Extreme reactions people have to being photographed

I do a lot of social/event photography... the people at these events usually welcome the attention.
I have even been asked to photograph a funeral... that was kinda weird, but I did it, I had to explain that I was "official" to a few people who thought I was a nut.
Right after the Princess Diana accident.. I was given harsh treatment for the few months afterward by younger women who though "paparatzi" killed Diana.

Sirius Glass said:

I very rarely do street photography, but if someone tells me not to take their photograph, I do not.

Steve

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I was threatened by a prisoner being hauled out of court... he lunged at me and said; I was next. He is still in prison I think.
A DUI defendants family told me I would burn in hell for what I was doing (photographing their daughter on the stand) that had killed people in a DUI.
I also photographed in a woman's prison for a day... I was humbled by that, and actually felt bad photographing some of the inmates. These inmates had no choice in me photographing them at work.

i don't do it often ...
i always remember a night that person i photographed w/o permission
grabbed my camera, wouldn't give it back and threatened to beat me with it
... i try to keep that in mind when photographing people ... (that happened 25 years ago )

A few years ago a 30-something beautiful person on the beach in LaJolla got all upset at me for taking a picture of her dog as it was joyfully running running around. How self-absorbed is that?

When I was asked to photograph a Renewal of Vows ceremony at a nudist resort in 2007, there was almost assault and afray at one of the guests' tables I was asked to photograph when a portly man with snowy white hair reeled back as quickly as he could (pushing and shoving others around him out of the way). Two other guests also made themselves scant through polite shyness. It's part of my training that I don't question what people are doing or why — just wait for them to settle down or move off, then get on with the shoot. Later, after talking to the resort operator, I then found out the guy making the fuss was a Senior Sergeant at a country police station and was afraid of the repercussions of his photograph being seen by colleagues, or something worse being happened. I did go over it myself in my head afterwards: 'surely what people do in their private time has nothing to do with their professional time?'. The vast majority of naturists engaged in that past-time are not averse to being photographed or being published in magazines, but some that do not know you, or feel uncomfortable, can have an extreme reaction to the presence of a camera/photographer.

Truth be told asking permission and not asking permission gives very different results. So, I guess I should say sometimes I ask permission.. sometimes I don't. It really depends on what kind of picture I want to take.
When I'm walking around and I see an interesting character for a picture and I want to take a PORTRAIT of said subject, I'll almost ALWAYS ask permission. When a situation is unfolding in front of the camera (such as Wolfeye's scenario) I will almost NEVER ask for permission. Though frequently, I'll take the picture then ask permission for a second one.

My theory is as follows.. Most people don't mind (or don't notice) being photographed (I guess that's still a fair statement, though I do think things tend to change for the worst here). If I become aware that they are offended or uneasy in anyway I'll apologize, and if they're friendly, I'll explain and start some kind of conversation. If they become aggressive, verbal, and/or unpleasant, I'll just walk away. Honestly, it's just a dam picture, and it's not worth me hearing your opinions about my family members.

I had a situation once, where a friend was taking a picture of a street and on this street there was a stand and the stand owner saw it fit to lecture us (for an extended period of time) on the etiquette of picture taking. Claiming that we should have ask him permission first.. That when he was a photographer that was the first lesson they taught him.. bla, bla, bla.....
I'm sorry, these situations aren't analogues to "The costumer is always right". You don't know my art, you don't know what I'm doing. If you're interested, I'll explain it in detail. If you're not, I AM SINCERELY SORRY, now quit wasting my time, this light ain't gonna last forever!

I guess the best rule of thumb in these situations - Aim for physical integrity! Good Luck!

"To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed. Just as a camera is a sublimation of the gun, to photograph someone is a subliminal murder - a soft murder, appropriate to a sad, frightened time." - Susan Sontag, On Photography

It's the illusion of losing control - a threat in a sense: he was in a place of comfort and that safety was suddenly breached by the arrival of your camera. You're threatening to take a piece of him that he will no longer control once the shutter clicks.

I've probably reacted nearly in the same way as your colleague in the past when a camera has been introduced to my personal space. I'm nearly phobic of being in front of a loaded lens.


I have no stories of people reacting wildly (I usually photograph places devoid of people), but I guess I am that story for someone else. Hahah.

