Was asked to quit shooting

[Neverlost99]

I went to a public area today were kids were being taught how to use the flying trapeze here in Florida. I took a couple of shots of the kids hitting the net but nothing provocative and they were actually from quite a distance but I was politely asked to leave. Sort of ticked me off since it was a public area but I did it anyway. Then I decided to drive to the rookery to look at the birds and there was a chain-link fence and the road was closed. Just not a good day for photography

 

[Lensmate]

I went to a public area today were kids were being taught how to use the flying trapeze here in Florida. I took a couple of shots of the kids hitting the net but nothing provocative and they were actually from quite a distance but I was politely asked to leave. Sort of ticked me off since it was a public area but I did it anyway. Then I decided to drive to the rookery to look at the birds and there was a chain-link fence and the road was closed. Just not a good day for photography

Good call to leave and not photograph children. Never worth the confrontation even if you were not doing anything suspicious.

-M

 

[Rambow]

They will call the police on you!

 

[Neverlost99]

Lesson learned. I was ticked at first then outnon

my parent hat and understood.

 

[Glass Jaw]

They had no business telling you to leave. Stop photographing their kids--maybe. But leave--hell no.

But in the interest of your wellbeing, you did the right thing, because with their disease of paranoia and intolerance, they can be a most dangerous breed of person.

In my area, I give the Karens and their kind a wide berth. Some of them think property rights belong only to them and their kind.

 

[alcelc]

In London, there are very often posted signboard on entrance of children playground, asking only adult with children been welcome.

To shoot children by a stranger without approval by their guadiance, specially they are wearing tight clothing, is a highly sensitive matter.

I personally shall avoid the sort of misunderstanding.

 

[pixelmaiker]

It's best to first be aware of the local laws and then use a bit of common sense in addition.

If in doubt, always ask whoever is in charge if possible. At special school events, birthday parties etc, I always ask our grandchildren's teacher if I can take photos. They always say yes but make it clear to include only our grandchild as much as possible without other kids.

It's similar at a picnic in the park. I will take photos/videos of the grandkids running around and on the rides and swings excluding other kids as much as possible.

I'm sure if I was obviously taking photos of multiple different kids it wouldn't be long before another parent comes up to me asking what the heck I was doing. I haven't had that happen yet I suppose because anyone watching me in a park would see I was photographing the same kid(s) and not kids at random.

 

[Graham Meale]

I have hundreds of photos of kids — indeed people aged from five to a hundred — from all over the world. I'd never photograph kids in "civilised" countries, and probably wouldn't want to. This lad's in Ethiopia ...







--
www.grahammeale.info

 

[sybersitizen]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

 

[TMG1961]

It depends on were you live. I live in the most southern part of The Netherlands and have never ever got any problems when shooting photos of people.

I think some countries people are a little too protective and maybe even a bit paranoid when it comes to certain things.

 

[Michael Fryd]

I went to a public area today were kids were being taught how to use the flying trapeze here in Florida. I took a couple of shots of the kids hitting the net but nothing provocative and they were actually from quite a distance but I was politely asked to leave. Sort of ticked me off since it was a public area but I did it anyway. Then I decided to drive to the rookery to look at the birds and there was a chain-link fence and the road was closed. Just not a good day for photography

A lot depends on what you mean by “public area”. Many areas that are open to the public are privately owned. Shopping malls and amusement parks typically are privately owned “public areas”.

In the USA, the owner of property has the right to restrict photography on the property. They don’t need a good reason to do so, they may restrict based on a whim. Those who violate the restriction can be asked to leave. A school teaching trapeze might want to restrict photography for a variety of reasons.

As others have speculated, they may want to restrict photography to make their customers feel more comfortable. Many people don’t want strangers taking photos of them or their kids.

The school may want to restrict photography in order to control their image. It may hurt sales if people are posting photos of students falling and/or looking awkward.

The school may have their own photographer, and they may wish to sell photos to their students. Parents are less likely to pay for expensive photos of their kids on a trapeze when they can take their own for free.

