How do you deal with these nutters?

[Energize]

Today I was taking some landscape and architecture shots in the county to get used to a 35mm, and when I saw a nice house I naturally started taking pictures of it, when all of a sudden some nutter was shouting out of a window not to take photos of the house, I personally just ignored him and then biked on to the next site.

My question is, how do you deal with these confrontational nutters (who apparently are not aware of Google street view), the law is clearly on the photographers side?

 

[Energize]

Or alternatively, you could just stop taking pictures of their home? Seems a reasonable request to me.

I don't think it is a reasonable request, it's a building clearly visible to the public and is on google street view, there is no privacy being violated. Just because someone owns a property doesn't give them reasonable grounds for blocking photography of it.

 

[Energize]

You keep saying who cares about "reasonable grounds", but then keep saying it's a "reasonable request" please make your mind up.

It is neurotic, paranoid behavior to be so bothered about someone taking pictures of your house, and it is unreasonable to ask people to cater to such behavior. The problem is the mindset of the home owner, not the photographer.

 

[Energize]

I'd wager that if he was more polite in his request you wouldn't have bothered with this thread?

It was more the fact that the guy seemed to be a paranoid nutter. I was taking a photo of the landscape opposite the house, then turned round to take some photos of the house, and instantly he's out the window shouting, so he must have been spying on me like a hawk.

Someone has asked you to stop taking photos of their house as it's upsetting them. Why wouldn't you comply with their request? Is your photography really that important?

Like I said, I don't humor neurotic behavior, if I did I'd never get anything done in life, some people get upset at anything.

Street photography wouldn't exist if you pandered to that kind of behavior.

The argument "Street View can see it though" is a bit weak, as he's hardly going to chase the car down the road while brandishing a pitchfork, even if he knew what it was.

You seem to be missing the point, anyone can see his house via the photograph on street view so it really doesn't make a difference if I take photos of it.

 

[Energize]

It is very foolish to engage with someone who is irate like that, it is likely to lead to a physical confrontation and the best thing to do is to leave the situation, that is not arrogant, it is sensible.

It is true that the way someone acts would dictate what I would do in the situation. If someone was to yell out of the window at me, it'd make me want to keep doing it just out of spite. However if someone came down and explained that they didn't want their house being taken pictures of for x, y and z, I'd probably just leave it.

It's amazing what actually talking to someone like a person can do, rather than throwing your toys out of the pram.

Exactly, the guy was shouting at me out of a window from about 50m away after clearly closely watching me for about 10 minutes, there was no way I was going to engage him in conversation, it makes him come across as a total nutter.

 

[Energize]

What I would've done is just explain to him who you are, what you are doing, show him the photo.

Say something like, I love your house, against the backdrop makes a great landscape shot and smile.

If he says he is still uncomfortable with it, say that's cool, not a problem, you will move on.

Standing there arguing about your rights as a photographer on public space etc, as much as it is your right, life is too short, and how special was his house that you makes all that worth it anyway?

Why would I stand there arguing about my rights with that nutcase? Soon as I saw him I started packing up and left.

 

[Energize]

Op, you haven't been diagnosed with any conditions like NLD have you?

In the below thread I thought you were trying to purposely annoy people by pretending not to 'get it'.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18614288&page=2

A lot of people must have been diagnosed with it judging by the number of people agreeing with me.

Now you have started this thread, I'm guessing you genuinely cannot see why that guy reacted the way he did. Hence you assume 'he' must be the one in the wrong?


I'm also assuming in your Op, you mean country (as in countryside) and not county.
If so, then people in the country are different than towns/city people. They require more personal space (you can't get as close to them before they feel uncomfortable).
Their privacy boundaries are much greater. I grew up in between two villages in the middle of nowhere, and never have I seen someone photograph my house. If someone did, I can assure you my parents would have felt very alarmed and would have reacted very similarly to that guy.
You see, your behaviour would have seemed extremely odd to that guy, and he would have been suspicious as to what your intentions were. To him you were likely some kind of creep/threat and was invading his (and his families) personal space, and he needed to suitably deter you. Hence the lack of polite warning or curiosity as to what you are actually doing.

I see why he reacted that way, it's paranoia, that doesn't make it socially acceptable behavior does it?

 

[Energize]

You are assuming it'll get physical so you bolted, well that just re-enforced to the householder he had something to be concerned about and makes the life of the next photographer even harder. Well done.

Grow a pair, talk to the guy as civil as possible and explain in clam and rational manner what you're doing and engage him. If he still doesn't like it while not 'right' delete the image and move on with your life.

Bolted, don't be ridiculous. If you think me continuing along on my bike rather than going onto his property to talk to him through a window is going to impact the world of photography you over estimate my importance...

I now am confused what was your reply about.

You asked, I answered.

Sorry, I thought you were implying that's what I was doing/planning to do.

 

[Energize]

Bolted from what you described does cover it. And at no point has anyone in this thread suggested trespassing on to his property to further enrage the householder before then trying to have a conversation with him about the photography.

Your impact on the world of photography doesn't matter, what matters in this case is the impact of your actions with the property owner.

You said talk to the guy, to do that I would have to go onto his property, unless you want me to shout across 50m (which I am not going to do).

In this case I was acting well within the law and doing nothing immoral, while he started acting in an unsociable and inappropriate way, I decided not to deal with him and left, that is a completely appropriate response in that situation, not risking a confrontation over it.

 

[Energize]

They don't know who you are or why you're taking pictures and yet you're surprised at their response. They have no idea how powerful your camera/lens is and if you're peeking into the rooms or not. Show a little respect for others' property and ask first, it takes two minutes and people are generally quite accommodating when you speak to them. I'd have told you to f-off as well.

You can't be serious, I'd be forever knocking on doors of every bit of property or building I photograph. Can you honestly imagine the Google street view vans stopping at everyone's property?

 

[Energize]

Oh please those programs are so staged...