Street Hassle

[neil poulsen]

When photographing in a public area, I go about my business and don't pay much attention, other than to the scene.

Occasionally, someone will approach and begin a conversation. I think the best role to play is that of an ambassador, so I try to be informative about the project and process. LF is interesting, so one can usually engage people on that level. Who knows, it might make a difference for the next photographer the person encounters.

Probably the greatest annoyance is being set up and taking a photograph, when someone pulls up in their SUV and parks in front of the camera. Depending on the circumstances, I may ask them to please park in a different location while I finish. More often though, people will be very considerate in their attempts to avoid disturbing a photograph that's in progress.

[aluncrockford]

When photographing in a public area, I go about my business and don't pay much attention, other than to the scene.

Occasionally, someone will approach and begin a conversation. I think the best role to play is that of an ambassador, so I try to be informative about the project and process. LF is interesting, so one can usually engage people on that level. Who knows, it might make a difference for the next photographer the person encounters.

Probably the greatest annoyance is being set up and taking a photograph, when someone pulls up in their SUV and parks in front of the camera. Depending on the circumstances, I may ask them to please park in a different location while I finish. More often though, people will be very considerate in their attempts to avoid disturbing a photograph that's in progress.

I completely agree , being polite and taking time to show people what you are doing is part of the world of large format photography, and you might well find that the this approach reduces any tension and you never know the observer might turn into your subject.
As for taking a golf club on a shoot, that suggests a mindset that is not entirely at one with the world of photography.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I am chronically shy. It is usually terribly difficult to speak to strangers.
However through associations with stage actors I found that many of
then have the same issue: stage fright. Yes.

After I had a heart attack I found a stunning side effect of one of
the meds I was prescribed to lower blood pressure: Propranolol.
An off-label use of it demolishes stage-fright and also makes
everyday interaction benign.

Just my two-bits.
.

[ValoPeikko]

Only issues I've had have been with security guards who step out side their boundaries (trying to forbid photography in places where it can't be by law forbidden) or with police when taking pictures during demonstrations and/or when they try to brake apart demonstrations. In both of those cases I'm with in my right doing what I'm doing. But I'm not going to get thrown in custody for a night only because a single picture. Unless that picture is worth it (picturing unnecessary use of force for example), then I'll take the pictures no matter the cost. First case happens at times with LF gear, second never since I wouldn't try to set up a 4x5 or larger in places like that

General public has never been an issue. They've always been supportive or humored, but never caused problems.

[lharby]

As for taking a golf club on a shoot, that suggests a mindset that is not entirely at one with the world of photography.

I don't disagree, however this was many years ago with friends and we were shooting in underpasses, subways, etc in a very seedy part of town, even then perhaps it was a mistake to take it.

I think if I was stood out in pure nature it would not be at all necessary, unless I was actually playing golf.

[Andrew O'Neill]

When I was in DV a few years ago up on a dune catching the last of the sun's ray, a Chinese lady with a massive dslr, started taking photos of me and my 8x10. She clicked away, all round my camera, even in front while I was composing... and even when I was about to take the shot. I had enough! I asked her very bluntly, "did you come here to photograph dunes or me?" She stopped.

[Jac@stafford.net]

"Hey, Mister. Why you lookin inside dat accordion?

[tgtaylor]

After I got into photography back in the 90's, I started doing night street photography. This is a view of the classic marque of San Francisco's Tenderloin hotel The Senator:



Although I was well familiar with the Tenderloin it had been several years since I had last been in there and a lot had changed. Back then it was a skid row section filled with wino's and people down on their luck and wasn't dangerous. But gangs moved in - I was told that this was precipitated by a outlet of The Black Muslim Bakery from Oakland moving in which brought in the gangs. Anyway I was working my way up Ellis street when I came to the Senator with the sign appropriately casting its red light over the neighborhood. So I stepped out in the street at the intersection and mounted a 135mm lens on the F3 and proceeded to compose. I heard some muffled voices coming from the corker and looking over my right shoulder saw what must have been a dozen or more young men and I fancied that I was the subject of the conversation. I looked over my left shoulder and would you believe it - about a half block down was two SF police vehicles slowly proceeding up Ellis with uniformed officers escorting on both sides of the street. If it wasn't for the fortuitous police sweep I would have been out of a camera kit at the least.

https://www.chp-sf.org/wp-content/up...y-Overview.pdf

Thomas

[Drew Wiley]

Not terribly long ago, that Bakery was the scene of a contract killing between an internal ideological rivalry. Nice neighborhood to stay away from. I'm wearing boots from the Redwing shoe store down the street. You can't just walk in. You have to wait for them to unlock the front door, then they lock it behind you. But the boots are good US made ones, which you can't find at just any Redwing franchise.

[John Layton]

a few years back...I heard the familiar "click" as a soldier in Gambella, Ethiopia, disengaged the safety on his AK as I raised my camera. Then, one of our party produced a soccer ball, upon which time a raucous pickup game ensued between our group and the military unit - and all was well!