 

[LDJS Photography]

I went to a public area today were kids were being taught how to use the flying trapeze here in Florida. I took a couple of shots of the kids hitting the net but nothing provocative and they were actually from quite a distance but I was politely asked to leave. Sort of ticked me off since it was a public area but I did it anyway. Then I decided to drive to the rookery to look at the birds and there was a chain-link fence and the road was closed. Just not a good day for photography

I'm pretty much stopping street photography these days as I think people are more aware of what it is due to flickr and snapchat and instagram etc and are thus aware when they see a camera pointed at them in the streets that that's what you might be doing, even my vicar when I said I did 'urban photography' during a conversation got a sort of startled look and said 'oh what taking photos of people walking down the street?' in a nice but clearly 'I expected better from you' sort of voice

Recently the amount of times (and I am the quick, inconspicuous type, very discreet, been doing street for years) I've been asked 'did you take a photo of me' and 'why did you take a photo of me' or 'are you taking photos of people without their permission' by members of the public even in once carefree London and even security personnel who likely know its technically legal ask me to stop at public events because they believe I 'Have a professional camera' - my x-t2 with 23mm F2 - never mind everyone else is snapping away with a phone and me explaining it makes no difference if a photo is taken on an camera or a phone camera - it is still the same thing etc and there;s are for personal use and so are mine, the camera does not make me a professional lol.

End of the day people don't like it and I have to respect that so now I use a longer lens - 56mm F1.4 on APSC and go for more abstract type shots when I do street, it was fine for Saul Leiter so you know what? It's okay for me (takes bit of getting used to though as I see naturally through a 35mm lens)

For documentary I use 28-35mm and people generally are cool with having their photos taken as they are there of course usually at events and demos to publicise a cause and get noticed...

Hey ho

 

[pmgnut]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

I hear you! Granted there are a lot of creeps out there but if we protect our kids whenever they move a half inch, what will be the result later in life? { no lessons learned}. Back in the 70's we ran wild as kids{not in a bad way} and learned a ton of valuable everyday life lessons along the way. We walked to the bus stop which was not close by and waited for the bus in temps hoovering near zero. { and I lived to tell!!} Now the entire school systems have a 2 hour delay if its too cold. Seriously??

 

[Ed B]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

Must be something in the water because there didn't seem to be as many perverts, back then, as there are today.

I do think many parents overreact, though.

 

[pmgnut]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

Must be something in the water because there didn't seem to be as many perverts, back then, as there are today.

I do think many parents overreact, though.

Back then the only mindset was if you should see a van with tinted windows and a free candy sign, stay away. Aside from that we were good to go sunrise to sunset and we lived to tell.

As for photographing kids- ask permission, use common sense & good judgement in each situation.

 

[D Cox]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

I hear you! Granted there are a lot of creeps out there but if we protect our kids whenever they move a half inch, what will be the result later in life? { no lessons learned}. Back in the 70's we ran wild as kids{not in a bad way} and learned a ton of valuable everyday life lessons along the way. We walked to the bus stop which was not close by and waited for the bus in temps hoovering near zero. { and I lived to tell!!} Now the entire school systems have a 2 hour delay if its too cold. Seriously??

There is now a generation of teachers who were over-protected when they were children.

 

[upptick]

If you're in public and taking photos for your benefit alone, be prepared for people objecting to your presumption, particularly if you're photographing someone else's kids.

 

[BGD300V1]

Then I decided to drive to the rookery to look at the birds and there was a chain-link fence and the road was closed. Just not a good day for photography

You can still get to the rookery. You just have to go through the county building parking lot. (Unless it's changed again)

 

[BGD300V1]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

I hear you! Granted there are a lot of creeps out there but if we protect our kids whenever they move a half inch, what will be the result later in life? { no lessons learned}. Back in the 70's we ran wild as kids{not in a bad way} and learned a ton of valuable everyday life lessons along the way. We walked to the bus stop which was not close by and waited for the bus in temps hoovering near zero. { and I lived to tell!!} Now the entire school systems have a 2 hour delay if its too cold. Seriously??

There were fewer lawyers and every parent in the neighborhood would take care of anyone messing with a kid. For that matter, any kid messing with and adult. A few pranks were OK but if you pulled too many tricks you got called.

 

[JustUs7]

Prior to the 1970s, nobody thought twice about people taking random photos of kids. Parents didn't monitor and control every moment of their kids' lives then, either. Among my friends, our parents sometimes had no idea what we were even doing all day long. It was great! So much of life is almost unrecognizable just 50 years later.

Must be something in the water because there didn't seem to be as many perverts, back then, as there are today.

I do think many parents overreact, though.

Didn’t seem to be. But back then there wasn’t the internet for people to share their perversion or to read about a case of perversion on the other side of the country. There also was the tendency to sweep such things under the rug and blame the victim (Not Coach John, he’s a pillar of the community! Little Joey must be lying!). Then Joey has to switch schools and live with that while Coach keeps his position. Or maybe the parents don’t believe him either and he has to see coach every day.