Camera Labs

Yesterday i was getting a train from Glasgow Queen Street railway station to Sterling to pick up some new Bowens Studio flashes. Whilst waiting for my train people watching (i'm a photographer) i noticed the shadows that the sunlight was producing in the crowded station and starting to photograph them. About a minute later i heard a remark about four seats down from me saying "Look at that man, he is taking photographs of children", referring to me.

I was completely disgusted by this and felt like standing up and giving some angrily remarks back to these people but instead i put my camera down to prove point, but should i have to? I'm not doing anything wrong!

This is what really annoys me, people are now brain washed by the Media and everyone who stands near a child is a potential pedophile, us photographers cant do anything these days without getting remarks, shouts or looks form the public, down right disgusting!!

P.s The flashes rock!!

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Mark Osborne
My life through an iPhone

Had a few comments like around the local park. As a side observation, they were all groups of young(er) people, mostly males. At the risk of generalising, they're probably up to no good themselves. I usually just ignore them and continue anyway since I'm doing nothing wrong. If contact is unavoidable, I usually tell them unless they're a duck or a squirrel I'm not interested and that usually confuses them enough to shut them up. One did quack at me at that point...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

"Look at that man, he's making ignorant prejudiced comments without properly checking his facts" would be a good response?

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

You should not have to stop, but unfortunately being right is not the same as gatting right. And as long as people keep being ignorant and keep listinging to other ignorant people it's only going to get worse.

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www.pimvandevelde.com

I recall a saying "liars don't trust anyone." So, I wouldn't be surprised if the commenter was one of those up-to-no-good guys.

On the other hand, I remember being in an airport with my wife (soon-to-be fiance at the time), just a couple months after purchasing my first DSLR. And I was photographing planes and such. I then snapped a picture of a child/infant in a stroller. Her caregiver (her aunt who we learned later thru conversation) didn't seem freaked out by it, but looking back, wasn't enthusiastic about it either.
My wife said to me later, "I wouldn't want a stranger taking pictures of my child, especially without permission." Granted, I'm suspecting, Mark, that your shots were of a bustling crowd and not zoomed right in on a toddler's face.
When the opportunity permits that I'm observing a crowd and there are kids I try to be careful in the way I photograph the moment, "avoiding the appearance of evil" so to speak.

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MrKman | website
Canon EOS 5D II + PowerShot G12
Samyang 14 f/2.8 + Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 + Samyang 35 f/1.4 + Sigma 70-200 f/2.8
Yungnuo YN560 + YN560ii (x2) + Cactus V4

WISHLIST: 300 f/2.8
FORMER: Canon 5D + 40D + 450D + 18-55mm + 28-135mm + 50 f/1.4 + 100 f/2.0

Heh, good ol' media eh? Reminds me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZID9MP3pUM0

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Flickr

^

Nothing but good old Russell Peters

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Soon.....

heh, Im glad that never happens in Hong Kong or Taiwan

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http://www.AnderssonPhoto.com
Cameras: Leica M8, Nikon FE-2, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 40D
Lenses: Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35mm 1.4, Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm 5.6 ASPH II, Nikkor AI-S 28mm 2.8, Canon 24-70 2.8L, 85mm 1.2L II, 300mm 2.8L IS, TS-E 45mm 2.8, Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro
Canon 1.4x/2X TC II, Canon 580EX II X2, Gitzo + Manfrotto.
Wishlist: Leica Monochrom, Summilux 50 ASPH, Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 ASPH II

An initial reaction to any accusation is usually indignation and defensiveness. But as others have said you knew what you were doing and those passing comment had no idea.

You could have been...
Reconstructing an incident trying to find a lost child
Shooting an ad campaign for a children's charity
Taking a picture of you own children or relatives

I have taken pictures of tree branches and had comments by passers by who couldn't fathom why on earth anyone would want to do such a thing.

At the time you question yourself but when you think about it you have nothing to question.

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Nikon D90
Nikkor AF-S DX; 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G VR, 55-300 f/4.5-5.6G VR, 35mm f/1.8G
Speedlight SB-700

http://keystrokesukimages.com

for street photos including children,it's always a sensible thing. and it's hard to get a goot street photo with children,so it's best to click only if one is certain. also,I always recommand a short lens (35-50mm on DX),a tele-lens is somewhat resembling a stalker,a paparazzi etc., which is a negative thing.
the third & most important aspect is don't use telephoto lenses at all. the further away you are,the more insecure you are or seem to be & the more the subjects will be,borrowing your insecurity just by looking at you. always try to stay close to people & enjoy being close to people. sense their emotions & act accordingly.

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

I forgot to add South Korea to my list xD, I photographed children playing around the water at a public park, No negative reactions there. ^^ Asia is pretty great



maybe in Europe I would get a negative feedback in public....

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http://www.AnderssonPhoto.com
Cameras: Leica M8, Nikon FE-2, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II, 40D
Lenses: Voigtländer Nokton Classic 35mm 1.4, Ultra Wide Heliar 12mm 5.6 ASPH II, Nikkor AI-S 28mm 2.8, Canon 24-70 2.8L, 85mm 1.2L II, 300mm 2.8L IS, TS-E 45mm 2.8, Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro
Canon 1.4x/2X TC II, Canon 580EX II X2, Gitzo + Manfrotto.
Wishlist: Leica Monochrom, Summilux 50 ASPH, Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 ASPH II

My wife is treating me like that with my new DSLR. When we went to the Renaissance Fair and people are dressed up there to be looked at and I posted some pics here for comments she made a big deal about it, then the same thing with some kids playing in a fountain and she gave me a fit that I was taking pics of others kids, but the parents were there and they had no problem with it.

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Mike "The Squirrel"
Canon 550D | Canon EF 35mm 1:2 | Canon 50 f/1.8 II | Sigma 18-125mm DC OS | Tamron SP 70-300mm Di VC USD | Canon 430EX II
Military Issued Canon 40D | Canon 55-250mm IS