I'm a photographer, not a terrorist!

Based in GB, but still applicable elsewhere.

http://photographernot​aterrorist.org/

How about another thread, "I'm a photographer, not a pervert or pedophile or child trafficer or pornographer"

This site has a lot of info on what to do when caught, but where are the actual cases where people were convicted for photographing people?

There might not the a conviction, there might also not be an arrest, but it nevertheless is a 'hassle' when you have to waste time and effort to deal with confrontation.

Imagine you are at a playing field which is in a public park, at a youth league event. You have your long lens and you are there simply practicing technique of shooting sports, in preparation for when you go to a game where your own son or daughter will be playing on a high school team. You are accused of being a pedophile, or you are asked to leave and NOT shoot the kids, even though your intentions are pure. Hassle. You don't accomplish your practicing.

If it's a public park, they can say all they want; if I'm shooting my own kid I can take shots of them all day long :P ... if it's a private venue, well, that's another story.
And frankly people can try and hassle me all they want, but if I know I'm in good legal standing I'm just going to ask them to leave me alone. Most Canadians are not confrontational so this usually works :P

beeng wrote in post #9120909
If it's a public park, they can say all they want; if I'm shooting my own kid I can take shots of them all day long :P ... if it's a private venue, well, that's another story.
And frankly people can try and hassle me all they want, but if I know I'm in good legal standing I'm just going to ask them to leave me alone. Most Canadians are not confrontational so this usually works :P

And when your kid is not on one of the teams which are playing, and you are trying to get in some practice shooting, as in the scenario I depicted...?!

Wilt wrote in post #9120807
There might not the a conviction, there might also not be an arrest, but it nevertheless is a 'hassle' when you have to waste time and effort to deal with confrontation.

Imagine you are at a playing field which is in a public park, at a youth league event. You have your long lens and you are there simply practicing technique of shooting sports, in preparation for when you go to a game where your own son or daughter will be playing on a high school team. You are accused of being a pedophile, or you are asked to leave and NOT shoot the kids, even though your intentions are pure. Hassle. You don't accomplish your practicing.

I wonder what the perception would be if there were a group of photographers with long lenses at the park.

Wilt wrote in post #9120946
And when your kid is not on one of the teams which are playing, and you are trying to get in some practice shooting, as in the scenario I depicted...?!

Either I'd say "yea, that's my kid over there" and vaguely point in the direction of the field
Really though, I've never encountered this problem... or heard of anyone have a problem like that around here. If it's a public park though, everyone is still in the public venue and is open to photographing anyway.

edit: I think the biggest thing is to show up confident and look like you're supposed to be there. If you're off the side away from the bleachers of course people are going to be suspicious... you LOOK suspicious.

AxxisPhoto wrote in post #9120954
I wonder what the perception would be if there were a group of photographers with long lenses at the park.

A whole bunch of pedophiles or child trafficers on the prowl ?!

beeng wrote in post #9120972
Either I'd say "yea, that's my kid over there" and vaguely point in the direction of the field
Really though, I've never encountered this problem... or heard of anyone have a problem like that around here. If it's a public park though, everyone is still in the public venue and is open to photographing anyway.

edit: I think the biggest thing is to show up confident and look like you're supposed to be there. If you're off the side away from the bleachers of course people are going to be suspicious... you LOOK suspicious.

It seems POTN has enough tales of photographers who were instructed to NOT shoot any players, as the coach may never have seen that photographer's face and had not met them as "Johnny's parent".

Wilt wrote in post #9120807
Imagine you are at a playing field which is in a public park, at a youth league event. You have your long lens and you are there simply practicing technique of shooting sports, in preparation for when you go to a game where your own son or daughter will be playing on a high school team. You are accused of being a pedophile, or you are asked to leave and NOT shoot the kids, even though your intentions are pure. Hassle. You don't accomplish your practicing.

imagine not being a complete arse and approaching the parents and explaining who you are and what your doing first

Just yesterday I was asked by cops at different places as to why I was shooting & whether I had permission to shoot , I was shooting streelife / buildings in the night.
Its been a year since the city was attacked by terrorists , something that we've come to accept that might happen again , but its normal citizens like me paying the price, Im based in Mumbai, India.

They can't do much though. If it's still a public venue :P
Honestly though, I have yet to meet parents at a game who are that paranoid. Most are more worried about the pictures their kids are putting up on facemybookspace (you know the kind).

Bobster wrote in post #9121032
imagine not being a complete arse and approaching the parents and explaining who you are and what your doing first

A very good approach, and one that I would suggest, to talk to the coach and parents.

beeng wrote in post #9121037
They can't do much though. If it's still a public venue :P

Honestly though, I have yet to meet parents at a game who are that paranoid. Most are more worried about the pictures their kids are putting up on facemybookspace (you know the kind).

Nevertheless, we have heard of coaches who state "no photography" to someone without some link to team members, or "you can shoot, but you only if you give me copy of all the photos, and the rights to utilize the photos".


We're back to the hassle factor once again.

Having to summon the police yourself, to deflect away "pervert" and "pedophile" claims by passing women at a public park, is another hassle that POTN members have endured. I distinctly remember one flower macro shooter being accused "you we're shooting pictures of my butt!"

That site badly needs some proofreading. Typos and misspellings galore.

Although I can respect the topic and fighting the good fight, I have to say that I feel that site is just making landmines out of molehills. It seems like they're just there to have a cause for a website.