B&H Today and my 1DSMKII

[MDJAK]

Went on a minor shopping spree today at B&H. The experience was at once rewarding and very disappointing.

Last things first.

I have a (terrible?) habit of walking around B&H for upwards of two hours as I buy things with my 1dsmkII in hand, wrist strap on, 70-300DO IS attached, snapping as many pictures surreptiously of pretty ladies as I can. So, what made today a disappointment? The "store manager" came up to me and said no picture taking in the store. I looked at him with incredulity. I said, are you kidding me? I've been snapping pictures in this store for almost ten years, including when you used to be a small row store in lower manhattan. He said, no, I'm not kidding, it's the rules. I said, it's a camera store, people snap pictures with cameras all day long. He remained affable, stating sorry, it's the rules. I said, is it some new rule? He said, yeah, can't we make new rules? Well, not having finished shopping and not wanting to cause any trouble, least of all being asked to leave, I put my camera away, not happily mind you.

Then, I finally pulled the trigger and bought the Gitzo 1128. They tried the hard sell on the ball heads, but I resisted as I'm ordering the ReallyRightStuff B55 with quick release clamp as soon as they open. They are currently out of stock.

Then I picked up the Remote Switch RS-80N3 to use with the tripod. (I'm going for eleven days to Hawaii in August.)

In addition, I needed a battery charger for my daughter's Canon camcorder, as she left for Spain today and had lost hers. (I'm sure it will turn up now that I dropped 40 on the new one.)

A pack of Epson semigloss paper, 100 8x10 frames, and $700 later, I got away cheap.

Oh, yeah, I did get about 20 pictures before he made me stop shooting.

http://upload.pbase.com/mdjak/image/45669829/medium

[calgaryphotographer]

WOAH ****, 700 dollars. That is a whole lot of money! Lets see the pics!

[MDJAK]

I'm kind of dumb when it comes to resizing pictures and posting them. I think I just succeeded in uploading one, though it came out a little dark. I'll try again.

http://upload.pbase.com/mdjak/image/45669983/medium

[MDJAK]

This was one taken back in March during one of my twice monthly visits.


http://www.pbase.com/mdjak/image/41116639&exif=Y

[calgaryphotographer]

Great pictures!

[Michaelmjc]

hahah I am honestly laughing so hard, you wernt joking when you said you take pics of pretty ladies... too funny!

[elbirth]

I'm pretty shocked at the no picture taking policy.... every camera store I've been in, they ENCOURAGE you to take pictures, especially with equipment you're considering buying....

[HKFEVER]

No kidding, someone in this forums posted " in England you can't take picture of other childern on the street without thier parents' acknowledgement".:rolleyes:

[Tom W]

I'm pretty shocked at the no picture taking policy.... every camera store I've been in, they ENCOURAGE you to take pictures, especially with equipment you're considering buying....

Indeed, they probably do at B&H as well. But it's quite possible that one of the lovely ladies that was photographed complained to management, and that is why he quoted store policy. He may have responded to her complaint, while protecting her anonymity by avoiding mentioning that she had complained.

[benhasajeep]

I would bet they do have a written policy against taking photographs in the store. But they probably have allowed it in the past because they are in the camera business. But I think taking pictures of other customers in their store is pushing the limits. I love taking pictures, but have an adversion to being in them. Would much rather be behind the lens. I would be a little suspicious if someone was taking my pic. And I would think women would be even more worried. Just a guess on my part and as stated in a post above. I would bet someone noticed you taking pics of customers and said something.

[blue_max]

I wouldn't want my wife to see a picture of me in a camera shop! Mum's the word.

Graham

[MDJAK]

All or your replies make total sense. In fact, when I told the salesman who helped me pick out the Gitzo tripod, he said it stems from 9/11.

In New York now and in the last few years since, there are big signs on all bridges which say picture taking prohibited.

I can tell you, though, that in B&H I do it rather secretly and no one complained yesterday; I just happened to be in the home theater dept snapping pictures toward the rear of the store which is where the cameras are, something I've not done before. Had I followed my policy of standing to the rear, where the cameras are sold, I would have had no problem.

Problem is, I'm there so often (alms for the poor?) that they will probably be on the lookout for me.

[Tom W]

All or your replies make total sense. In fact, when I told the salesman who helped me pick out the Gitzo tripod, he said it stems from 9/11.


Yep - nothing would strike at the heart of America's will more than a terrorist attack on the B&H Camera shop. It is essential infrastructure and holds extreme sentimental value. </sarcasm> :D

I think there's been a great deal of over-reaction in odd places like B&H.

[johneo]

I'm pretty shocked at the no picture taking policy.... every camera store I've been in, they ENCOURAGE you to take pictures, especially with equipment you're considering buying....

LOL ... Reminds me of my early 20's when I worked at a Brewery. Drinking by employees was allowed during working hours but come Christmas time large notices were posted throughout the plant stating "NO alcoholic beverages allowed on company property (except our own)"

We had a full time employee whos job it was to keep the coolers in all the breakrooms filled and the taps in the lunch room working.

[wilflee]

Did you remember to bring a pad of model release forms with you to the store and ask the pretty ladies to sign after being shot?

[mrcoons]

I live in Illinois, in the US and it's hard to find a store anymore that will let you take pictures. A store of any kind!