Any Close Calls? Here's Mine.

Today I was out for my weekly Friday shoot. Grabbed my Tamrak backpack and drove into a local city and arrived at just about sunrise. I was out for about 3 hours having a great time, swapping lenses, filters, coming up with new angles and ideas, getting smiles from people, talking to an artist I met, it was a really great morning. When the sun was high enough I figured either call it a day or shoot down on a subway platform. I packed my gear up as I was still undecided, but headed to the subway anyhow.

As the subway platform is submerged, to get to it you have to walk down about 3 flights of stairs where it gets a bit on the darker side. There are two sets of these, one going North and the other South. There were plenty of people walking around up and down, going here and there, students, elderly, the usual hustle and bustle I guess.

Before crossing the street to the stairs that descend down to the North bound side, I noticed these two fellers hanging around the top of the South bound side. They seemed a bit suspicious looking around on the street above and watching my every move. I crossed, but was cautious, so I walked slow. When I got across I just kind of hung around before I would descend down the stairs.

Now I didn't grow up in the city, but it doesn't take much to figure out what was going on here. To test these guys I'd slowly walk toward the stairs. As soon as soon as I did that one of the guys would slowly head my way. When I'd back off, he'd do the same. This went on for about 15 minutes, when I figured it wasn't worth it any longer.

When I decided to leave I walked passed them to head towards my car. About 20' after I passed them I heard one of them say, just loud enough for me to hear, "MF'n photographer". I just kept walking as I thought, "Good, I'm glad I made your day pal".

As I didn't have any gear out or exposed, all I could figure was that they knew what a photo backpack looked like in comparison to a regular students backpack, even from a distance they spotted me on arrival. Back in the film days we were taught to never buy a hard case as that was a dead give away, but a backpack?

It's funny the decisions we make, like taking a North bound train or South bound train and how it would effect your life forever. Your thoughts, the people you meet, the things you see. If I had not seen these guys when I did, and went down those stairs, who knows what would have changed in my life. ??

Anyone else here had any close calls, would love to here them.

Its a good idea to listen to what your gut is telling you, in this case to not go down those stairs. Normally I'd suggest you get a CCW, but seeing where you are I'm sure that is impossible. Keep listening to your senses.

You can't get a handgun carry permit in Cal? Anyway that experience will help you for a long time...trust your gut.

Elfstop wrote in post #15667149
You can't get a handgun carry permit in Cal?

It's incredibly difficult to get a CCW in most counties in CA.

Wow Tony -- good situational awareness! Glad everything turned out ok.

Bryan

Good for you.

rick_reno wrote in post #15667016
Its a good idea to listen to what your gut is telling you, in this case to not go down those stairs. Normally I'd suggest you get a CCW, but seeing where you are I'm sure that is impossible. Keep listening to your senses.

As someone who has had to draw their CCW before, I agree.

Never ever fail to head your spidey sense. It will never lead you wrong...

Neither of my two closest calls were camera related and they both happened in a less populated area. Now that I primarily hang out in the city, I do not worry about it as much because there are always people around.

In both of my cases, I knew it was coming and I got ready for it.

The second one I diffused really quickly by talking to the two kids that were sizing me up. I think they were just bored and were looking for something to do.

The first one, I was followed for a few blocks on my walk home one night. There were two guys, and I know exactly where they picked me up. Luckily when the one guy grabbed me, his friend decided not to get involved. He grabbed me from behind, so I grabbed onto his arms and held him so that I knew exactly where he was. If you have ever wrestled, basically I set it up so I was on the bottom and he was on top, and I was holding onto him. At this point he wasn't doing anything, so I asked him what he wanted, and he did not say anything. I asked him again what he wanted and told him if he did not do something that I would start yelling. When he did not do anything, I started yelling. He pushed off of me and then tried to kick me. Then he took off.

I am much more afraid of groups of people and not individuals. I was lucky that his friend did not get involved as it would have been a different story.

In both of my cases, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the kids were bored.

My theory is that if they are willing to risk the consequences of stealing something from me that they obviously need it more than I do, and I will give it up whatever they want right away. Not worth fighting over.

I hate this type of **** and it's happened to me just not camera related. This is the same reason why I hate bums/beggers creeping up on me.

Good gut call.

Lol^

Heath wrote in post #15670568
Now that I primarily hang out in the city, I do not worry about it as much because there are always people around.

Heath, glad those situations worked out for you. Not sure how I would have handled it. The thing was, in my situation, there were plenty of people around, but I think these guys were just leery of law enforcement and wanted me away from the main street where we were standing.

Years ago I would have just started throwing punches. Now I wouldn't do that unless my family were threatened. My problem is that my spine isn't doing so well and have been warned by my Doc how severe my condition is (too many problems to list). A bad fall or doing something stupid could very easily make me a paraplegic. After two surgery's this is simply the way it's going to be, so I have to be careful.

If I could carry I believe that my condition could possibly warrant the reason and I'd jump on it in a heart beat, but for now I'll do my best to steer clear of any confrontations.

Tony,

Can you get pepper spray there and carry it? Given your health, get something that avoids physical contact with a hostile entity.

Rick, yes we can do pepper spray. They haven't taken that from us yet. It cannot exceed 2.5oz.

See: http://ag.ca.gov/firea​rms/dwcl/12401.php

I'll definitely do this. It can't hurt.

Edit in: I still may apply for a CCW.

Ynot wrote in post #15671948
Rick, yes we can do pepper spray. They haven't taken that from us yet. It cannot exceed 2.5oz.

See: http://ag.ca.gov/firea​rms/dwcl/12401.php

I'll definitely do this. It can't hurt.

Edit in: I still may apply for a CCW.

Pepper spray is a good choice. I think I remember you don't have to get a CCW in the county you live, if that is still true you might want to try El Dorado or Placer county. The sherifffs there used to approve them. Google it and see which county is the best to apply, some used to be a lot better than others for geting one.