 Matt Gerhart |
How often do people question what your doing How often due people stop and question what, who and why your taking photos? or even give dirty looks and stare at you? Just trying to make sure im not getting this much more than everyone else out there, becuase within the last month this has happend to me twice. and previously before. About a month ago I was taking pictures or a farm about to be torn down to make room for housing devolpments, while I was taking pictures, before I knew it, 4 guys on four wheelers rode up to me and gave me the dirtiest looks ever. than tonight I was taking the picture a resturant and the cook came out and started questioning me, on what exactly I was taking photos of. I wasnt even on his property, I was on the street. How do I proove to people that its strictly for art, and nothing shady? What do I say to people when they start questioning me? If im not on there property do I even need to tell them (becuase its not illegal.)
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Bob Cammarata |
In our society, it's common to assume that everyone else we encounter is up to no good. I once had a bunch of cops waiting for me at my car with their weapons drawn, after someone spotted "...a suspicious looking individual sneaking into the woods with a rifle." Passers-by will often stop and gauk or ask questions. This is normal.
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Sharon Day |
The way I handle that kind of thing is to just smile and tell them what I'm doing. So far it's worked ok, but I'm old and I look like someone's grandmother so that probably doesn't hurt either. AND I never carry my tripod into the woods in its case LOL.
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Jerry Frazier |
Just be courteous and nice and tell them not to worry. Offer to give them a pic. You can take down their info, and probably learn a little about what you are photographing, and make the story more interesting by possibly getting the chance to photograph the people of the place you are photographing. Offer to give them all pics. I always like people in my pics, even in environmental pics. But, for me, I love photographing people more than things.
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
Hi Matt, I usually get more more inquisitive remarks about what I am photographing (since its obvious with my camera bag & tripod) and I usually take the time to explain what kind of angle or lighting I am looking for. The only time I had anything negative happen was when I was shooting an empty carousel and kids showed up to ride it. I stopped taking photos but that didn't stop the mother calling security. I had already spoken to the security guard and he knew what I was doing but I put the camera away so that the mother would not be worried. If you are out shooting a picturesque barn and someone is suspicious, this would raise my suspicion about that person. Is it not obvious what I am photographing ? Is there a meth lab in the barn and is the suspicious person running the lab ? I hate to think along those lines but anything & everything should be considered because you may not really know what the situation is. Standing in the open with a camera on a tripod should put people at ease since it is so obvious - its the guy slouched down with a 600mm lens in a car that looks suspicious to me. My .02 - Carlton
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Jerry Frazier |
2 things to add: 1. Be respectful of people's privacy. If they don't want you taking a picture of their barn, don't start spewing 1st amendment rights. Just pack up and leave and forget it. It's just best and it's not all that important. You can find something else to shoot. 2. With digital really taking hold and more people finding a renewed interest in photography, other people on the other side of the camera may be getting annoyed. It just seems like there's more of it than ever, and it can get annoying when you're in the line of fire.
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Mark Feldstein |
People ALWAYS ask me what I'm doing, even when I don't have a camera in hand. But I find this is much more of a problem when *I* start to question MYSELF about what the hell I'M doing and even worse is when *I* start answering my own questions. Anyone experience that? It's kinda like having W.S. hanging out on my shoulder just below my left ear. M.
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- Carolyn M. Fletcher  Contact Carolyn M. Fletcher Carolyn M. Fletcher's Gallery |
I almost got arrested trying to photograph a train wreck. The cops were waiting when I came back to my car dripping with camera equipment. They told me to not do it any more! And don't try to shoot inside Wal Mart either..They think you're looking for a reason to sue them.
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
A little "W.S." on your shoulder ? Mark, try the blue one next time.. Carolyn, I haven't been in a Walmart for years but I would not take photos in any store unless asked to do so by the owners. I suspect the train-wreck was a liability issue that the police were concerned with but I would think as long as you kept your distance, they shouldn't mind - unless they were involved with a cover up due to faulty railing or other possible insurance liability. I shoot a lot of festivals and some of them even have a disclaimer when entering the venue that persons are agreeing to be videotaped/photographed by the production crew by entering the gates.
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