image by .ash on Flickr
Last night I attended an exclusive photo exhibition launch event here in Melbourne for some very talented people. It was the usual crowd of names, faces and a sea of black. Official photographers walking around taking crowd shots,talking to you and taking details. (I don’t mean that to sound wanky, it just is that way at some events) In amongst all of this was one chap walking around with his little digital happy snap camera, taking photos. Now being a blogger, I am all too usually doing this myself – cool lighting = photo op, great style = photo op, amazing typography = photo op. You get my drift. So I generally have no problem with people taking photos or asking to take photos of me.
What got me though was this – as I was standing talking to a friend, she whispers to me, “Don’t look now but there is a chap taking a photo of your shoes.” I casually remarked that that was cool and didn’t bother me, until I noticed that said chap was lying down on the floor at foot level snapping away at my feet WITHOUT EVEN ANNOUNCING HIS PRESENCE! Seriously, if I had taken a step backwards I would have stood on his head! There was nothing official looking about his photo taking activities, he just melted away into the crowd. I thought this was pretty rude given his intimate knowledge of my toe nail polish shade, but I decided to forget about it and carry on enjoying myself.
After some time, as I was leaving the event, I stopped by the door to pick up some marketing leaflets for the gallery (I had my back to the room). I should mention here that I was wearing a backless dress, so a little of my back tattoo was peaking out. Anyway, I turned around to leave just as a flash went off – and there is this guy again with his hand just about inside my dress to move it back! He stammers and says, “Oh I just want to get a shot of that tattoo if that’s ok?”, So trying to remain gracious I say alright, thinking that there will then be an introduction, the usual handshake (however awkward) etc.. But no. He strokes, snaps and leaves!!
So my question is this – Apart from the infinitely inappropriate use of hands without introductions; do you think this kind of stealth, yet invasive, happy snapping is ok? I know as bloggers we often want to photograph everything we like, but there are times that we have to check ourselves.
How would you have handled this situation? Is stealth snapping okay?
Ew, that verges on the creepy, I think. Especially the attempted dress-touching! How rude. I think you have to introduce yourself and ask permission before taking a photo of someone – every time. (It steals a piece of your soul, you know).
Eek, that’s getting tooooo close. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “Awesome tattoo, can I get a close-up?” Some people have no manners.
i see you’ve had your dose of dodgy ppl too! sighh..
Oh my gosh that is way crossing the line! With no introductions and who knows where your photo will end up!
My partner takes a lot of photos too of people and he ALWAYS asks if its okay first! How rude of that guy. Weird.
That is totally creepy like the old man I caught trying to take pictures up little girls skirts at the aquarium! Touching and inappropraite angles are out of bounds!
Bec: Yes, as I was writing this I thought to myself.. ” I wonder if it was only my shoes he was able to shot?!”
When he was laying on the floor i would have said: i dont mind you taking photos but please ask and at least give me a link to your blog.
With the near touching i wouldnt have been so polite.
Angel: I don’t know if he even had a blog or was just snapping for his own personal scrap book. I don’t think I’ll be so tolerant next time.
I totally agree with Angel–either of those moments would have been a keen moment to say, “Hi, I’m [blank], here’s my site, and I’d love to send you these when they’re up!”
It IS creepy. And I hate to say it, when it comes to “artists,” sometimes they do lack social graces. So he may not have realized he was being creepy.
Or he was just a creep.
Either way, I’m not sure I would have reacted so nicely as you had.
Yeah that’s creepy and going way to far.
Eeeeek! That is awful. You should have stepped on his head when you had the chance!
Wow, you were WAY more restrained than I would have been. I have a thing about personal space. The shoe thing… not so much that I’d worry about, but if said person tries to touch me without my permission, they will probably get a head bitten off at the very least.
There is a line and that totally crosses it. I am used to people asking for photos, I totally get that people are curious about it… buuuut I’m also a person. There is a line between being interested and being creepy, touching without permission completely crosses that line! In situations like that I generally remind people that I may dress like a doll but I’m not above stabbing them with my parasol
Wow, you are polite! Even when he was laying on the floor, there would have been a remark from me, asking what the * he is looking for there. But that incident with your back is not even rude it is disrespectful and CREEPY! Even “dead canvasses” get more respect (no one dares to touch them!). I mean, you are human and not some motif on his snap-safari!
