How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo?

seiji87 · 22nd March 2009

erm, title a bit brief, so i post here..

My question is, how do u react if someone threaten u with body harm and keeps confronting you even though u already showed them proof that u didnt take their photos whne u take street photography?

(imagine u just panning on the street for photographs, but didnt take any photos, but someone comes up to u and confronts u in angry tone, and keeps confronting u and threatens body harm even if you have showed them proof that u didnt take his/her photos.)

this is posted, so as to let fellow photographers share their experiences in encountering these situations and to let other fellow photographers like myself know how they diffuse the situation.. As i havent encountered this sort of situation but saw and heard for myself. If there is old thread like this, i apologize..

*Thanks to Rashkae and rphotograhy for their inputs in the "do u get scolded on the street doing street photog.

what Rashkae wrote: Smile and ignore him. If he touches me, I subdue him. Then I call the cops and have him arrested

What Rphotography wrote: i never liked violence. but if tat guy turns violent, first instinct is to protect my cam. zhao if i hv to. lastly hoot him back if he manages to land a punch. then i wldnt be charged ba?

please do give ur valuable inputs!! Thanks!

denniskee · 22nd March 2009

i suggestion, smile and walk away. if need be, shout for help or police. if still cant improve the situation, time to really call 999 liao.

henrii88tay · 22nd March 2009

best way is point and shot

ManWearPants · 22nd March 2009

Some bloke tried to run me down once. But that was because I took his photo without caring if he approves or not. There will always be arseholes and madman around. You'll wouldn't know when they'll bite. As a first reaction, always try to walk away or risk damaging your gears. If all else fails, all I can say is if you are NS trained, always be operational ready.

Kit · 22nd March 2009

You are the one holding the cam (read weapon), go figure...

ShadowWarrior · 22nd March 2009

Happened to me twice. One was at fort canning a few years ago and the second was somewhere last year. But the one at fort canning almost turn violent since I stand my ground as I've done nothing wrong and my first instinct was to use the camera as a defensive tool. To think back about that incident, I should had just run like the wind and avoid a confrontation since the guys were quite a few distance away from me.

And for last year incident, A guy approached me and asked me what I'm doing taking photos and for what. I just told him that I'm simply taking photos just for fun and then I asked him back..."Why?...anything wrong?". He said.."nothing" and walk away and me too walk away from the area since I don't want the guy to come back with a few of his kaki's. Just to be safe.

But the best remedy to this kind of sticky situation is just to walk away but while doing that, just watch your back or you can simply call the cops immediately if you think that it could turn ugly.. If it turns ugly and you got punched with just minor bruises and cuts, the police aren't able to arrest the assailant since it's considered as voluntarily causing hurt which is a non-seizable offence.

Legoz · 22nd March 2009

One of the main contributing cause must be STOMP.
Everyone is paranoid that they would get onto STOMP for the wrong reason.

In any case, most situations can be diffused if everyone keeps a level head. =)

seiji87 · 22nd March 2009

I suppose, since i started the thread.. i have to share also.

A few years back, i was doing street photog. somewhere (but i cannot remember the place) there was this guy also doing street photog infront of me too. I took a break from panning for photos and i looked at him. He was panning for photos, turning his camera here and there looking for a nice photo, when this guy walks up to him and confronts him.

The guy was shouting angryily at him while hurling obscenties. the photog immediately, as i saw, walked up to him and apologize while showing the guy his camera. I believe the photog was trying to tell him he didnt take his photos and asking him politely to check.

photog guy: "i didnt take ur photos.. here i showed u"
and the photog guy showed him,
but the guy said, "i dun care, how would i know if u change the memory card?"
and the photog guy apologize, but the guy started and kept threatening body harm and shouting, until another guy came into the picture and diffuse the situation..

the guy before he walked off, turned to the photog and shouted at him loudly, "next time watch where you're pointing the camera, and i dun care if u got take or not, coz even if u show me, i will personally break ur fingers or limbs if i see u again, for taking my photos."

And thats the reason why i started this thread, coz the photog guy was really polite and didnt raise his voice, keeping his voice level, but the other guy was like

.. And thats the reason why this thread is started, to know how others diffuse the situation like the guy who managed to do it between the photog guy and the

man..

