Why are some people paranoid about cameras?

I decided to practice taking some bird pictures on the terrace of my home (I live in a city where homes are really close together). As I was taking some pictures I suddenly notice someone right across the street was just STARING out of the window and looking at me.... I was like... ok... freak (I wasn't even pointing the camera anywhere near her). I kept on taking pictures, discretely looked over and she was still looking... I mean... people think they are so important that I'm gonna want to be taking pictures of them in their home doing whatever... It was just annoying. I was getting the "would" factor.... I wish this &#%&! would come over and complain lol.

Anyway, has this happened to anyone?

On a sidenote: Actually, about a month ago my husband was taking pictures of this old abandoned building near my home and some guy starting yelling at him saying that he was taking pictures of him (when he wasn't even pointing the camera at him) and just followed him and called the cops on him lol, how ridiculous!!! Maybe it's the people in this neighborhood! I'm living in Argentina by the way... and supposidly taking pictures in public is legal.

Insecurity
Paranoia


Valid caution about suspicious activities
Prior experience at being robbed

Imagine all of those same issues even to a greater degree for a male, not from the neighborhood, engaged in the same activity as you were in your own home area!

Your observer might have been simply curious about seeing a neighbor with a big (to them) camera and about what you were shooting at. Give them a wave next time, the worst would be they don't wave back or better they wave back and find out they are into photography also.

Joe Ravenstein wrote in post #12465097
Your observer might have been simply curious about seeing a neighbor with a big (to them) camera and about what you were shooting at. Give them a wave next time, the worst would be they don't wave back or better they wave back and find out they are into photography also.

Yeah, I'd like to think the positive way, but she wasn't giving the curious look, it was more like the, what the heck are you doing look...

I honestly don't even see the other people when I'm shooting. I get tunnel vision and the only thing I see is through my viewfinder. I shot a model a few weeks back on the water front where bikers and joggers go and I was completely in the way and didn't even notice until I was done shooting at that spot.

Thats one of the most distracting things I face when shooting. I hate being watched, especially when it goes on for a long period of time without an explanation of why or some kind of interaction with the gawker. If I am in a public place, I just try to ignore them. But it is hard and I find myself working faster to get out of there.

arch.cm wrote in post #12465199
Yeah, I'd like to think the positive way, but she wasn't giving the curious look, it was more like the, what the heck are you doing look...

Maybe she couldn't figure out why anyone would want to take pictures of birds? Who knows. Just wave or nod to acknowledge them or just ignore.

she might of been a Nikon shooter and after seeing your Canon gear... was awe struck!

Maybe she was just totally bored crapless and you were an interesting diversion to stare at.

I'm curious as to how you think anyone knows what you're taking pictures of? Did you smile & wave?

She was probably a POTNer and was wondering if that was the new 70-210 IS or not and you are just being a little paranoid about why someone would wonder such a thing.

arch.cm wrote in post #12464743
Anyway, has this happened to anyone?

On a sidenote: Actually, about a month ago my husband was taking pictures of this old abandoned building near my home and some guy starting yelling at him saying that he was taking pictures of him (when he wasn't even pointing the camera at him) and just followed him and called the cops on him

LOL.

I was out in a large open field near my home with my telescopes taking astroimages of the night sky, when the County Sheriffs Deputy pulled up with bright lights and spot light blaring on me and my telescope equipment.
Once he realized what I was doing he turned his lights off. Then he came to me and explained that he was dispatched to investigate a man loitering and spying on someone in their house with an enormous size spy lens. He got a good laugh out of it, but I wasn't really amused since I was shooting with film and he had ruined the shot.
I saw him pull up to a house just north of the field and saw who it was that called the law.
What is truly ridiculous about it, if the person would have looked closer they would have seen the telescopes were aimed upward toward the sky in the opposite direction from their house.

tkerr wrote in post #12469602
LOL.

I was out in a large open field near my home with my telescopes taking astroimages of the night sky, when the County Sheriffs Deputy pulled up with bright lights and spot light blaring on me and my telescope equipment.
Once he realized what I was doing he turned his lights off. Then he came to me and explained that he was dispatched to investigate a man loitering and spying on someone in their house with an enormous size spy lens. He got a good laugh out of it, but I wasn't really amused since I was shooting with film and he had ruined the shot.
I saw him pull up to a house just north of the field and saw who it was that called the law.
What is truly ridiculous about it, if the person would have looked closer they would have seen the telescopes were aimed upward toward the sky in the opposite direction from their house.

Some people are just plain stupid lol