My first bad encounter shooting with a SLR

Lowner wrote in post #5886669
Sadly we have crazed nutters in Britain as well. University employment probably suits that type very well - lots of new students to frighten every year.

He probably complained that the university outlawed flogging the students like the good old days.

Did he have a pet cat?

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

Don't lump me with those Neanderthals that we call our government, lol. I respect the rules of the house, especially as a photographer.

I, too, have gotten singled out for having a big fancy SLR on my shoulder, but I'm usually very nice about it. Sometimes I'll use my deafness and pretend not to hear (it works like a charm, lol) and use american sign language (no, not the middle finger) to communicate, it usually leaves a guard flustered just enough to leave me alone .

As for the OP, I'm not sure we're getting the full story. Something doesn't seem to click here, and it's not a shutter button. If the OP indeed get kicked out for shooting where he was not supposed to be shooting, the entire crowd should have been kicked out as well for shooting with their points and shoots. It is STILL photography, after all, regardless if it's a SLR, Medium format, camera phone or P&S.

Glad I did all my college requirements in the US

turaund1 wrote in post #5890080
Be happy they didnt take your camera in the process( they could have done that).

No, they couldn't.

Let me repeat -
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.

I've gotten pretty damn grumpy in my aging.

My first question would have been "What is your name?"

The second "who do you work for?"

and probably the third "I want to see the regulation that says...."

I figure if someone is going to try to ruin my day, the least I can do is toss some stress into theirs

Stop being so precious.. Be happy the security guy was friendly.. Here in Laos you would've had an AK-47 stuck under your nose and your camera confiscated..

nicksan wrote in post #5894054
You mean grownups obey the guard, and go crying to the guard's supervisor afterwards?
...
OK, you have a point. We are all jerks!
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How very "grownup" of you...
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Nice pic.

Yup, you got it. Yes, grownups avoid confrontation where such confrontation does more harm than good, or shows disrespect for the other people in the group or in the area (many of whom are there for religious reasons). Yes, we are all jerks ("There is none who is righteous; no, not one"). Yes, it is grownup to circumvent stupid rules without putting the guard or the guide, neither of whom had any say in the rule, in the position of being the heavy. And, yes, grownups still get the pic.

There is nothing to be gained by escalating a confrontation, and much to be lost. Quietly obeying the guard and then carrying one's convictions to his supervisors is not being cowardly, nor is it being a crybaby. It gives the system a chance to work.

If, of course, that's what really happened.

(Of course, it is dangerous to try and be funny and serious in the same post, and this isn't the first time I've been shown that lesson.)

Rick "who would also like to hear the other side of the story" Denney