If i have a chance, i want to meet the guy who diffused the situation and learn from him how he did it.

(I remember the exact convo between the two guys and the

man's face, coz after that incident, i stopped doing street photog and all types of photography for at least a year coz i was only like sec 1 or 2, damn small size..) anyway, i hope the mad man didnt see me.. or else i jia lak.. even though i wasnt involved..

coinfucious888 · 22nd March 2009

Here is an "untested" solution to diffuse this sort of an ugly confrontation.

Make a few bogus name cards on your puter that identifies you as talent scout/agent.

When confronted, maintain your cool and calmly explain you are commissioned to look for an ideal street setting for a big budget movie and in your opinion the neighbourhood you are now looking at may fit the bill.

Tell him you are also looking for local "extras" to give the movie authencity and would he be interested.

When he has swallowed it hook,line & sinker......RUN

adamadam · 22nd March 2009

The guy whack me, I just kept walking.
I was only holding my camera in my hand, and shooting film (so can't "prove" that I didn't photo him).

most likely not the reason why he whack me..

But I think he'll get constipation tonight.

rgy1993 · 22nd March 2009

i think being 6ft 1 and "bulky" helps hahah
ive had a few instances of people giving me funny looks but then i just smile and usually they go away...

Sham K · 22nd March 2009

I don't think that one has to prove to anyone that he/she did not take a shot of the latter. However, for the sake of avoiding a confrontation, one can choose to show the shots that he/she has taken. In spite of that, if a member of the public is hurling threats and abuses at the photographer, don't argue (arguing never really helps in such cases) just whip out your mobile and call 999 because threatening with bodily harm is an offence under the Penal Code and let the law take its course.

Fallenphoenix · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by Sham K

I don't think that one has to prove to anyone that he/she did not take a shot of the latter. However, for the sake of avoiding a confrontation, one can choose to show the shots that he/she has taken. In spite of that, if a member of the public is hurling threats and abuses at the photographer, don't argue (arguing never really helps in such cases) just whip out your mobile and call 999 because threatening with bodily harm is an offence under the Penal Code and let the law take its course.

I agree....just ask him to hold on and tell him that u're calling the police to settle his unhappiness (as long u're not shooting in private property, u're find.). I think I'll do that in future too~

I encountered several cases...It helps if u gym up abit~~ I'm small but bodybuilder built. There were several similar instances that people confronted me... I looked pissed when they became hostile, and they walked away after that. Nonetheless, I guess any troublemakers will go away at the instance that u're consulting the police...if u're not doing anything illegal.

airforce1 · 22nd March 2009

Best is to leave the place. Sometimes trying to prove your point does not work in angry situation. An angry man cannot see the picture clearly because his main focus is to attack you verbally.

aspenx · 22nd March 2009

Calling the police is the best idea.

But I voted for "dont do anything! run like crazy with ur equipment!!". Don't want to waste my time with unreasonable people. So far, I have yet to end up in such a situation.

kingfishers · 22nd March 2009

Don't even border and walk away

denniskee · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by Fallenphoenix

I agree....just ask him to hold on and tell him that u're calling the police to settle his unhappiness (as long u're not shooting in private property, u're find.). I think I'll do that in future too~

?? police dont handle assualt happened in private property??

seng44 · 22nd March 2009

Originally Posted by denniskee

?? police dont handle assualt happened in private property??

What he meant is that if you are shooting in private property. Cause you are wrong in the first place, shooting without permission.

kkenji · 22nd March 2009

i wouldnt wanna use my cam as a defensive tool..i'll prob get a heart attack seeing the body being smashed up or what..

i dont know about you guys, but i put the safety of my cam above myself..

if such a situation do happens and things cant be resolved in a civilized manner and it starts to turn violent, only thing i can think of........RUNNNNNNNNNNNN...

lets say if he does hit, depending on my mood, may not retaliate, just call the cops and in the meantime try to snap a pic of his face with the phone or something just in case he scoots last minute.

if im not wrong if one gets hits 1st without any provocation or retaliation, the person who assulted you can be hualed to court right ?

