I had a close call today in East Toledo. I was taking a picture of streetscapes in the East Side when someone working outside on a bike on the sidewalk got very pissed off. I took a wide angle shot from across the street and the man was not really identifiable in the photo (body small in frame, and head turned). Normally, I'd think nothing of this and just move on. This was different though. I could tell this guy was pissed, and likely to follow me if I ignored him. He also was ripped as hell and bigger than me. I was unarmed too. He demanded I erase the photo and show him. I actually complied since I wanted to avoid a fight. He then went on about how he doesn't want anyone taking pictures of him and that I "shouldn't be taking pictures". I tried to explain that he wasn't the subject of the photograph and he was not identifiable in the frame. That went over his head. I could tell there simply was no point in even bothering to argue about first amendment rights with this dude. It would almost have certainly ended in a violent confrontation. His tone of voice was very angry and aggressive. I just walked off, and luckily that was the end of it. I could tell I just got out of a potentially very bad situation. My instincts told me I had no good choice but to erase the photo (it was great too). It was either that, or fight. I just figured it wasn't worth it. I was out of my hood, outsized, and not in the mood for a broken camera or hospital bill.

 

This isn't the first time I've experienced something like this, but it is the first time I've experienced it in Toledo and from a sober person. In Athens, sometimes kids would get pissed and I once had to knock someone with a monopod for trying to grab my camera, but it's drunk Athens, so that's sort of expected. I've also had to shove people away in self-defense, things like that, etc.

 

There more I've been reading online, it seems assaults on street photographers are becoming more common. I just had a very close call. Does anyone else have some experiences they'd like to share? This got me thinking too. How much sh!t did Henri Cartier-Bresson take?

Nope.  Never even had bad words or an ugly frown.  People typically act like I'm not even taking a photo (which is great because the subjects appear natural).  Otherwise feedback has always been positive, or they wanted their picture taken and emailed to them.  This is all environments, even the worst ones.

No one has ever threatened me or anything but people make comments, especially in neighborhood where people typically don't take pictures. A woman came out of her house and screamed at me asking me why I was taking pictures (In College Hill). I took pictures in Over-the-rhine of a vacant building and this black guy said to his friend as he walked past us "that's how you know the city is changing". Just random comments. Most people don't take pictures for the hell of it so its hard for some people to understand. Most likely the guy who had beef with you is slanging rocks or is paranoid about getting caught for something he did. Just say you're a student or pro photographer and show him while you erase the photo. It's funny, sometimes its the oposite, you get people who want you to take their picture even though they won't ever get a copy of it.

I've had a few run-ins, but mostly with out-of-line cops or security guards. At the 57th Street Metra Station in Chicago I was taking photos down the platform of trains and boarding and detraining passengers, just general scenes and mostly from a distance, when two women confronted me about not wanting to be in photos. They didn't ask to see the pics or ask me to delete them, and when I looked at the pics in Photoshop later, they were far enough away as to be unnoticeable. They weren't all that much, anyway.

 

Just a couple of weeks ago I was yelled at from close range, less than six feet, and threatened with arrest and confiscation by a cop while I was taking photos of a motorcycle wreck across the street from my house. Everything and everyone involved was in the public right-of-way, as was I. I was well out of the way, not interfering with police or EMTs and not endangering myself.

 

After inquiring of an attorney I know, I'm sure the cop was completely out of line. I decided to just drop it, because this is a small enough city that it's easy to become known and recognized on the street, and nothing good ever comes of an adversarial relationship between a civilian and a cop. Yes, I'm intimidated.

I am asked all the time about what I am doing/where I am from, but no one has ever complained.

 

I have been kicked out of a couple libraries and government buildings though; and then of course there was that incident at the Crawford County Courthouse...

 

 

Most people don't take pictures for the hell of it so its hard for some people to understand.

 

...esp of generic stuff. People expect snapshots of landmarks, but not everday things.

 

 

 

Most people don't take pictures for the hell of it so its hard for some people to understand.

 

...esp of generic stuff. People expect snapshots of landmarks, but not everday things.

 

Mostly they expect snapshots of the wife and kids posing in front of landmarks, taken from so far away that the photo will be explained later as, "You can't really tell from this picture, but that's supposed to be ... >

C-Dawg:  next time you're confronted by that angry man... present him with this document:

 

http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

Since we’re now all soaked in tabloid culture, no doubt those camera-shy subjects are having delusions of grandeur thinking they’re Lindsay Lohan valiantly fending off the paparazzi. Next time reassure them they won’t be on tonight’s episode of TMZ; and furthermore, to “get over yourself!” (then again, you might get killed in the process)

 

    I had an incident in Northside where some locals gathered close around me and demanded to know why I was taking photos. I got out of there. From their tone I inferred that they were either afraid of being evicted or that their neighborhood would be torn down for development. Of course, I was just taking pictures of architecture.