One the legal side I don’t know about laws in australia, but in germany it simply is forbidden to publish a picture of someone without asking his/her permission. (That obviously doesn’t count for news-coverage like pics of a mass of people demonstrating in public space. But close-ups, no way.) And today I am grateful for this.
And lastly there is something I have to learn, too: Simply saying “no, thak you” isn’t impolite or rude. It often is the only way to protect oneself against rude and impolite people.
Ew, perhaps he has a foot fetish? Very creepy though, I think in your place my natural reaction would have been to slap him for being touchy without invitation.
that is beyond creepy what he almost did with your dress. *shudders* seriously though- how hard is it to say “do you mind if i photograph your tattoo/shoes?” exactly- not very.
BellaBee: Yep too true.
Harlow: Yeah, I’m usually a slap first ask questions later kind – but had other things to think about so I let it go.
Christina: You are so right. The more I think about it, the more I wish I gotten on on my soap box, but a time and a place hey..
Violet: LOL I love that!
I think I would have taken the step back the first time and stepped on his head, apologized profusely (oh, my goodness, I didn’t see you there, what are you doing on the floor, are you sick, do I need to get you some help) and then ask to see the pics to make sure there weren’t any upskirts.
Husband says you should have stepped back and onto his wrist, grabbed the camera and called for whatever passed for security at the event. But he’s pretty willing to make a scene.
Did you have a camera on you..? If someone’s being THAT creepy and inappropriate, I think it’s only reasonable if you demand a photo in return.
Which you can later give to the police.
Oh my gosh that’s totally inappropriate! I would have assumed he was taking a picture of my upskirts, freaked out, and call security. (I guess I’m mean but I’ve had sneaky photographers do exactly that). I’m comfortable with having my picture taken at events but if someone is taking a picture of me exclusively I need an introduction. If he touched me that would be the end of it, my stiletto would be jabbed so far into his knee he’d never walk again.
It’s a great story to tell though? lol. I just wish no one ever had to deal with creepy photographers.
You were way to polite !!! I would have stepped on him for sure and no way allowed him to take those last photo’s. He completely crossed the line.If I spot some snap happy person specifically taking my photo without asking I turn away. If they ask thats fine but NO touching. You never know where you will end up in this computer world. Hubby recently spotted a guy taking my photo and demanded he delete the photo’s which he did.
I’m sure I have in the past snapped things without asking. But I think the line here is in subtlety!
Snapping someones shoes from a distance is one thing. Lying on the floor crosses a line! And I certainly think physical contact crosses a massive line. You’re a person not a still life.
Wow – so what you’re saying is that you’ve been violated by the paparazzi! That’s very yucky and rude, though strangely cool.
Jeez, like most of the ladies here, I would have let been entirely less polite – treated him the way he treated you! Maybe some casual violence, but then I am Scottish
That is all sorts of wrong, and it’s not only the lack of respect or personal space, but the idea that these seemly innocent images may be turned into something you want no part of! The mind reels!
Wow, that’s creepy. You’re probably wondering now where your photos are. Probably online somewhere.
-meream
Yeeuuucchh!! Lying on the floor and snapping your shoes is one thing but touching you???? That is just an invasion of your personal space. I would definitely confronted him at that point (though as I am ridiculously ticklish I would undoubtedly have jumped and shrieked when he was “adjusting” the dress).
It sounds like you showed grace and restraint under provocation.
Hmm, I would be majorly creeped out, and told him that I would have happily let him, had he asked. I try to always ask before taking pictures of people, especially close ups!
Ew! Sounds like a real lowbrow jerk to me!
I’m somewhat bold, and protective about who takes my photograph and when…so I might have forced an “introduction” after he asked to take the tattoo picture:
“May I take a photograph?”
“Sure. And you are…?”
“Joe Creepo. Thanks.”
**snap**
“…and, Joe, can I look forward to seeing this in print anywhere?”
et cetera
As a budding photographer, I can honestly say that some of my favourite photos involving people have been taken without their knowledge. I think when the person is unidentifiable and the photo is tasteful, it is permissible. However, the situations you described really crossed the line. Lying on the floor = taking it too far. Touching someone without permission, same deal. He really could’ve asked about the tattoo, I’ve done that a few times and most people are fine with it.