Interception7 · 22nd March 2009

interesting topic here.

i havent kena before, but if i do, i rather call the police. no point wasting time arguing abt it. and if he ever held his touch on myself, i would just stand my ground, and wait for the police and shout for help..

i think the reason why this people think you are taking their picture, is because they see things differently. i mean like, i give you an example.

you are in the bus, then you felt uneasy because the driver kept staring at you via the rear view mirror.. then you go confront the driver(i knw, sounds ridiculous).. but if you yourself look at the mirror, the driver was looking at the back instead of you.. so i guess this is the reason?

View Poll Results: Ur reaction if someone wants to whack u even if u apologized & show ur camera photos?
Wait till he whack u first then u hit back.	34	28.81%
dont do anything! run like crazy with ur equipment!!	27	22.88%
call the police, and wait it out.	38	32.20%
apologize profusely and keep showing him the camera photos while reasoning with him.	25	21.19%
Stone down there. (like anyone's gonna do that!!)	10	8.47%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 118. You may not vote on this poll

22nd March 2009	#1
seiji87 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SG Posts: 80	How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? erm, title a bit brief, so i post here.. My question is, how do u react if someone threaten u with body harm and keeps confronting you even though u already showed them proof that u didnt take their photos whne u take street photography? (imagine u just panning on the street for photographs, but didnt take any photos, but someone comes up to u and confronts u in angry tone, and keeps confronting u and threatens body harm even if you have showed them proof that u didnt take his/her photos.) this is posted, so as to let fellow photographers share their experiences in encountering these situations and to let other fellow photographers like myself know how they diffuse the situation.. As i havent encountered this sort of situation but saw and heard for myself. If there is old thread like this, i apologize.. *Thanks to Rashkae and rphotograhy for their inputs in the "do u get scolded on the street doing street photog. what Rashkae wrote: Smile and ignore him. If he touches me, I subdue him. Then I call the cops and have him arrested What Rphotography wrote: i never liked violence. but if tat guy turns violent, first instinct is to protect my cam. zhao if i hv to. lastly hoot him back if he manages to land a punch. then i wldnt be charged ba? please do give ur valuable inputs!! Thanks! __________________ EOS 30D+50mm MKII+18-55mm IS.. What I use do not define me.. Its the photos that I take that will..

22nd March 2009	#2
denniskee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: bukit batok Posts: 4,212	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? i suggestion, smile and walk away. if need be, shout for help or police. if still cant improve the situation, time to really call 999 liao. __________________ photography makes one sees things from all angles. Last edited by denniskee; 22nd March 2009 at 03:41 AM.

22nd March 2009	#3
henrii88tay Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 63	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? best way is point and shot

22nd March 2009	#4
ManWearPants Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 987	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Some bloke tried to run me down once. But that was because I took his photo without caring if he approves or not. There will always be arseholes and madman around. You'll wouldn't know when they'll bite. As a first reaction, always try to walk away or risk damaging your gears. If all else fails, all I can say is if you are NS trained, always be operational ready. __________________ Sigma 12-24, Contax N 24-85, Canon EF 70-200 Leica 35/2, Contax 85/1.4 MMG, Voigt 125/2.5

22nd March 2009	#5
Kit Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bukit Timah / Melbourne CBD Posts: 6,021	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? You are the one holding the cam (read weapon), go figure... __________________ arkitectural photography http://arkitecturalphoto.1x.com/

22nd March 2009	#6
ShadowWarrior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cybertron Posts: 124	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Happened to me twice. One was at fort canning a few years ago and the second was somewhere last year. But the one at fort canning almost turn violent since I stand my ground as I've done nothing wrong and my first instinct was to use the camera as a defensive tool. To think back about that incident, I should had just run like the wind and avoid a confrontation since the guys were quite a few distance away from me. And for last year incident, A guy approached me and asked me what I'm doing taking photos and for what. I just told him that I'm simply taking photos just for fun and then I asked him back..."Why?...anything wrong?". He said.."nothing" and walk away and me too walk away from the area since I don't want the guy to come back with a few of his kaki's. Just to be safe. But the best remedy to this kind of sticky situation is just to walk away but while doing that, just watch your back or you can simply call the cops immediately if you think that it could turn ugly.. If it turns ugly and you got punched with just minor bruises and cuts, the police aren't able to arrest the assailant since it's considered as voluntarily causing hurt which is a non-seizable offence.

