feeling centered

~RichArtpix~
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feeling centered
feeling centered

What a strange and unsettling experience I had yesterday at a Starbucks in the Village

I was sitting in the window playing with my camera, focusing the lens out on the street. There was a mother with her baby in the outdoor cafe, and I started to play the lens on them. I was focusing on the detail, and generally just testing my long and short vision with my 200 mm lens........

Suddenly I looked up and there was a woman excitedly pointing me out to the mother. They looked extremely upset, so I went out to reassure them that I was just playing around with the lens. Well, the husband of the woman who pointed me out, went ballistic......told me that it was illegal to do that, that I should know better, and demanded to see the photo that I took! When I told him that I didn't even take a photo, and that I shoot in film, he demanded I take the film out of the camera......yeah, right....

He told me he was a lawyer, and what I had done was illegal, so he called the cops!

Finally he left, and I apologized to the mother, telling her I didn't even take a photo. She was very upset, and kept saying , "oh, I hope you didn't take a photo of my baby/" later, I thought, how ridiculous! Even if I had, what could I do with it? She was in a public place, it wasn't like I stole her identity or address, or even that she was famous.

Well, about 15 minutes later, and about six blocks away from the scene of the "crime",( while I was on my cell with my father, oddly enough) I was confronted by the police.

They wanted to see my camera....and my ID......I gave them a small portfolio that I carry around to show them how innocent my work is......they told me not to worry, that I wasn't in trouble. They didn't want me to take the film out of my camera, though I had offered....
..........and, after getting home and looking up photographers' rights in America, I understand why. Because it is perfectly acceptable to photograph children in a public place....And, that if anyone confiscates your film, they can be charged with robbery.....

The overzealous couple should be ashamed of themselves. There was no reason to upset the mother.....and the poor baby.......or me, for that matter......he was on a self-righteous and ridiculous mission.

So, know your rights. Here is a link to the page in the photographer's bill of rights that explains shooting in public......there are few restrictions to photographing people, and certainly not on the street or in any public place. Basically when a person is in a public place, they have resigned their right to privacy.......It was recommended in a workshop that I had taken once to make a copy of this page, and carry it while shooting......now I understand why

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Taken on: June 21, 2010
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