I went into NYC last Sunday to do some street photography - which I love. Lately I've been noticing more people giving me a "look" like "what are you doing here?" I've noticed it more and more lately. However, Sunday it happened so frequently that I hesitated to focus my camera. Previously I rarely noticed people looking at me when I'm out there shooting. Now I find myself looking around to see who is watching me before I press the shutter button.

It took a lot of practice for me to do any street photography, but I got over my fear. Now I feel I'm going back again.

When I got off the bus at Port Authority two weeks ago, and walked out of the building there were some cops - as usual. However in addition, there were 3 military officers armed with rifles. On the way back, there were 9 cops and 5 officers. I realized it was the anniversary of Hiroshima, so I assumed it was a precaution. There were no military officers last week.

So - am I getting paranoid? Or is it all the people who seem to be wary of cameras? Or both? Maybe I'll start shooting flowers in my backyard. :rolleyes: Just kidding!

This reminds me of an old saying I heard years ago (paraphrase)
The whole world has gone crazy, except for Me and Thee. And sometimes I wonder about Thee. :D

Liz

Liz,

It's probably a bit of both....

Sometimes one person can be so paranoid that they do give you that "look". It disconcerning to say the least. You are not trying to bother anybody, but they don't want the pictures. There will always be that one, but it's not the norm.

You have a great eye for the street so it would be a shame to see you concentrate on macro shots of your backyard. :) So I wouldn't worry too much about it. Most of the people are comfortable, and maybe just curious.

Once you get going again it should be easier to shake off those bad vibes...

Loren

Keep doing the street shots! People are naturally warry of the camera, I know I saw it when I was in Toronto. Everyone was looking at me when I paused to take a shot. The trick I found is just to ignore them, and do the shot anyways.

Both. Maybe people are thinking you're a crazy stalker, and maybe you're interpreting their reaction to you as unwelcome. Just keep shooting. I'm ethnically Asian, so people just assume I'm a Japanese or Chinese tourist with a camera when I'm out and about snapping street shots. ;)

Loren,

Thanks for the kind words. No, I'm not the backyard macro type! I love people and events and just need to get above the fear.

When I saw the military with rifles, I was afraid to let them see my "big camera with the long lens" but I decided to overcome the fear. I didn't point it at them though! I approached them and asked if I could take their picture (I didn't ask if I could "shoot" them btw) :confused:

They immediately smiled and all 3 of them got into a posing position. My shot is soft because I was nervous........unfortunately.

Liz

Thanks.

I seldom get a chance to get out. I love street photography. It's just about the only thing I do now due to the time element.

I think the "bigger" camera/lens is questionable to some.

Liz

Both. Maybe people are thinking you're a crazy stalker, and maybe you're interpreting their reaction to you as unwelcome. Just keep shooting. I'm ethnically Asian, so people just assume I'm a Japanese or Chinese tourist with a camera when I'm out and about snapping street shots. ;)

Thanks for the advice. I really have to get a mindset - I had to do this when I first started street photography and got over the fear. However, just recently I've noticed a lot more people looking at me. I guess it's the bigger camera/lens than the small P&S.

Liz

Keep doing the street shots! People are naturally warry of the camera, I know I saw it when I was in Toronto. Everyone was looking at me when I paused to take a shot. The trick I found is just to ignore them, and do the shot anyways.

"(I didn't ask if I could "shoot" them btw) :confused: "
Good one Liz!

Now this very photo is proof that you should not give up doing street photography!

I think it's a consequence of our huge "security fear" these days. I've had the second-guessing thing going on too. Last year I stopped in a Target parking lot near O'Hare airport to shoot a series I was planning to call "Trains, Planes and Automobiles." I was right under the flight path.

Wouldn't you know it though, each time I pointed my camera upward I got the distinct feeling that if someone saw me, they'd call the cops and I'd get arrested. Completely spoiled my whole experience and I got NADA from the shoot because I was so distracted by every passing car.

Am I paranoid too? Who can say anymore these days.

It's a sad state of affairs in our society nowadays. It's even hit small town America. A short time ago, a couple of photographers (bird nerds) stopped there car to shoot some birds just down the street from my daughters house. Someone saw them and called the cops. The guys were stopped and investigated and determined to be o.k., but I'm sure it was rather frightening and embarrassing for the photogs...One of my favorite shots is shooting motorcycles and cars and I sometimes wonder if one of the bikers is gonna pull out a gun and "shoot" me...whew...People are scared...and it's not just the terrorism. It's Jon Benet Ramsey, school bombings, OK City, that ex boy/girlfriend stalker type. There is an air of fear everywhere you turn, and sad to say, you need to be vary wary nowadays. I worry everyday, even in my small neck of the woods about the safety of my kids and grandkids. I worry that people think I'm some kind of nut with my camera shooting pictures all the time. I am so wary that I even forewarned the manager of my complex what I was doing and of course a few of the local gossips, so that people didn't think I was shooting in their windows when in actuality I was shooting over the tops of their houses, since I have a very obstructed view of the horizons...All of my neighbors now know what I am doing, but occasionally, I still get a stare or 2 from new neighbors. And of course...most of the bikers in the area have spread the word about me...but...living on a major highway...there are always new bikers coming through...hehehehe...
Don't give up the street shots...If someone seems too uncomfortable, maybe just smile and not shoot them...there are plenty of subjects who don't mind their pictures being taken.
Ken

Liz,

If you are able to evoke that type of smile from three guys holding M-16's then you have nothing to worry about!! :D

That's a great picture...

Loren

Liz, you were able to overcome your fear and ask three guys with M16's to pose for you. Doesn't look bad given the circumstances! :)

I guess I'd just chalk it up to a bad day. Full moon or something. If you look like you're really self concious and nervous about what you're doing then people might pick up on that. If you're confident and shoot what you want to shoot then most people won't care. Eventually, someone may ask what you're doing, but maybe they're just curious. If someone tells you to stop shooting, it's probably best to avoid confrontation and just walk a couple of blocks to a new area.

Nice clean shot ! If I were you I would have gone for the guy on the right, his finger was nowhere near the trigger. The other two however were "paranoid"

If I were you I would have gone for the guy on the right, his finger was nowhere near the trigger

You're very observant. Thanks for the comments. :cool:

Liz

M16's - so that is what they are! :eek:

Thanks for the encouragement - nice guys btw.

Liz

I think all of us are a little paranoid. It's a different New York City now - uniformed people now patrol the financial district and transportation hubs armed with machine guns. Pre 9/11, the only place I had ever seen that was Belfast and Hong Kong. (Okay, I just saw 5 armored Humvees driving fast in Belfast, but had the same affect.)

I just don't know why they'd be worried about YOU! :) I wouldn't worry. Keep taking photos. I think once we get past 9/11 anniversary and get a little further away from the horrible bombings in London, people will settle down a bit. I hope, anyway.

Megan

Here's a site I'll bet you haven't happened to come across, Liz.
http://www.army.mil/fact_files_site/in_crew.html
I found it when I was looking for info on the M240 that my kid carries. I think most guys in his unit carry M4s because of the close quarters they find themselves in.

I imagine the guys you saw may be guardsmen who were called up for some particular threat. They look kinda old to be army.

I always feel the way you do when I get into a larger city. Out here in the boonies smiles and nods and greetings are still fairly common although some folks are starting to react differently to that. All we can do is continue to be friendly. I've usually found that the looks drop away if folks are approached in a friendly and respectful way. As soon as we are afraid to approoach each other, the terrorists have won.

Next time get someone to take your pic with those guys - they'd enjoy that as much as they seem to enjoy posing for you. I'll bet that made them feel appreciated. Good on you.