Just Assaulted by someone for taking sunset photos

[DBP]

Next time, walk quietly and carry a big stick.

Or maybe a Kiev.

 

[mysuzuki2]

Another advantage of old, metal-bodied cameras - they make excellent weopons when swung at the end of the strap.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Another advantage of old, metal-bodied cameras - they make excellent weopons when swung at the end of the strap.

SHHHHH! We have enough trouble with airline security as it is.

 

[N O Mennescio]

Threads like this makes me happy that I live in sweden.

 

[Dave Parker]

Threads like this makes me happy that I live in sweden.

You don't have bad people in Sweden?

R.

 

[nc5p]

I won't give the guy's actual contact information. If you google him (must add the middle initial J) you will only find one hit, that he applied to the zoning board to have ten horses on his property. (We are limited to four per acre around here).

Joe is right though. People around here do seem paranoid. This guy has a lot to steal, like a brand new H2 Hummer, Powerstroke crew cab dually Lariat, a huge fifth wheel, a huge boat, three big horse trailers, and those ten horses. I had my car stolen by one of the local gangs. (My big outside dog had just died so I was vulnerable) They partied all weekend then "dumped" it. I spent a lot of time fixing all the stuff they tore up. However, the big difference is I don't take it out on innocent people and make wild accusations. I can't see how anybody could possibly think I was in a gang. Most people in this neighborhood know I photograph and don't care. Some of them have seen my prints at the arts and crafts fairs.

We'll see what happens when the reports to MRGCD, the county, arts board, UNM, area photo clubs, and media get read tomorrow. I already heard back from the ANVA (Alameda community association). They were horrified. Their president is an amateur photographer and does the same thing I was doing.

Doug

 

[Robert Brummitt]

I had something like this happen before.
I was photographing a young lady using a building as a backdrop when out came this security officer. He wanted my name, my film and to give me a going over. I let him rant them told him that I and the model were on public property. That his building is open to use as a backdrop because it visible from the public streets and he wasn't getting my film.
The little dude was getting huffy when a "real" police officer just happen to drive by. The security ran out into the street and had the officer pull over and explained his wants and needs. Then the officer looked at me and the young lady and said to go on with my business. He saw that the security officer had a small dog complex going on.
Anyways, the jest of the story is that if you are on public property, doing legitmate business and not harming anyone. You have the right to photograph.
This can change if we as artist don't protect our rights! The goverment both local and federal are looking of ways to limit our photographing. Case in point is the person who tried to sue artists in New York.

 

[slitherjef]

About a week ago I had my Elan 7n loaded up with some neopan and was out front with the camera piggybacked on top of my telescope doing some widefields and after a little bit some lady from the apartments across the street comes out and starts going off saying I better not have her on surveillance, in that "oh-no-you-didnt" tone.

Asked what I had and I told her it was a telescope. She screamed "What!?" and I repeated my self then asked her if she wanted to have a look. She then carries on about we better not have her under surveillance.

She used the word "surveillance" like 12 times!

she rambled all the way back into her apartment. She was loud and stayed on her side of the street.

I expected the cops to come but they did not. I was out for another 45 min after this.

freaking paranoid psycho.

Have not been out side since. Don't know what to do. Next time she may just bring a gun out side and let a few live ones off. Would be a bit of a different story if she would shut up and listen for 15 sec.

Shesh... some people

 

[pelerin]

You don't have bad people in Sweden?

R.

http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/53/53-137.htm
http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/Biker.html

Unpleasant people are everywhere. Fortunately, only a very few are armed with anti-tank weapons.

 

[edz]

freaking paranoid psycho.

"Yeah, well, paranoia is just a kind of awareness, and awareness is just a form of love. Paranoia is the other side of love. Once you give in to paranoia, it ceases to exist. That's why I say, submission is a gift, just give in to it, don't resist. "
--- Charles Manson, 1970

Have not been out side since. Don't know what to do.

Use less conspicuous gear and improve your surveillance skills so as not too have her take notice that your watching her..

