One of my projects a bunch of years ago was to take dreamy photos of playground equipment. I arrived at this playground, about 10 kids were playing around on various things. I setup on this apparatus as no kids were currently playing on it. Story continued in comments .....
Story continued ... I setup the camera on the tripod, got out the lens etc. took a light meter reading and then went under the dark cloth. As I was under the cloth and fiddling with the lens swing, focusing etc. I noticed it was getting quite quiet. Didn't really think anything of it but once I came out from under the dark cloth to get a film holder I found I was all alone in the playground. The mothers had scooped up their kids and took off. Sucks to be an older, unaccompanied male in a playground. I guess I should have brought my grandkids to show all these nervous mothers I was not a child molester. Not that having grandkids proves anything. Boy times have changed.
Yes, something about playgrounds adds a huge creeper factor. I set up my camera on a tripod near a busy intersection in Boston and literally randomly stopped strangers walking by and asked if I could photograph them. At least half the people were happy to oblige. If I had set that same rig up in a playground I am sure someone would’ve called the police.
@Eric Rose The photo suggests something about the past to me. Your comment about "changed times" made the photo seem editorial...ie illustrated your idea.