I keep getting reminded that I need to print, and keep copies of The Photographer’s Right in my camera bag; so I can give them to ignorant buffoons who seem to think taking pictures in public is a crime.
So, just before Halloween Sandi and I took our boys to a local pumpkin patch where they had a pumpkin cannon. While Sandi and I waited for our boy’s turn at the Pumpkin Popper I started to take a bunch of pictures of the cannon, in an attempt to try to get the timing right to catch a pumpkin leaving the barrel.
The picture above was the first one I took, just a quick shot to check settings, and even though it goes against my SOP I thought the little boy trying to get his pumpkin in the cannon was cute. It isn’t a very good picture, at least not of the boy in particular, his face is blown out and it’s a wide shot… it’s the only picture I took of any kid besides our boys.
As a rule I avoid taking pictures of kids I don’t know unless asked to. I understand having a stranger taking pictures of one’s children can make one uncomfortable.
We had to wait about 15-20 minutes before our boys were up, and while we waited I continued to take pictures of the pumpkin popper in action. Kids (and adults) would go up, load their pumpkin, and walk back to launch it. When I was taking pictures there was no one, kid or adult, near the Pumpkin Popper.
To anyone not stifled by utter stupidity it was clear that I was taking pictures of the cannon and nothing else.
As we were waiting for another pumpkin to be loaded I called out to Jay, our son, who was waiting in line to launch his pumpkin and snapped this pic:
The other two kids visible in the picture are Zane and Gavin, who along with Jay make up the lot of our kids. What’s important here is that I called out to a child by name, several times, and so did Sandi (kids and their selective hearing) who was standing next to me. Clearly, I knew at least one of the kids present, and clearly the women standing next to me (Sandi) knew the same kid and even helped me get his attention for a picture.
Camera Owner = Criminal
About 5 minutes after taking that picture of Jay, I was back to trying to get my timing right to capture a pumpkin leaving the barrel of the cannon, when a lady walked up to me and asked: “What are you taking pictures of?!”
It wasn’t her question that jostled me, it was her inflection, her tone and mannerisms. She was up in my face, staring me down (well staring me up… as she was shorter than me), clearly something was wrong. I was worried that I missed a sign somewhere stating that photography of the Pumpkin Popper was prohibited. I certainly didn’t want to get into a confrontation, or get us kicked out, at least not before our boys got the chance to launch their pumpkins.
I stammered out something like “I’m just taking pictures of the cannon…” Unless I’m prepared for it, or have time to warm-up, I just don’t do well when suddenly confronted like that. Thankfully, Sandi, who does much better in public than me, was near enough to hear what was going on and came over.
The lady started in on how she wanted to make sure I wasn’t taking pictures of any kids because they had some “creepy” guy in her neighborhood last Halloween taking pictures of kids. She explained that her and her neighbors “had to call the police on him.” She went on about how she was “on high alert” this time of year.
Despite the fact that, at this point, this lady had it coming to her, Sandi was very nice and explained to her that I was not a creep; that she was my wife, I was taking pictures of the cannon, and our kids were waiting in line.
She muttered an “I’m sorry” and happily walked away, apparently feeling pretty good about herself. I guess it was no big deal to her that she walked up to a complete stranger, and accused him of being the worst kind of criminal, based solely off the fact that he had a camera.
Not The First Time
This has happened to me before – at a soccer game where a man douche bag thought I was taking his picture and didn’t like it. I was actually taking a picture of Sandi and I told him that. I also explained to him that, as were in a public place, I could take his picture if I wanted to (I was feeling a bit more snarky that day).
It’s absolutely ridiculous. I have every right to take pictures at a pumpkin patch, soccer filed, or any public place without having someone get in my face and accuse me of being a criminal.
Despite the assumption of idiots like the lady from the pumpkin patch, if your in a public place (including private property open to the public) where you do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, anyone who wants to can take your picture, your kids picture, and even your dog’s picture.
I generally try to avoid being a jerk, and don’t like confrontation, and I don’t set out to make people uncomfortable. So, it’s my general rule not to take pictures of people (especially kids) unless I get an ok, they ask me, or the situation warrants it. I think it’s a good rule to go by. But while I’m making it a point to not make people uncomfortable, this dipwad decided it was ok to accuse me of being a criminal simply because I have a camera. Ridiculous.
So, it’s time to print off copies of The Photographer’s Right and put them in my camera bag so if something like this happens again, I can simply pull out a copy and give it to them. While I’m at it I’ll probably print off some I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist Bust Cards.
Oh, and I did finally get the picture I wanted:
