Minding my own business when a ranger approaches

So I was standing on the bridge of a bike path overlooking the Fox River near my home, leaning against the rail, and trying to capture a shot of anything that flew by. I had my 7D with a 400 5.6 mounted. While I waited I would greet anyone that jogged, walked or pedaled by me including a conservation officer on bike.

This is the first time I've ever even seen one of these guys on the path in 20 years. I greet him as he goes by and continue looking off in the distance for any approaching bird. 10 minutes later he circles back and stops next to me and asks me if I am a professional photographer. I tell no, and that it is a hobby of mine, but he keeps eyeballing the camera, and tells me that I can't take any pictures and then sell them without getting permission from the district. I assure him it is just a hobby that I enjoy, but I don't think he believes me because he keeps looking at my camera.

Just seemed kind of weird and petty.

I think he would have a hard job trying to prove where a photo of a bird was taken, even if you did sell it.

bored and looking for someone to annoy , .

Remember..."I have no intention of selling any of my photos, or gaining any commercial value from my photos taken in this park. So there are no applicable limitations that the agency which you represent would ever legally be able to impose against me, which any court would uphold against me, as a private citizen enjoying his hobby and not violating the rights of any other citizens, and I am on public property. Thank you for your concern."

Or maybe he was so enamored of your gear, that he wanted a reason to eye it covetously.

That fellow is an a$$ hat in need of something to do.

rick_reno wrote in post #14308043
That fellow is an asshat in need of something to do.

For better clarification, should that be hyphenated to read 'as-shat', or properly spelled as 'a$$ hat' -- (in which case, this is a family site and it should have been written as '*ss hat' regardless of hyphenation or mispelling issue!)

Wilt wrote in post #14308193
For better clarification, should that be hyphenated to read 'as-shat', or properly spelled as 'ass hat' -- (in which case, this is a family site and it should have been written as '*ss hat' regardless of hyphenation or mispelling issue!)

I altered it - but after consulting the urban dictionary, the original spelling would appear to be correct.

http://www.urbandictio​nary.com/define.php?te​rm=asshat

rick_reno wrote in post #14308225
I altered it - but after consulting the urban dictionary, the original spelling would appear to be correct.

http://www.urbandictio​nary.com/define.php?te​rm=asshat

I hadn't heard of that term...I guess that they had to eventually popularize for the lay person the term long known within medically knowledgable circles as 'recto-cranial inversion'

Wow.

You guys are seriously hypersensitive.

If what the ranger said is true, then he did absolutely nothing wrong.

I'm never not amazed by the things people will whine about...

BreitlingFan wrote in post #14308961
Wow.

You guys are seriously hypersensitive.

If what the ranger said is true, then he did absolutely nothing wrong.

I'm never not amazed by the things people will whine about...

Well when the language police start getting offended at words that are not even considered swears or picked up by swear filters, what do you think will happen?

Everyone thinks they have a right to complain about anything that happens... either to them or anywhere with nothing to do with them. Its the reason the western world is becoming a homogenized hypersensitive world of soccer moms on soapboxes.

The irony of someone hijacking a thread (against the rules) to complain about the word "ass", instead of reporting petty concern to be ignored...is just perfect, you know... because of the word they were complaining about...

OMG i was on POTN and my child seen the word ass...lmao..wake up!

Anyways back on topic...the guy makes $10 an hour to be bored as hell, hes gotta stress whatever power he has to justify his existence. I wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

JersFocus wrote in post #14310462
Well when the language police start getting offended at words that are not even considered swears or picked up by swear filters, what do you think will happen?

Everyone thinks they have a right to complain about anything that happens... either to them or anywhere with nothing to do with them. Its the reason the western world is becoming a homogenized hypersensitive world of soccer moms on soapboxes.

The irony of someone hijacking a thread (against the rules) to complain about the word "ass", instead of reporting petty concern to be ignored...is just perfect, you know... because of the word they were complaining about...

OMG i was on POTN and my child seen the word ass...lmao..wake up!

Anyways back on topic...the guy makes $10 an hour to be bored as hell, hes gotta stress whatever power he has to justify his existence. I wouldnt lose any sleep over it.

Sheesh, did you notice the wink in both posts?! we were adding a bit of levity to what was an overreaction by some! (OMG talk about another overreaction!) BTW, I fixed 'a$$' in my post, you better fix yours so that your child doesn't see it

A "Professional" will know the difference between "Personal Use" and "Commercial Use" and the finer points of Commercial Vs Editorial Vs Fine Art whereas your basic photography newbie usually won't.

Authority figures need to learn who are the real "enemies" in these situations. Same with sporting events and concerts.

Wilt wrote in post #14310478
Sheesh, did you notice the wink in both posts?! we were adding a bit of levity to what was an overreaction by some! (OMG talk about another overreaction!)

alright.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14310512
A "Professional" will know the difference between "Personal Use" and "Commercial Use" and the finer points of Commercial Vs Editorial Vs Fine Art whereas your basic photography newbie usually won't.

Authority figures need to learn who are the real "enemies" in these situations. Same with sporting events and concerts.

I'm pretty sure that said park ranger didn't write the rules.

He just has to enforce them.

Don't like it? Don't go to the park.

Problem solved...

BreitlingFan wrote in post #14311135
I'm pretty sure that said park ranger didn't write the rules.

The problem is that many of the people in these positions don't have a full grasp of the laws.