Mob Rule & Shooting In Public - A Horror Story +1

[BackdoorArts]

Jake,you might have taken a photo of a child.Crop your bus photo and in the rear view mirror,is that not a child sitting in the white seat? Just asking? With all the sh*t that's going on in the world we can't really blame the cops and their reactions.If I'm ever stopped by the cops,I want them to know that I'll do everything in my power to help them, help me.

Really - you're going there?!?! For the record, the "white seat" is window in the reflection. If there is any part of any human in the shot at all it's the barely perceptible upper torso of the mother standing in the driveway of the home which is even debatable at 100% crop. Not that it would have mattered anyway. Hell, I might have captured Big Foot up there in the mist as well off the left edge of the road.

The point is, it wouldn't matter legally even if I had captured any number of children getting on the bus or sitting in the window. It just would have made for a much longer conversation and, probably, a request on my part to either be charged with something (at which point my cooperation would be finished and my lawyer contacted) or be allowed to walk home since no one wanted to drive me to get my ID. I'm well aware of my rights as a photographer in a public space and will be vocal about them if I feel it serves a purpose. This was all about an over-fearful kid who started a chain of events that ended at the over-fearful mom and there were now 4 cops who had to deal with it. For the record, for most of my last 5 minutes I was talking with the first cop about what I shoot and what I've sold. When I told him a UK design house had just licensed one of my images exclusively for 2 years as wall art he looked at me surprised and said, "Do you mind if I ask how much you get for something like that?" When I told him he said, "Wow, really?! And you just walk around taking pictures, right?" Made me chuckle.

 

[BackdoorArts]

And the shot is great. Really evokes a feeling of going to school on an early morning. Boy has that been a long time ago. I am not sure I would have though of that crop but it is perfect.

I agree with everyone else's views but did want to add something about the photo too.

Thanks, Don.

 

[BackdoorArts]

Trying to imagine Jake's encounter from the eyes and ears of the kids, the driver, school people, parents, community in general and I'm relieved to find out it was just Jake out for a foggy picture walk.

I'm happy a kid was paying attention, a driver responded, a community did something to protect a child. There are far too many that are not protected.

There is a price to freedom. Sometimes it's a young soldiers life, or sometimes it's taking your shoes off and sometimes it's just answering questions.

Some may not see this, but one of the prices we pay for the freedom we have is lack of protection, both for the child and the and the middle-aged guy with the camera.

Pardon me if I don't see it this way. At all!!

Why? The kid wasn't "paying attention" or they would have seen that at no time did the camera point at any of them. The kid is fear filled because the parent is fear filled because that's the way the people who run this country like it. Those who see what we have in this post-9/11 nanny state as anything resembling "freedom" or "liberty" have lost sight of what that really means. "Lack of protection"?! Pardon me again while I clean the bullsh*t off my screen. One kid looks at a kid the wrong way in class and teachers and counselors are facing hours of anti-bullying paperwork. Please, our kids are so over-protected that they have no idea what "freedom" is. Yes, bad things happen. They always have and they always will. All it takes in today's culture is one bad incident to sweep through the press and the huddled (in fear) masses are ready to give away another slice of personal liberty in the name of "safety". I need to go rinse the vomit out of my mouth.

 

[Marcel]

I'm 100 % with you on this Jake. A few months ago, I was going to the park to take some landscape pictures of people skating on the pond. Then I noticed some kids tobogganing and started to take shots of them going down (so I'm only seeing their backs). So one hyper woman comes out and shouts that I can't take pictures. I asked her if it was her kids and she said yes. So I just turned around and left, but only because I was with Line and didn't want to make a scene. But, I was very much tempted to tell her that if she didn't want anyone to take pictures of her kids, then she should keep in inside or on a private property. It makes me sick to see people so paranoid... But not much I can do since our governments are experts about creating and encouraging fear so they can continue to make their friends (Halliburton & CO) richer and richer while the public debt keeps growing to scandalous amounts.
OK, I'll stop now before I get into politics...

 

[480sparky]

OMG! Someone took a photo of a school bus.

A bus on a public road!


How dare they!


How dare someone take a photo of public property while it is on public property! Must be Al Qaeda, scouting out our local bus route infrastructure. Or some pervert planning to kidnap a child.




Just think of all the photos and videos that have been taken legally. Like photos and videos taken legally on, oh........... say .........April 15, 2013. Pick a town. Let's choose......... um............. err........... I know! Boston!


I want everyone who gets their panties in a bunch about photos and videos taken of public places to think about that date and time for a second. Does it ring a bell? Maybe this link will help.

Now, I'd ask anyone who doesn't think photography and videography should be allowed on public property to think of what would have happened after this incident. The two perpetrators would have gotten off totally scot-free!




Yes.... without the massive amount of LEGALLY taken images and videos of the event, the tragedy would be unsolved today.





So to everyone who wants to make photography a crime, just think about what the consequences might be.

 

[wornish]

So whats the fix ? I really don't know.

 

[sonicbuffalo_RIP]

I feel for you Jake. What everyone has to remember is that practically EVERYONE has a camera nowadays. Every cellphone is a camera in disguise, and no one says bullsh*t to them for taking pictures or movies. But, if IT looks like a camera, then everyone gets their panties in a wad. Congratulations Jake on your sale, and your picture! I'm glad it turned out ok for you with no arrest for whatever the hell they would have tried to charge you with.

 

[480sparky]

So whats the fix ? I really don't know.

