Mean Streets

sara505

This would never have happened with my G-12, but my 5D with the 24-70+hood (scary!) elicits some strange reactions.

While walking down Beacon Street today I encountered a group of youths. I thought they were adorable, and managed to grab one quick shot:




Shortly before this happened:




And man, this chick was feisty. She told me I couldn't take pictures of the kids, I told her they were in a public place and that she was wrong. I started walking away and she followed me and actually put her hands on me, trying to get me to stop, at which point I told her not to touch me.
It also involved another woman coming after me. It was pretty intense.

Later, downtown, I had an interesting reaction from these gentleman (unprintable, and also a little scary).




Yeah, the G12 rarely makes people act this way.

Sandwiched between these two events was a stop-over at Fenway's opening day on my way down to Haymarket (some of which I may post later).

Anyway, just reporting in.

jpope42

Hah! Most of the guys on the bench must've been playing hooky from work.

lizzard_nyc

I understand!
Yes yes, I get it.
I love my 5D, love it, but rarely use it for street, the beast gets noticed quick!


I never got to the point of a confrontation though.

I live by a high school and always hesitate taking shots of the teens for a few reasons.

I also really like #1, I think it's really something, I like the myriad reactions. I can't wait to see what others say.

Joco

Definitely interesting, the response to the camera ánd the hand-shot. I disagree with those people that say interaction in 'street' photography is wrong. Sometimes this interaction triggers some interesting expressions otherwise not seen.

Richard

I get noticed sometimes, but only once did it turn into something of a confrontation. Ironically, I wasn't shooting the person in question, and he was a lot more upset than I was. I'll tell that story someday. The curious thing about this set is that I like the second and third shots more than the first. The second is especially good, I think. It conveys all the paranoia that people have about cameras. The third is fun despite the fact that shooting it turned out to be less than fun for you. The guy who is looking at the camera has a kind of bemused expression that negates the reaction of the others. Or is he just thinking of how much fun it would be to smash your camera? I don't doubt that smaller gear is an advantage on the street, but I think you can develop strategies that help you become comfortable with bigger equipment too.

sara505

Richard wrote: »

I get noticed sometimes, but only once did it turn into something of a confrontation. Ironically, I wasn't shooting the person in question, and he was a lot more upset than I was. I'll tell that story someday. The curious thing about this set is that I like the second and third shots more than the first. The second is especially good, I think. It conveys all the paranoia that people have about cameras. The third is fun despite the fact that shooting it turned out to be less than fun for you. The guy who is looking at the camera has a kind of bemused expression that negates the reaction of the others. Or is he just thinking of how much fun it would be to smash your camera? I don't doubt that smaller gear is an advantage on the street, but I think you can develop strategies that help you become comfortable with bigger equipment too.

Mildly bemused, or just plain bemused, Richard?

I can see what you're saying, and now, a couple of days later, I can get outside the experiences and see the images, and I agree with you.

I also agree that the larger cameras require a different technique and can be challenging in a fun way. Because I shoot all-manual, all the time, I spend a considerable amount of energy taking readings off of nearby, similarly-lit objects and pretend to be taking pictures of other things so that I can very quickly turn the camera onto the subject I'm really after.

My other trick, again, because I shoot manual, is to constantly assess the lighting as I'm walking along and try to keep my settings adjusted accordingly - just in case.

I was out again yesterday with the 5D, I'm probably not going to give it up anytime in the near future

rainbow

sara505 wrote: »

I also agree that the larger cameras require a different technique and can be challenging in a fun way. Because I shoot all-manual, all the time, I spend a considerable amount of energy taking readings off of nearby, similarly-lit objects and pretend to be taking pictures of other things so that I can very quickly turn the camera onto the subject I'm really after.

I shoot with a 5D and various big lenses, too. I was going to suggest what you are already doing -- staying in a spot and letting others see me with the camera and my presence with it. Then they seem to sort themselves out (like your third shot).

First two are interesting. First shows the myriad reactions of teens. Some pose for the cameras and others just stare with a blank look. But the second is classic. Everyone is looking at you to see your reaction to the interloper. I would not be surprised if half of them did not whip out their camera phones in the next seconds.

bdcolen

sara505 wrote: »

Anyway, just reporting in.