 

    I have also been questioned by police or security but haven't had a problem yet.

Almost got jumped on Chester Ave in Cleveland taking pictures about four years ago... late afternoon, group of "gentlemen" across the street east of the greyhound station, I noticed they noticed me and began to create space, one guy kept following me as one walked around the block and the other was across the street.  I figured I was being set up for a quick beat down and jump so I just threw my camera in my backpack and just sprinted towards reserve square/union club area of DT Cleveland.... probably looked like a pussie but I was a 16 year old white boy from shaker heights taking pictures and looked like an easy target.  Lucky for me I have a bunch of friends on Kinsman and Buckeye so Im not oblivous to this kinda activity, bounce bounce bounce.

C-Dawg: next time you're confronted by that angry man... present him with this document:

 

http://www.krages.com/ThePhotographersRight.pdf

 

Evergrey I agree with you but certain people dont give a sh^t about that, C-dawg was correct in just getting out with his limbs in tact.  There are some wack people out there, last thing your trying to do is trigger that "wackness" to come out.

The only time I've almost been assulted by someone was when a gun was pulled out to just show me I "shouldn't have been takin' photos of this hood."  I literally did one of those "Exit, stage left!" takes.  It was in Pendleton, Cincinnati.

You probably can't even get a pizza delivered to Pendleton.

I just want to say, it's not the hood areas that scare me (people are generally friendly, some may ask "why you takin' pictures" but you move on, blah blah).  It's the rich areas that I find the most trouble due to security guards, police, and watchful neighbors.

Problems in Lower Manhattan?! Was it right after 9/11?

They spotted a Lebanese! (C-Dawg Osama Njaim)

I was exploring the grounds of the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary when these four guys on bellowing Harleys disrupted the tranquility of the setting. One of them turned around and caught me with the camera pointed at them. I thought I was going to have a problem, but after a brief hesitation they moved on.

If you are taking pictures of City Hall in NY, you aren't permitted to stick your camera through the fence, although you may photograph it behind the fence.

 

The photographers right is good document, but it is pretty general.  There's actually a book out that tells EXACTLY what you may and may not photograph.  For example, photographing the homeless in a particular way and then posting it on the internet could get you into legal troubles, not that the person would ever actually find where you posted it, let alone access the internet.

 

People shouldn't be offended when people ask what you are doing, that includes security guards.  As you have the right to photograph almost whatever you want on public ground, people have the right to question it. 

 

In downtowns, most of your queries will be from security personnel.  It's rare they will ask you to delete the photo, but more likely they will want to know what's it's for.  Tell them you are into architecture.  Sometimes informing them can lead to better things.  I once got a full tour including roof access of a downtown Detroit building, just because I was polite to a security guard when he asked "What's that for?"

 

In good neighborhoods, people will rarely ask.  Suburbs and city.  Typically the best areas have well maintained lawns and larger houses.  If you are walking about, people will expect your reasons for photography are because you find their property attractive.  Moving 15 mph in a car and shooting out the window may raise some fear.  It may appear as though you are planning a future break in.

 

Let me make this clear.  YOU SHOULD NEVER PHOTOGRAPH EXCLUSIVELY FROM A CAR.  If you feel unsafe photographing a neighborhood and want to drive around doing this, then don't even bother to photograph the neighborhood.

 

In bad neighborhoods, it is highly like you will get asked.  Part of it depends on how you carry yourself I suppose.  Some people will never be asked, some will.  I don't usually get asked because my photography in bad neighborhoods is typically limited to vacant housing or larger apartment buildings.  I rarely photograph single family homes, which is where you are likely to get the most questions.  Why do they ask?  It's rare they see photography in their neighborhood.  If they do and you appear to be and outsider, they may think something is about to change, that could affect them.  Any planners here may have experience photographing vacant property in neighborhoods for redevelopment projects.  These people want to know.

 

Never ignore anyone if they ask.  I once heard someone say that if you are spoken to in a bad neighborhood don't respond.  Let me say that is horrible advice.  This is THEIR neighborhood.  Yes, in a sense they have quasi-ownership of everything, and YOU are the visitor.  What may appear to be a threat to you, you are actually a threat to them.  Tell them what you are doing, and they will likely continue on, or be pleasantly surprised.

 

I think everyone here on UO knows what to do, but I've seen the asshole photographer mentality on other forums.  You have your right, but be polite when people ask you.  I rarely ever think about what it's like on the other side of the lens, but recently I stepped out of my building late one night and found someone randomly shooting a long exposure of the front door of my apartment building.  I was completely caught off guard, and actually weirded out by it.  But then I thought about how much I photograph, and the odd times and that person could have easily been myself.