I hardly ever have my photo taken. I don't like it so I avoid it. And in my job it happens often, Very hard to explain to others why I do not want to allow it. So I tell them my mothers religion forbids it and So I must respect her wishes and avoid being photographed.They look at me strange and then walk away, Any other reason doesn't seem to work. On my side if there is an expectation of privacy I do not take the shot before asking.In a public space at a public event with no expectation I just take the shot

My sister has a boyfriend that doesn't like being in photos. He's avoided some before. The odd thing is he is a photo enthusiast also (digital). I think he's come to realize my intents (capturing of social moments, collecting memories) and has softened his stance a bit. A few of the photos I took of my sister and him turned out well so I think he's giving me the benefit of the doubt now

An average person is captured by several security cameras a day. There are people capturing and looking at us on video all the time when we are in public.

Does that make it right?


EDIT: Let me just say, to provide another point of view: On average somebody is shot, stabbed, raped, or killed every day also. Just because it happens doesn't really impart morality (or lack thereof) to it.

If they don't want to have their picture taken, they can get out of the shot and/or ask you not shot take the picture. Seems pretty simple to me. People take pictures at social gatherings, and some people don't like it. It isn't some great battle between right and wrong here.

Markster, what bwrules says is that YOU are captured by several cameras a day. You don't know it, but it's true. On the other hand, YOU are not shot, stabbed, raped or killed several times a day. And if you were, you would know.

My personal observation is that shooting (in the strict sense), stabbing, raping or killing somebody is a crime (morality aside). Taking pictures of people is not a crime, actually it is perfectly legal, so the two things are on two totally different planes.

Regarding "morality", that's something that concerns my behaviour, not somebody else's. If I think that something is immoral, I don't do it. I don't expect somebody else not to do what I think is "immoral". I expect they not to do what they think is immoral. If they don't violate the law, I'm content with their behaviour.

Just don't take my fuckin' picture, ok?
I was at an exhibition, just walked through the cold and rain (usually end up with a red nose) and some guy comes up and says "you lot look exotic, let's have a picture". I told him no, but he was pushy - "Stand face-on, come on". "No". "Come on, you guys look great" (as though I hadn't spoken at all). Sticks big lens at our group and takes two shots. At the same time, I'm holding a hand up to a girl on the other side of us who is pointing a big lens at my face.
Next, I'm reaching for my six-guns. Shit, I left 'em at home!

Everyone that takes my picture gets a shitty shot, for some reason or another.
The best pics of me I have taken myself with a timer.

Sometimes people think you look great when you know for sure that when you left the house, you're not looking your best, and DO NOT WANT PHOTOS TAKEN!

So if the person says no, HAVE SOME RESPECT AND RESTRAINT. In fact, BEFORE YOU TAKE THE PHOTO, HAVE SOME MANNERS AND ASK PERMISSION.

CCTV/surveillance cams don't get posted on facebook or myspace etc so I couldn't give a shit, but if somebody pokes a lens in my face from now on, they get something poked in theirs.

I tell people I'm not a photographer. I'm too embarrassed to be lumped in with that kind of presumptuous/egocentric gearhead/git who thinks he is making 'art' or whatever.

limnides said:

"To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed. Just as a camera is a sublimation of the gun, to photograph someone is a subliminal murder - a soft murder, appropriate to a sad, frightened time." - Susan Sontag, On Photography

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Interesting quote, to be honest when I’m on the street photographing people I am not aware of the notion that I am violating or in any way subliminally dehumanizing anyone. Perhaps its naïve, but I consider the essence of what I’m doing is capturing the joy and fullness of life and certainly most of my photographs are taken after the subject has consented to being photographed, of course I respect the occasional refusal although have never enquired as to the reason, that of course is the essence to this thread and I often think it’s not having influence on the end result and how it will be used. Even when I’ve not requested permission I’ve not encountered any extreme reaction, although once had a derisive comment from a passerby, but the comments were not constructive and do not phase me. On the occasion that I’ve been the subject of a street shooter I try to act in a relaxed way and hope they are happy with the end result.

I rarely ask permission, but on the other hand I usually work slowly in the beginning. Taking out the camera, showing my intentions of using it and allowing the reluctant to get away, pick up a newspaper or tell me not to take their picture.
The choice of camera is very important to the reaction I get. A folder or LF camera will get them positively interested. A TLR or some quirky RF is also ok everytime.
Big SLRs are the only ones that can be considered threatening and are likely to scare people.