 

[edz]

and what's the relevance of naming your foe? To move the theatre of your conflict and widen the badgering to APUG?

 

[edz]

Threads like this makes me happy that I live in sweden.

I recall I was sitting at a cafe in 1982 in Stockholm (I was a guest scientist at EFI) and a large groups of youth came by.. I thought.. finally a bit of action on the streets and they did not need to be drunk first.. the next day in the papers.. The group I saw had just set a disco on fire 'cause "bloody foreigners were dancing with Swedish girls". Living a few years earlier in the south (Lund) I used to have fun with the "Ragere" (Happy days meets Hells Angels).. and lets not forget about the wack bike gangs and large numbers of Neo-Nazis.. despite being nearly comically stupid, for many ethnic groups their violence is real--- and the courts tend to be quite tolerant, just as in much of eastern Europe including eastern parts of Germany, to these forms of violence.

 

[N O Mennescio]

http://gamblingmagazine.com/articles/53/53-137.htm
http://gangstersinc.tripod.com/Biker.html

Unpleasant people are everywhere. Fortunately, only a very few are armed with anti-tank weapons.

Oops! I had forgotten about those guys. I would appear that we are as bad as the rest. At least we are still able to take pictures more or less anywhere with out any permits. May it last.

 

[steve]

The man who assaulted me. He lives about 300 feet from where I was standing. I am VERY hesitant to call the cops, they are EXTREMELY crooked here and often arrest innocent people while they let drunk drivers, rapists, and murderers off scott free. I try to avoid any contact with them.

Doug

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Dept. would respond to the call. They are the straightest, most professional group you can deal with. I would have no hesitation dealing with them. You, are in my estimation, way out of line with your description. The Sheriff, Darren White is a long time law enforcement professional who will not put up with anything less than 100% service to the public. If you have any proof to the contrary as to Sheriff's officers not performing properly, then you need to call him directly.

 

[moose10101]

and what's the relevance of naming your foe? To move the theatre of your conflict and widen the badgering to APUG?

That's what I don't understand. You didn't call the police, and you have no witnesses, but you're blasting him here by name. He could hit you with a libel suit.

And FYI, before you say "oh, he'll never find this thread", you should know that this thread and the one you started on iphotoforum can be found with a web search on "".

You should probably ignore all those responses on iphotoforum chastising you for not kicking his a$$.

 

[nc5p]

Why are all you people ganging up on me? I thought I'd find fellowship with other photographers who share a concern on this issue here. Instead, I get blasted for "violating this guy's rights". Everything I said is true. Why are his rights more important than mine? Because he drives a Hummer and $50k custom powerstroke? If you all want to sell your camera gear on ebay and just watch tv and take no more photos go ahead. I'm not stopping you.

Doug

 

[Ed Sukach]

Why are all you people ganging up on me? I thought I'd find fellowship with other photographers who share a concern on this issue here. Instead, I get blasted for "violating this guy's rights". Everything I said is true. Why are his rights more important than mine? Because he drives a Hummer and $50k custom powerstroke? If you all want to sell your camera gear on ebay and just watch tv and take no more photos go ahead. I'm not stopping you.
Doug

I am certainly NOT ganging up on you. What this guy did amounts to nothing less than a felony. NO ONE has a right - of ANY KIND - to threaten another persons' life ... PERIOD.

From what I have read, you certainly were within your rights and were acting as a reasonable person would act ... If within legal bounds or not... If this guy had some issue with what you were doing, he should have ... must ... call the police. Instead he chose to threaten your life. GO to the police ... if the local police won't listen or take some action - such as recording a report, GO TO THE STATE.

This is another form of "road rage" - although without a vehicle .. and I'm sure they - someone - will want it to be controlled.

 

[copake_ham]

Why are all you people ganging up on me? I thought I'd find fellowship with other photographers who share a concern on this issue here. Instead, I get blasted for "violating this guy's rights". Everything I said is true. Why are his rights more important than mine? Because he drives a Hummer and $50k custom powerstroke? If you all want to sell your camera gear on ebay and just watch tv and take no more photos go ahead. I'm not stopping you.

