Explaining yourself

i say its a nice picture and that i like how ______ looks. it normally ends there with some laughs and smiles. there have been a few times where we both walk away pissed but thats part of the trade.
 
noimmunity said:
Over here, "confrontation" isn't verbal, it's physical.
Had a guy grab my camera and almost throw it in the Rhône.

Since coming to urban France, I have found people's attitudes MUCH different than in Asia. Notions of space and privacy are different, and people are generally much more aggressive, especially sexually. I'd say "confrontational" is just the normal modus operandi for urban areas here.

I live in a "hot" district downtown near historic Lyon, and people can get VERY upset about cameras. In my area, it almost invariably has to do with racial/ethnic/gender tension.
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Good reason for sticking with rural/small town/small city France...

But there are always loonies everywhere. I've only ever had trouble in France twice, in more than 10 years of living here and many, many visits before that: a Belgian woman in a caravan in Northern France (I wasn't even pointing the camera in her direction, and she was inside the caravan to my left...) and a Parisienne in Arles.

Cheers,

R.
 
Interesting thread.

What do I say? Well, if I I say something at all (and not just show a smile), I tell the people that I work at a project that I need for classes I teach. That often works and starts a nice communication. ;)
 
I tell 'em I'm going to be the first one to photograph First Contact when the spaceship from Altair 4 lands. Works every time. They leave me alone after that.:D

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
zauhar said:
Frank, I offer a business card and promise a JPEG if they mail me. I have had a few takers.

For me that represents a little work, as I need to scan and fix up the image in PS, but I think it builds good will.

Randy
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Works for me too.

And, I've read and practized Dave Lackey's trick about carrying your ID-card in a plastic, sleeve-like thingy on a lanyard so that people see you're not afraid to tell them who you are. Builds trust instantly. And I've even managed to find a lanyard with a lot of camera brand logo's on it, makes me even look a bit professional...;)
 
FrankS said:
Was hoping for something more eloquent, but not over the top, than: I'm just a hobby photographer taking pictures.
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"I'm an amateur artist who is creating images using photographic processes... now please stop bothering me and let me get on with my creation." Follow that with a slow swish of the left hand.
 
robert blu said:
I thought Arles to be one of "the place" of photography in europe...

robert
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Dear Robert,

One idiot in decades of visiting the Rencontres...

I think she thought I knew (or cared) who she was. She certainly acted like a (very) minor celebrity in demanding that I delete the picture. If she didn't know about the Recontres, and the fact that it's all but solid with photographers, she must have been pretty dim.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
I say, "I'm trying out a new camera" or "I've just bought this lens and I'm trying it out".

People are so conditioned to consumerism and possession that they normally accept it without hesitation. Also, 'trying it out' reassures them that you're taking pointless pictures just to see it it works: no awkward explanations about why you're shooting a particular subject.

Cheers,

R.
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Sounds like the clumsy Winogrand approach...:D Always worked fine too. I've done it while street shooting, recommended:)
 
Mostly people approaching me when Im out taking pictures are more interested in my camera and why Im still shooting analoque old cameras. If they ask why Im taking pictures of this or that I tell them I find it interesting and it might turn out some good pics.
Only twice have I been harassed. Once by a drunk who injured himself kicking my Manfrotto 058 and once by an idiot who oposed to me taking pictures near his property.
best regards
 
I tend to do most of my "street" in highly public places like downtown DC, Annapolis, and Baltimore. I haven't been hassled yet. But I have been asked by curious onlookers why I took a pic of whatever.

"I thought it was interesting."

Also, I tell people I'm an art photographer, and that seems to relax them a bit. THey know then I'm not working for the Post or the Mob :)
 
Roger Hicks said:
I say, "I'm trying out a new camera" or "I've just bought this lens and I'm trying it out".

People are so conditioned to consumerism and possession that they normally accept it without hesitation. Also, 'trying it out' reassures them that you're taking pointless pictures just to see it it works: no awkward explanations about why you're shooting a particular subject.

Cheers,

R.
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Nicely done, I see a lot of potential in this one and may employ it from time to time in future.

Now if I can just find a nice, gentle way to brush off those who are all set for a full on conversation when I am deep in a photo taking groove.. :)
 
unixrevolution said:
I tend to do most of my "street" in highly public places like downtown DC, Annapolis, and Baltimore. I haven't been hassled yet. But I have been asked by curious onlookers why I took a pic of whatever.

"I thought it was interesting."

Also, I tell people I'm an art photographer, and that seems to relax them a bit. THey know then I'm not working for the Post or the Mob :)
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This one I often find difficult.. most times I cannot easily express why I've taken a photo
 
Murchu said:
Nicely done, I see a lot of potential in this one and may employ it from time to time in future.

Now if I can just find a nice, gentle way to brush off those who are all set for a full on conversation when I am deep in a photo taking groove.. :)
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"Look, I'm terribly sorry, but I don't want to lose the light..."

Cheers,

R.
 
Eugene, Oregon is popular with runaways, with a reputation for permissive culture, tolerance, and casual drug use/availability. Also it has a fair number of older transients and street people. Some of these folks fear that their image might be turned over to authorities who can arrest them, revoke parole, send them back to bad foster homes, etc. Sometimes they cover their faces when they pass through my focus zone. Sometimes I suspect their consciences magnify how closely they may be seen, as though I can Telephotograph their guilt from fifty feet away with a Rolleiflex (they obviously don't get TLRs).

Only once or twice has this escalated when I've been shooting a street scene where figures are part of the context (but not the subjects), and I had to point out we were in a public space, not interested in him or her as an individual, did not have them in foreground focus). Only once or twice did I have to end with some variant on Grow Up or Eff Off. People seem to be more suspicious when I show up after they're settled, more open when I'm already in place. Even more open when I'm stationary with a tripod and a big camera. I suppose I look less like a stalker, so more approachable.

The simplest true explanation these days is "I'm an art photographer," and see what evolves from that plain statement. Mostly neutral--"Huh" "Okay" with an occasional "Cool."
 
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