Hey, Sara - Wild times in the hood - I see that delightful young 'lady' went after you right around the corner from me. For what it's worth, if that kind of think happens again, I'd pull out my cell phone and dial 911 on speaker- and let the little twit hear you do it.

sara505

bdcolen wrote: »

Hey, Sara - Wild times in the hood - I see that delightful young 'lady' went after you right around the corner from me. For what it's worth, if that kind of think happens again, I'd pull out my cell phone and dial 911 on speaker- and let the little twit hear you do it.

Ha- I shoulda called my friend Freddy who was patrolling nearby on his bike. I've got him on speed dial

Patti

What a bunch. I'm glad she didn't get physical with you.

sara505

Patti wrote: »

What a bunch. I'm glad she didn't get physical with you.

Patti, she actually did get physical with me, as noted above. She grabbed me and quite forcefully tried to keep me from walking away. I told her - also very strongly - that she absolutely had to take her hands off of me.

bdcolen

sara505 wrote: »

Ha- I shoulda called my friend Freddy who was patrolling nearby on his bike. I've got him on speed dial

Absolutely call him if anything like that happens again. It's one thing for someone to say 'don't take a photo of me' and turn away or walk away, it's another thing for someone to get into your face and lay hands on you - the later is defined as "battery," as in "assault and battery."

sara505

bdcolen wrote: »

Absolutely call him if anything like that happens again. It's one thing for someone to say 'don't take a photo of me' and turn away or walk away, it's another thing for someone to get into your face and lay hands on you - the later is defined as "battery," as in "assault and battery."

Those were the words that came to my mind, as well. If she had not taken her hands off me - and yes, she knew she was out of bounds - that's what I would have done.

Patti

This is truly frightening Sara.

sara505

Patti wrote: »

This is truly frightening Sara.

Yup, as a good friend pointed out - "This isn't the Vineyard."

We live and we learn.

Patti

sara505 wrote: »

Yup, as a good friend pointed out - "This isn't the Vineyard."

We live and we learn.

It certainly is not.

DNF

My new approach is to try to passively become part of the scene, and then after some familiarity, I will take a few shots or say "Can I get a quick shot??" or just work into shooting.

I had a homeless guy go nuts and run down the street yelling "No! No! Noooo!" once.

sara505

DNF wrote: »

My new approach is to try to passively become part of the scene, and then after some familiarity, I will take a few shots or say "Can I get a quick shot??" or just work into shooting.

I had a homeless guy go nuts and run down the street yelling "No! No! Noooo!" once.

That's a good approach, to try to blend in. There are some photographers who do not interact with street photography subjects, and consider that once you've made contact, once the subject knows you are photographing him/her, that it is not true street photography (not mentioning any names that begin with the letters b and d), but I am not one of them. I think there's a time and a place for both and both are valid. My favorite line lately is, "You have a beautiful face."

One thing I do not like to do, however, is photograph obviously homeless people, as it feels like a violation of privacy to me, among other reasons. After all, while everybody else is out in "public," "public" is actually the homeless person's home, so it's as if I'm in that person's home. It also feels like taking advantage of a person's vulnerability.

Anyway, there have been countless discussions on photographing bums and homeless people, and everyone has a different take on this. That's mine. Since you mentioned it.

Thanks for commenting. I'm sure Richard will be around soon to say, "Welcome to D-Grin."

DNF

sara505 wrote: »

One thing I do not like to do, however, is photograph obviously homeless people, as it feels like a violation of privacy to me, among other reasons. After all, while everybody else is out in "public," "public" is actually the homeless person's home, so it's as if I'm in that person's home. It also feels like taking advantage of a person's vulnerability.

Anyway, there have been countless discussions on photographing bums and homeless people, and everyone has a different take on this. That's mine. Since you mentioned it.

I usually don't shoot homeless folks as a rule, but this guy had a really cool hat on.. and I don't have one shot of a homeless person on my computer.

sara505

DNF wrote: »

I usually don't shoot homeless folks as a rule, but this guy had a really cool hat on.. and I don't have one shot of a homeless person on my computer.

Yeah, some of the hats out there are irresistible

BayMare

Oh, the irony. As someone mentioned, within seconds the cellphones would have been out. Seems OK to film and post to the world scenes that depict others in compromsing positions, fights, etc., but it's not OK to use a camera that everyone can see.

Glad you were not hurt. It would be a shame if, in a 100 years, our only street shots of the present day were from cell phones.