22nd March 2009	#7
Legoz Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 797	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? One of the main contributing cause must be STOMP. Everyone is paranoid that they would get onto STOMP for the wrong reason. In any case, most situations can be diffused if everyone keeps a level head. =) __________________ D3s / D3x / 18-55 f3.5 - 5.6 / 55-200 f3.5-5.6 / 50 f1.8

22nd March 2009	#9
coinfucious888 Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Australia Posts: 54	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Here is an "untested" solution to diffuse this sort of an ugly confrontation. Make a few bogus name cards on your puter that identifies you as talent scout/agent. When confronted, maintain your cool and calmly explain you are commissioned to look for an ideal street setting for a big budget movie and in your opinion the neighbourhood you are now looking at may fit the bill. Tell him you are also looking for local "extras" to give the movie authencity and would he be interested. When he has swallowed it hook,line & sinker......RUN

22nd March 2009	#10
adamadam Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Perth Posts: 3,157	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? The guy whack me, I just kept walking. I was only holding my camera in my hand, and shooting film (so can't "prove" that I didn't photo him). most likely not the reason why he whack me.. But I think he'll get constipation tonight. __________________ Love - a red ring puts the O in PRO :D my flickr - adamloh.com

22nd March 2009	#11
rgy1993 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 667	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? i think being 6ft 1 and "bulky" helps hahah ive had a few instances of people giving me funny looks but then i just smile and usually they go away... __________________ no one cares what gear you use. its the final product that matters.

22nd March 2009	#12
Sham K New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Singapore Posts: 24	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? I don't think that one has to prove to anyone that he/she did not take a shot of the latter. However, for the sake of avoiding a confrontation, one can choose to show the shots that he/she has taken. In spite of that, if a member of the public is hurling threats and abuses at the photographer, don't argue (arguing never really helps in such cases) just whip out your mobile and call 999 because threatening with bodily harm is an offence under the Penal Code and let the law take its course.

22nd March 2009	#14
airforce1 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,143	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Best is to leave the place. Sometimes trying to prove your point does not work in angry situation. An angry man cannot see the picture clearly because his main focus is to attack you verbally. __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/airforce1 Think of concepts and work towards it.

22nd March 2009	#15
aspenx Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 491	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Calling the police is the best idea. But I voted for "dont do anything! run like crazy with ur equipment!!". Don't want to waste my time with unreasonable people. So far, I have yet to end up in such a situation. __________________ My Flickr. FM2n \| D700 \| N18-35 \| N35/1.4 Ai\| VC58/1.4 \| N105/2.5 AiS \| V135/2.8 macro \| N135/2 DC

22nd March 2009	#16
kingfishers Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: riverside of northwest Posts: 429	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? Don't even border and walk away

22nd March 2009	#19
kkenji Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: singapore...yio chu kang Posts: 369	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? i wouldnt wanna use my cam as a defensive tool..i'll prob get a heart attack seeing the body being smashed up or what.. i dont know about you guys, but i put the safety of my cam above myself.. if such a situation do happens and things cant be resolved in a civilized manner and it starts to turn violent, only thing i can think of........RUNNNNNNNNNNNN... lets say if he does hit, depending on my mood, may not retaliate, just call the cops and in the meantime try to snap a pic of his face with the phone or something just in case he scoots last minute. if im not wrong if one gets hits 1st without any provocation or retaliation, the person who assulted you can be hualed to court right ?

22nd March 2009	#20
Interception7 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Choa Chu Kang Posts: 184	Re: How do u react if someone's wants to whack u even though u nvr take his photo? interesting topic here. i havent kena before, but if i do, i rather call the police. no point wasting time arguing abt it. and if he ever held his touch on myself, i would just stand my ground, and wait for the police and shout for help.. i think the reason why this people think you are taking their picture, is because they see things differently. i mean like, i give you an example. you are in the bus, then you felt uneasy because the driver kept staring at you via the rear view mirror.. then you go confront the driver(i knw, sounds ridiculous).. but if you yourself look at the mirror, the driver was looking at the back instead of you.. so i guess this is the reason? __________________ It's not the camera responsible for those great pictures. It's the photographer.