Education.

Educate those who wish to trample on your rights. Let them know what you're doing is absolutely, perfectly legal. Explain that you're not doing anything wrong, and although you appreciate their being part of the local Neighborhood Watch, photography is not a crime. Don't get belligerent and start thumping your chest. Just remain calm and collected and state the facts. As soon as you start to get confrontational, it will quickly escalate, possibly out of control.

I've even offered to speak to the local police and sheriff departments near me about the issue. Unfortunately, I've been turned away.

 

[Needa]

Just an add to the comment about everyone having a camera. That doesn't even include all the "security" and "traffic" cameras motioned by some unknown person in a dark room. Privacy is an illusion.

 

[480sparky]

Just an add to the comment about everyone having a camera. That doesn't even include all the "security" and "traffic" cameras motioned by some unknown person in a dark room. Privacy is an illusion.

See post 25.

 

[Eyelight]

Pardon me if I don't see it this way. At all!!

Why? The kid wasn't "paying attention" or they would have seen that at no time did the camera point at any of them. The kid is fear filled because the parent is fear filled because that's the way the people who run this country like it. Those who see what we have in this post-9/11 nanny state as anything resembling "freedom" or "liberty" have lost sight of what that really means. "Lack of protection"?! Pardon me again while I clean the bullsh*t off my screen. One kid looks at a kid the wrong way in class and teachers and counselors are facing hours of anti-bullying paperwork. Please, our kids are so over-protected that they have no idea what "freedom" is. Yes, bad things happen. They always have and they always will. All it takes in today's culture is one bad incident to sweep through the press and the huddled (in fear) masses are ready to give away another slice of personal liberty in the name of "safety". I need to go rinse the vomit out of my mouth.

Missed my point entirely. Kids go missing everyday, get abused and neglected. Why? Yes, bad people do bad things, but there is a lack of protection and it is in part due to the freedoms we have. We are free to move across boundaries without having our vehicles inspected. We are free to be in our own space without being searched at random. I could go on.

The struggle is to maintain a balance between freedom and the costs. All those people were free to ask why you were there doing what you were doing. Yes??? Or are your rights more important than theirs??

 

[Kevin H]

Missed my point entirely. Kids go missing everyday, get abused and neglected. Why? Yes, bad people do bad things, but there is a lack of protection and it is in part due to the freedoms we have. We are free to move across boundaries without having our vehicles inspected. We are free to be in our own space without being searched at random. I could go on.

The struggle is to maintain a balance between freedom and the costs. All those people were free to ask why you were there doing what you were doing. Yes??? Or are your rights more important than theirs??

4 COPS ??? shouldn't they be doing something better??

 

[J-see]

4 COPS ??? shouldn't they be doing something better??

The donut shop was closed.

 

[jay_dean]

McCarthyism

 

[Bob Blaylock]

There is a price to freedom. Sometimes it's a young soldiers life, or sometimes it's taking your shoes off and sometimes it's just answering questions.

Some may not see this, but one of the prices we pay for the freedom we have is lack of protection, both for the child and the and the middle-aged guy with the camera.

In other words, the price of freedom is that we don't actually get to experience freedom, but must instead accept tyranny and paranoia, and be presumed guilty until proven innocent, in lieu of freedom.

Did you even think before you wrote that spectacular example of Orwellian doublethink?

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Re: Mob Rule & Shooting In Public - A Horror Story +1

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”—Benjamin Franklin

 

[Geoffc]

Sorry to hear this happened Jake. I was talking to a teacher family member recently who said they reported a guy near the school with a camera. He hadn't actually done anything wrong. I pointed out that if I wanted to take pictures of kids I would either use my 600mm lens from some cover or a covert camera I could wear. In either case they wouldn't know I was doing it. I pointed out that a guy close by with an obvious large DSLR is probably innocent or stupid as covert it isn't.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[donaldjledet]

It happens even if its not children you are shooting.
Was shooting aircraft coming in for landings by the airport while I was making a delivery.
At the warehouse I was at the security people came out and wanted to know why i was taking photos of there building
and warehouse doors. I said what are you talking about I'm taking photos of the planes over head that are going to the nearby airport.
Had to show them are they wasn't going to believe me.

 

[hark]

First of all, I'd like to say the photo is quite impressive.

And since when did a middle-aged man with a camera become the stereotypical pedophile?!

Umm...honestly Jake...how many middle-aged men WITH cameras go around taking photos strictly of buses? Yes, the thought of a middle-aged man taking a photo aimed at a bus is going to set off red flags. Sorry...I know it isn't what you want to hear, but it is the reality of where our country has gone. You getting flagged has nothing to do with your character as a person. Unfortunately too many child-lovin', HORNY men have made it difficult to take photos anywhere in the vicinity of children.

Do people ever approach you and strike up conversations when you are out shooting? I don't know if it's because I'm a female, but I feel like a magnet drawing in all kinds of people who want to stop and chat when I'm carrying a camera. Go figure.

I'll be sure to keep your situation in mind should I ever wish to photograph buses. In fact, sometimes I think the bus drivers hold conventions at either McDonald's or Burger King because I've been wanting to take a photo of the multitude of buses in their parking lots! Thankfully I am on a first name basis with one of the administrators in this local school district.

On a serious note, do a few Google searches for you name in case the report makes one of your local news outlets. You just never know....

 

[Rick M]

I'll bet it would have been acceptable if you used the camera on your phone instead! Because society is that stupid.