The guy with the beer can
A couple of times recently I’ve been approached by people, drunk people actually, while out photographing.
In Lille (France) at the weekend, I was taking a shot of a Sunday morning street in the city centre. There were people out walking but no one close enough for me to focus on. Anyway I don’t do that kind of candid street photography.
I took the shot and the next thing I knew a man was running towards me, shouting. As far as I was concerned I’d never seen him before but he’d obviously noticed me.
Everything happened in a rush, he was talking to me in French, I was trying to figure out who he was and why he thought I wanted to take his photo, and trying to work out what to say in reply. The next minute he grabbed hold of my camera - the strap was around my neck but he gave it a few good tugs and wouldn’t let go. I shouted for help - my partner was standing further up the street, and he rushed over to help.
Meanwhile I told the man I wasn’t taking his photo, though I thought better of reminding him that it was a 35mm lens, explaining the camera distance - aperture - focal length relationship. I’m not sure that would have helped.
I don’t know if it was just reassured that I really didn’t want to capture him on film, or the fact that it was now two against one, but he backed off and after a few more words he went away swigging his beer, apparently quite happy.
The episode left me feeling shaken and upset, and to be honest a bit outraged. I don’t take candid street shots. I don’t shoot people I don’t know, and people I don’t know well I ask if I can take their photo. In the early days of Flickr I made a few mistakes, once I put up a photo that included a colleague’s foot, but I offered to delete it.
To be fair to the guy he is in my picture, I recognised him from the beer can.
So the moral of the story is, when taking street shots, makes sure no one is close enough to be a focal point. Then check for the guy with the beer can.
Perhaps you need a juice box camera, Debra.
A colleague’s foot? This I have to hear!
Debrawrote a few days ago about photographing a street scene and then being semi accosted by a drunk who she had randomly captured on film. It all played out okay, but did also get me thinking. In some places it quite easy to look like a tourist and take
rashbre central said this on October 6, 2007 at 12:48 am
Rashbre - I’m trying not to collect cameras, but I would love one.
Dumbfunk - OK, that foot will be a blog post soon.
I think I might have a go at the camera project. I’m thinking of moving it towards a coffee ‘to go’ cup instead of a juice box. If it works, I’ll publish the constructon hints. My design point has to be that it can be easily assembled/improvised ‘on the fly’ rather than requiring a workshop full of equipment. But right now I’m on another project.