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03/20/2005 07:18:09 PM · #1 |
While this has been discussed before, I don't remember anyone here actually saying they had been personally hassled. Mostly, we get the media stories where something either goes really bad, or where common sense takes a vacation.
Anyways, this did happen to me during my visit to the UK a couple weeks ago. Even though it was cold, it didn't rain, and I made the most of getting about the city, shooting like mad. While passing through Trafalgar Square, I saw these kids playing around, having a ball. The way they were lined up on the benches, I was half considering a shot for the lines challenge when I turned my camera towards them...
That's when things got interesting (see image notes for details)
I have two children of my own who have been nearly photographed to death, and honestly, as long as i'm present and they are wearing clothes, I really don't care if someone else takes their picture. I can't remember imagineer's exact words when i described this to him, but it was something to the effect that 'if someone is going to get their jollies from a group of fully dressed school kids in winter coats, that is a problem that is not going to be solved.'
I guess, as a photographer, it still comes down to exhibiting a bit of common sense, but also, avoiding areas and situations where common sense is known to be lacking... |
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03/20/2005 07:29:24 PM · #2 |
| I've found that once you get more than a couple people together common sense goes out the window almost at once. Sorry you got hassled. |
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03/20/2005 07:34:17 PM · #3 |
| Common sense is one of the rarest commodities around. That woman's paranoia is probably more harmful to the children than you could ever be. |
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03/20/2005 07:41:42 PM · #4 |
in situations like this, i take the risky hip shot rather than bring the camera to my eye and bring attention to myself.
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03/20/2005 07:47:48 PM · #5 |
well, just to play devil's advocate... I am usually all for COMPLETE freedom to photograph just about anything. Children can be touchy and this is why: I am a videographer for a documentary unit, and before that I did news. I quickly learned why we have to be careful about photographing children. I was working in a high crime area doing a shoot about a school there, and a mother came and freaked out about her child's face being on television. I explained that I don't ever show children's faces. She went on to tell me that her ex-husband had just been released from jail and was looking for her and her children. She had been hiding from him for 3 months, and showing the faces of those children could have put them in grave danger. You never know what is going on in people's lives. Just find another subject. But if it is the usual gastapo trying to stop you from photographing a common building, then stand up for your rights.
just my 2 cents
drake |
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03/20/2005 10:04:56 PM · #6 |
I would have had her charged with assault.
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03/20/2005 10:28:31 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by fstopopen:
well, just to play devil's advocate... I am usually all for COMPLETE freedom to photograph just about anything. Children can be touchy and this is why: I am a videographer for a documentary unit, and before that I did news. I quickly learned why we have to be careful about photographing children. I was working in a high crime area doing a shoot about a school there, and a mother came and freaked out about her child's face being on television. I explained that I don't ever show children's faces. She went on to tell me that her ex-husband had just been released from jail and was looking for her and her children. She had been hiding from him for 3 months, and showing the faces of those children could have put them in grave danger. You never know what is going on in people's lives. Just find another subject. But if it is the usual gastapo trying to stop you from photographing a common building, then stand up for your rights.
just my 2 cents
drake |
In the situation you describe I think the cameraman should have asked the woman you remove her children from the scene he was trying to shoot, for their own protection. And also honored her wish if she had asked him not to use any shots he had taken showing her children.
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03/21/2005 07:19:45 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by coolhar:
In the situation you describe I think the cameraman should have asked the woman you remove her children from the scene he was trying to shoot, for their own protection. And also honored her wish if she had asked him not to use any shots he had taken showing her children. |
now this would have been an interesting approach ;-) but, as it was, it was just as easy to walk away, thankful that she hadn't made contact with my camera... |
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03/21/2005 08:05:12 AM · #9 |
Skiprow - sorry to hear you got hassled over here, it certainly is paranoia on the womens part, unfortunatley our society like many is heavily influenced by the scare mongering of the press, in which the incidents and regularity are often exagerated.
Glad your camera and gear didn't get damaged |
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03/21/2005 08:14:06 AM · #10 |
Next time, take the picture of the lady and post it with a caption: "Beware - Can't mind her own bees wax" or " Caution - pathological camera swatter".
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03/21/2005 09:09:05 AM · #11 |
I'm surprised you weren't arrested there and then for displaying your collection of blurry bus photos in public!
Sorry to hear you got hassled Skip, but parents really are ridiculously paranoid over here - to the point where if ONE parent objects, ALL parents can be stopped from photographing a school play.
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