In my experience:
You don't have to ask, but give people time to get away (or tell you to do the it)
Choice of camera decides other peoples reaction to being photographed

i don't know if i would call surveillance photography from state/city owned cameras,
and ATM machines portraits but some people do i guess ...

when i was working for a newspaper i was asked to do surveillance images
at a hotel --- i set-up across the street, on a tripod and long lens for about 35mins
photographing people getting out of their cars and being "bellhopped"

the chief of security ( 6'5", 300lb weight lifter ) wasn't too happy,
and at the request of his customers came over and got in my face about it ...
he didn't take my camera and threaten me like the other guy did but just the same, he had some "choice words" for me and nearly clobbered me when
i reached for my cellphone to have him talk to my managing editor ..

I have shot an event or two in my day, many of which have been volunteer gigs for charitable events. There are always some people there who don't wish to be photographed. I've always approached groupings of people in attendance and informed them who I was, who I was taking the photos for, and given anyone who was uncomfortable ample advance warning so they could back out gracefully. I've even seen it announced in advance at some smaller gatherings that photos would be taken, and if you don't wish to be in them, please identify yourself in advance.

I, too, am not fond of being photographed (perhaps a bit ironic, given my interest), like that fellow about whom the OP wrote. We've all been speculating as to the "why," but they're just that - speculation.

Perhaps his reason(s) may be similar to mine.

When my sister and I were children, our father would often get the camera, or pick it up if it were already out for some occasion, e.g., Christmas, birthdays, vacations, etc., and photograph us.

However, while he wasn't "in your face" about taking the picture, it could be distracting, because he'd often ask us to look at the camera, even though we were busy doing something at the moment. I think his attempts to photograph us leaned more towards photographing me proportionally because I was his first child; my sister came along two years later. (My mother would also do that, too, but, as I recall, not as often.)

Yet there is something to be said about photographing people in one's life in general. While it obviously allows us to relive happy and fun times, it also allows us to remember them specifically. This past May, for example, marked the tenth anniversary since my father died at the age of 68 from a lifelong heart condition. Alas, I don't have photos of him at all, even any taken towards the end of his life. (Sorry for the melancholy tone.)

Dieter Zakas

Dieter, this is what I suppose will happen to me. I'm the only with the shutterbug in my family. I have plenty of images of other people from holidays, or of my family from family gatherings, but only a very few of my beloved self, and those few quite horrible to be sincere. I hope somebody takes pictures of me because in the great number there is a probability of one with me appearing as a human being .
If I had to die tomorrow (touch everywhere) it would be quite hard for my family to find a picture to put on my gravestone (merrier and merrier tone, I know).

Hardly anyone takes my picture either. In fact not even strangers and I wouldn't mind if they did. A few weeks ago my wife and I visited a local castle and she sat down on some wall and was reading the guide book. I wandered off to take some photos and when I came back I noticed a guy in the distance with a long telephoto pointed at my wife. It looked like he'd composed a photo where she was visible through a window in a ruined wall. Might have looked nice. But as I got closer and started talking to my wife he just hung around waiting - I got the feeling I was ruining his composition. I can hardly blame him as a photo of a pretty girl is better than my mug. Anyway, I stepped a few paces back so I'd be behind the wall and I heard his shutter click. When I walked back he'd gone.

Some people do not like being photographed. "You do not need to understand the reason but you need to respect their wishes". In this time of social media a photograph can be sent around the world! It's only common curtesy to ask permission first. Your mother didn't teach you manners?

One of the ways I avoid having my picture taken is by being the one with the camera. I very seldom have a problem at family events, b-days, reunions, holidays, etc. because I think the expectation of privacy is relaxed at an event type situation where people aren't surprised that a record would be wanted. Candid photography is a different kettle of fish, and I think the subject's expectation of privacy is elevated. I think people view un-announced, or intrusive photography as an invasion of that privacy, and I think some people do consider such a photograph a "theft", if not of their soul, then of their privacy. Most people, in my limited experience, are willing, if not eager, to commemorate an event with a posed photograph. If a member of a group doesn't want to be included, then show them what button to push and let them be the photographer. I wouldn't be surprised to find them in the second photo taken...

Nope. I never ask. If I am in a public space, I take the picture. Am I dehumanizing my subject? Nope, I feel my photography glorifies the human face. Am I objectifying them? Yep. Oh well. They become part of my artistic vision.

I don't shoot where people have a reasonable right to privacy.

And I am damned good at not being noticed. Little bro saw me shooting a family function once and came over to me asked me how long I had been shooting... about an hour and a half. Know your camera, get the shots and move on.

tim in san jose