My first bad encounter shooting with a SLR

Pete wrote in post #5886710
I've edited the thread title and some of the OP's post.

We don't allow racism here, even if it's just used as a metaphor...

But you allow cameraism? hahaha

Nah it's not really a big deal, I mean if he was right and I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures, then I shouldn't have been taking pictures. My fault, I'm sorry, I left.

Like I said, I just thought it was a funny story to share with my fellow photographers who know that "a big lens" gets you into certain types of situations.

And my jokes got edited? I just can't great a break today.

Lowner wrote in post #5886669
Oxford thinks far too highly of itself in my opinion. Never been to Cambridge so don't know if thats the same. Probably.

Not much better there. Here's my experience: LINK.

Nick_C wrote in post #5886488
I cant say if the OP was right or wrong... TOO MUCH TO READ!! I get bored very quickly LOL

Isn't this a bit like criticizing the government when you don't vote?

let me stand out from the group of readers in this thread. You deserved to be kicked out you broke the rules. Be happy they didnt take your camera in the process( they could have done that). Somany people dont listen to the rules or dont care about them. I dont know what type of photographer you are but what you did gives us a bad name. I am a professional photographer and i was in mexico a few weeks ago. i attended a outdoor show. It was great the stage and lights and fire and everything. They told us no pictures during the show out of respect for the meanning of the show. they had signs out as well, so i put my camera away. I must admit i was tempted to snap away. and even though it was dark i could have did it with no flash. I didnt! others snapped away like crazy. People wonder why other countries hate us. Its because from our government down we do what we want to do regaurdless of who we offend. So sorry to say it but you deserved to be kicked out

I agree with all that you have written, except that I gather the group "leader" had specifically said it was OK.

I would not have left it there I'm afraid. The self appointed dictator needs to have a few things explained to him, via his boss if need be. We should never allow this kind of behavior to go unchallenged.

Richard

Something doesnt read right to me with this tale.

First of all, you were shooting where you werent allowed. The gaurd was only doing his job by preventing you taking more. Only thing that surprises me is that the rest werent ejected as well (or were you so far behind the group that he didnt know you were part of it?)

Secondly, if you were a part of a group which had prearranged rights for photography, why didnt you speak to the group leader who would have sorted the situation?

Thirdly, you admit to being part of a loud group. That in its self could be the reason - someone may have complained about your groups behaviour/noise and you being the lone trailing person got singled out.

All in all, i cant say i have a great amount of sympathy with the OP. His group broke the rules (photography, noise etc) and he paid for it by being asked to leave. I only wonder about why the rest of the group werent ejected as well.

From what he posted I guess the main reason the OP was irritated was that he was singled out, and chances are this was the case because he used a more professional looking camera. While this may seem unfair (a little P&S with flash is just as annoying), the reasoning of the guard may have been the following:

Most of these P&S shooters were beginners/amateurs who just shoot out of a habit. Sarcastically speaking, they may not even have been aware that they were taking pictures at the time

But you with your DSLR were assumed to know perfectly well what you did and were therefore held to higher standards. And you did acknowledge that you broke the rule (as did the rest of the pack)

In addition: If the guard would have kicked one of the P&Sers out, they would have been all over him, creating a big fuss. You were easy prey to single out, both because you fell behind, and because you didn't blend in with your camera ... probably a cheap shot on the side of the guard. Plus some P&Sers may have stopped shooting after they saw what happened to you.

One more things: These churches may also be worried about their post card sales. And few P&S users have ever achieved a semi decent picture inside a church, while DSLRs fare much better in this regard (think high ISO low noise large aperture awareness of shutter times and camera shake).

I think the problem was that you "fell behind"...actually sounds like you did that on purpose because you wanted a clear shot.

Perhaps the security guard was on a power trip, or perhaps he thought that you were a solo visitor. The DSLR probably didn't help either.

You did the right thing by obeying and leaving. It was unfortunate, but that's the civil thing to do. Sounds like you've moved on.

The "entitlement" of rights that us Americans often times bring abroad should end right when you land at the destination.

The whole "Noisy, Ugly Americans", while a stereotype, must come from past experience. I can certainly understand. I see it all the time. It's embarrassing.

If you knew no picture taking was allowed, then......??!!!

I've actually been told no shooting when I wasn't just because I had my camera slung over my shoulder.

