If you ever see this guy in Chicago, DO NOT Photograph him!

I'm assuming this is oil based paint and the fumes are starting to take over?

Wild Country wrote in post #5684597
I woulda kicked his ass and told him to stop being such a retard.

But that's just me.

*Edit* Kinda reminds me of this guy... who knows the movie?

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That was one of the funniest scenes in the movie

As for the posts about people taking pics, they're drawing attention on themselves.
Plenty of them around South Bank in London - I just shoot them and they never mind. If they've put on a good show, sure I may even donate some change

Excellent story. You should have taken more pictures and pretended to delete them all.

How do you know he didn't ask you in a polite manner the first time? You walked off with an Ipod on. I would think he said something to you way before he ran up and jumped in your face. He probably got pissed because he asked you and thought you ignored him. I have seen this guy hundreds of times, but I have never seen him just go crazy on somebody. We also have a guy that paints his body with gold paint and does the same act. He also wants money for photos. The worst Chicago street act is the guy who walks around with a giant cross hanging on his back. He has a sign that says "Will read for money". His whole act is he will read a couple of pages from a book if you pay him. The funny thing is the cross is so heavy that he has a roller skate strapped to the bottom of it to make it easier to move.

You know, some people somewhere along the line thought it was important that you be able to take photo's of that guy. I personally have oc/cs spray for just such a possibility... because believe me, i too think me being able to take these types of photo's is important enough to make my stand. I understand some must take risk into account, but luckily i'm part of a different facet of society that deals with the risk day in and out.

Sometimes I really wonder if the people who object to the whole public pictures thing use ATMs....

It's really interesting how this is so different in different countries too....when I shoot street, one of my favorite subjects is kids. Some countries I have been yelled at for it, and some (china/japan), folks saw my big camera/lens combo and jumped in front of me and held their kids up proudly, begging for a pic to immortalize their youth. I think that's great

It really sucks when people think the worst right off the bat....but those times when people do that (aforementioned proud display) is what makes up for it all

Guess he's hoping to be in the next Wizard of Oz. ...what whacko!!

At least you weren't scared by this guy

Mightykhoa wrote in post #5722023
At least you weren't scared by this guy

HOLY ****

If that guy actually moved id be scared ****less

I think I would've put my foot up the "Tin mans" ass!
I see him all the time on N. Michigan ave.

Flashback!

To all the people claiming that their size is a deterrent........size DOES NOT MATTER when it comes to crazy people. I am a huge guy myself and am told I look quite intimidating when at work, so I do my best to not have that “air” about me – it just leads to confrontation. The guy who takes a poke at you will have nothing to lose.

He will either KYTFO and be the hero of all heroes, or he will lose the fight and gain “street cred” for taking you on in the first place, knowing that he would likely lose. Either way, you will get dirtied up, catch some unknown disease and make a jerk out of yourself for beating on a homeless/mental guy.

The poster took the high road and I give him Kudos for that. The only thing that I would have done differently is report him to someone. After all is said and done, NO ONE has the right to strong arm anyone.

PS - What would anyone prove arguing with a guy like this - dressed in silver paint and kneepads? You would look just as crazy as him. And you are only 6'3" and 250lbs until you get your arse kicked by a smaller person............You walk away much smaller after that........

rooeey wrote in post #3785449
I reckon you id OK after all you are in the US and any man and his can carry a side arm ??
You got rid of him and you kept the shot..
And you live to tell the tail.

Urban myth, or just misinformation on your part.

I think people you photograph have a right not to be photographed, I've always gone by this policy as I've come across a handful of people who were either covering their faces when I was pointing my camera in their general direction or have explicitly asked not to be photographed. Of course I could still photograph them despite their efforts, without their notice but I'm not like that. If I were in a situation like the OP, ideally, I would have done the same thing. A principle of having the right to snap shots of people in the public places is not worth getting in a fight for, you never know where they're coming from and what they're capable of and all that.

You could have just ponied up the $5 he wanted and he would have robot danced his way back into non-existence.