensive going out, just in case anyone took offence, hit the brakes and then came over to 'have a word'. Nobody did - which was nice. Got a few OK photos, but I think the best of the bunch was the last one I took...

3901479306_31713c18f6_o.jpg


:lol: :lol: :notworthy:
Click to expand...

O'dear another ruined keyboard.... and its my favourite wireless mac one.

Nice capture... now where did i leave that cloth before this coke eats through my keyboard ?.
 
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