Doug

Doug,

I kind of new here and don't want to speak out of place, but I think what concerns some folks about your post is that you named the individual in a public forum. Add to that the fact that you did not report the incident to the authorities and its seems as if you want folks here to "do something about it" for you.

Incidents like you endured are indeed frightening; espescially to all of us when it occurs in the pursuit of an interest that we share in common. But no one here can fight your fiight for you. The best advice I've seen here is to report the incident so that a record is made. And I think the next best advice is to avoid naming the individual in this or any forum.

 

[Dave Parker]

Why are all you people ganging up on me? I thought I'd find fellowship with other photographers who share a concern on this issue here. Instead, I get blasted for "violating this guy's rights". Everything I said is true. Why are his rights more important than mine? Because he drives a Hummer and $50k custom powerstroke? If you all want to sell your camera gear on ebay and just watch tv and take no more photos go ahead. I'm not stopping you.

Doug

Doug,

I don't see people ganging up on you, what I do see is a group of people who have made good strong suggestions on what you should have done first, which was to contact the police and file a report. Not being familier with the area in which you were photographing, I don't know if you were in violation or such other things. I do know that being threatened by another individual is a serious crime and by your delay in contacting the authorities have not accomplished anything in your own defence or protection. Most anyone who has photographed for a while in their life, has had such incidents occur in public places, by reporting crimes of this nature, not only are you doing something to protect yourself, you are also protecting those that may come behind you and have an encounter with this individual. If the local police are not willing to take the report, contact the state police or the AG in your state, as officers of the court, they are obligated to take a legitimate report from a person who has been threatened. By posting this in a public forum, you have opened yourself up, if this individual would happen to get wind of it.

Again, I don't see you being attacked, I have seen suggestions given, I think what you may being feeling at attack, is perhaps people who felt the situation was handled inccorrectly, an internet message board is not always the best solution, especially in crimminal situations.

As I wrote in another message, contact the authorities, get yourself a can of personal protection spray and make sure when photographing, your not in violation of any laws.

R.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

Doug,
Did you get any good photos that day before the incident occured? If so, send him a beautiful 8x10 print of the sunset and announce who you are in a polite letter. Who knows, maybe you might be able to reconcile with the guy and put this incident in the past. I can't remember who mentioned it in their post, but if the gangs are as bad as you're saying they are, I can understand his frustration with someone checking out his property and his wealth.
Ara (okay, let the flaming begin... I'm ready for it)

 

[david b]

Well I am back from LA and will be happy to go back with you. Maybe we can round up several other local photographers to join us.

 

[Eric Rose]

I think we've wasted enough bandwidth on this one.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well I am back from LA and will be happy to go back with you. Maybe we can round up several other local photographers to join us.

David- if you can round up a bunch of LF guys, you can pose as members of the Darkcloth gang, instead of the Crips or the Bloods - sporting massive black-and-white do-rags instead of red or blue hankies!

 

[dalahorse]

What a strange sight that would be - a gang of darkroom geeks strolling down the ditchbanks and riverbeds of the North Valley with medium format cameras in hand. I love it! We could call our group shoot "Ten Horses and a Hummer" or maybe "Powerstrokes of the Rio Grande."

I actually do think that sending a nice 8x10 print to the guy is a great idea. In addition to proving your intentions (even though you don't have to), it might also make him feel like a fool for taking such an aggressive attitude.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

In addition to proving your intentions (even though you don't have to), it might also make him feel like a fool for taking such an aggressive attitude.

Exactly! I'll even go out on a limb and say that you two might become acquaintances and he might even offer his property for photography. I suppose it's similar to the "turn the other cheek" philosophy. You never know what benefits you may reap from having a kinder approach. Plus, it shows him that you're not afraid of him. Believe me, this is not an easy approach. If the same thing happened to me I'm sure I'd have fantasies of vandalizing his property or putting one of his horse heads in his bed a la The Godfather. But that kind of approach will always bring greater and greater misfortunes upon yourself. Be the bigger man and put an end to this cycle.
Ara