My camera club had a shoot a while back in the Gaslamp area of San Diego. We were standing on the sidewalk outside a shopping mall when one of the private security guard from the mall came up to us and told us there was no photography inside the mall...

Nutz.

1. If it's against the rules to take pictures, then enforce the rules. "Please do not take pictures inside the building" will accomplish that far better than, "YOU! OUT!"...assuming that's what really happened.

2. There can be NO justification for it being against the rules other than doing so is a distraction to those who are there for evensong. Thus, the notion of confiscating the camera or images, which would create a far larger distraction, is ridiculous on the face of it. I was once touring a factory where the products I was testing for a government client were being made. Making photos was part of my testing and therefore part of my job. I discussed it with them, and they allowed me to make photos from certain angles to prevent the pictures from showing parts of the factory where that same company makes toll-road electronic tags--which I respected as an secret of some importance. That's how grownups work such things out. If the OP is correct in the recounting, then obeying the guard was the right thing to do. But I would have complained to the guard's supervisor about the way it was handled later.

3. Americans are not the only jerks in the world (the original word I used is acceptable on the radio, but apparently not on POTN, heh, heh). Um, "jerkism" is a rampant, worldwide disease, tightly coupled, it would seem to the Human Condition. Americans feeling guilty about being American annoys me--I live near Washington and see many tourists from all over the world. Many tourists behave poorly, and then act like children when corrected. Country of origin doesn't seem to correlate.

4. The readers of threads like this one will never know what really happened or what led up to it. Even people who are completely honest can fool themselves. Maybe that's the case; maybe not. It's impossible to know.

5. I would have had an SLR there, too. BUT, the guard would have never seen me take a picture. Pictures are prohibited here, too. I took this one right under the nose of the guide, without the guide even knowing I had done so:

rdenney wrote in post #5893891
That's how grownups work such things out. If the OP is correct in the recounting, then obeying the guard was the right thing to do. But I would have complained to the guard's supervisor about the way it was handled later

You mean grownups obey the guard, and go crying to the guard's supervisor afterwards?

rdenney wrote in post #5893891
Americans are not the only jerks in the world (the original word I used is acceptable on the radio, but apparently not on POTN, heh, heh). Um, "jerkism" is a rampant, worldwide disease, tightly coupled, it would seem to the Human Condition. Americans feeling guilty about being American annoys me--I live near Washington and see many tourists from all over the world. Many tourists behave poorly, and then act like children when corrected. Country of origin doesn't seem to correlate.

OK, you have a point. We are all jerks!

rdenney wrote in post #5893891
I would have had an SLR there, too. BUT, the guard would have never seen me take a picture. Pictures are prohibited here, too. I took this one right under the nose of the guide, without the guide even knowing I had done so:

How very "grownup" of you...

rdenney wrote in post #5893891

Denney

Nice pic.

There are quite a few things that don't gel with me about this. First of all, I've taken pictures in the courtyards a great many Oxford Colleges (they're not called 'schools') without any problem whatsoever. I wouldn't, however, try to take pictures in a College church during Evensong (I think that's what the OP means - not 'Evening Song'). Secondly, as far as I'm aware, Colleges don't have security guards. They have their own, very respected, staff - and I can't really imagine any of them saying 'Oi you! Out!'. They are normally very respectful, though firm when necessary.

I'd very much like to hear the other side of the story.

turaund1 wrote in post #5890080
let me stand out from the group of readers in this thread. You deserved to be kicked out you broke the rules. Be happy they didnt take your camera in the process( they could have done that). Somany people dont listen to the rules or dont care about them. I dont know what type of photographer you are but what you did gives us a bad name. I am a professional photographer and i was in mexico a few weeks ago. i attended a outdoor show. It was great the stage and lights and fire and everything. They told us no pictures during the show out of respect for the meanning of the show. they had signs out as well, so i put my camera away. I must admit i was tempted to snap away. and even though it was dark i could have did it with no flash. I didnt! others snapped away like crazy. People wonder why other countries hate us. Its because from our government down we do what we want to do regaurdless of who we offend. So sorry to say it but you deserved to be kicked out

I don't wonder why other countries hate us. We've been hated since our inception and if you think it's something new you're very much mistaken. In fact it's more a rule than an exception to be loathed. Furthermore I don't care why anyone hates Americans.

I know this is off topic but let me say I don't condone rude people or behaviour but I'm sick of attitudes like your's that assumes we're justified being hated. I vehemently disagree with that.