OOOH Mama you’ve just gotten onto my pet gripe. Please bear with me while I rant….
I am a professional photographer. I work for a newspaper and also shoot a lot of personal social documentary work. I like shooting social events (and have doen a fair share) as people are generally relaxed, eager to be complimented and it is nice to make them feel special. But there is always some over eager amatuer photographer who either stands behind me and takes my shot, or just sneeks up on people. I understand the lure of candid shots, but I know that all it takes is a 2 minute conversation for someone to relax and you will get a better shot. But taking a photo of someone without telling them at a party is really, really rude and kind of stalkerish if you ask me. I’ve seen people taking my photo in the street before and let it go as I understand street photography needs to be candid.
But what he did was actually unlawfull as you were on private land, therefore have copyright over your image ( as opposed to the street- strange but true!) Don’t ever let someone make you feel uncomfortable like that- if he was confident enough to touch you, he should well have been confident enough to ask your permission
I definately think there should be a line about what happy snappers can do. I know I will catch the odd stealth shot from across the room if I see someone interesting, but to get down on the ground or touch them! That’s a definate no-no. I think the rules if you are up-close to someone are simply, ‘introduce yourself, ask permission, take the photo and move on.’
I know when I’ve been dressed top to toe vintage I have had people feel entitled to touch me (it seems once you are dressed differently you are suddenly a display piece). My favourite encounter of this kind was I was looking at a shop with my boyfriend and suddenly a camera was in my face to take my photo. I said quite loudly, “Oh, I’m having my photo taken”.
The photographer replied, “Yes, Obviously” as if they were entitled, and then tried to adjust my hair for their photograph. All we can do is take it graciously, or politely tell them to get lost I guess.
Quite bizarre and incredibly creepy.
The ‘shoe’ shot would be verging on ‘up skirting’ (if you were indeed wearing a skirt).
I think the shock of the incident would render anyone speechless, only for them to later consider all the things that could/should have done or how it could have turned out differently.
Being gracious is one thing but when he’s being that intimate I think the happy snapper needed to be held accountable to realise just how rude he was being.
It seems to me that we have been privy to so much personal information, photographs, videos about people through social networking sites and reality television, that it has got to a point where your personal details are no longer personal anymore.
Leaving your tattoo and shoes available for the rest of the world to see by anyone and at any time of the day, captured on-line to remain there forever, by some lousy happy snapper with few manners.
YUCK
It’s been interesting reading the replies. I think the person did certainly overstep the mark. I wonder whether he really was a “photographer”? It’s such a worry to have people like him give other photographers (and I count myself in this category) a bad name. I generally limit my street/candid photography to events such as the recent Fifties Fair held in Sydney, where people are more than happy to be photographed – not always asking to take a candid shot, but always thanking the subject afterwards. I’m sorry that you had to go through such an unpleasant experience.
Goodness, that is just downright rude! Even the fetishist who approached me in the street wanting to take pictures of my stocking-ed legs at least asked if he could, and when the answer was a resounding no he backed off. This guy sounds like a complete creep with no manners.
I’m sorry, but why did you let him get that far? He was abusing your privacy. If it had of been me I would have berated him when I found him at floor level. You have to spell out your grievance vividly when it first occurs, otherwise people will think that this type of abuse is OK when it’s not.
Just my opinion.
Miss Patrice: I think I have a higher tolerance level given the nature of my work. The shoe photo didn’t really bother me that much, but it was the incident as I was leaving that was more of an issue for me. By that point in the evening though, and being that close to the door; I gave the issue about a seconds thought and decided I just didn’t have the energy that night to make a deal of it. On a scale of 1-10 of things I’ve experienced like this, this one wasn’t even close to the worst, and some days you just don’t have any fight in you. You are right though – if no-one takes people to task on this kind of behaviour, the longer it will carry on.
Oooooh, SOOOOOOO inappropriate. I’m sorry this happened to your SKM. I imagine I would have done the exact same thing you did though- because I would have been taken aback. Its all very well to think we might react to an invasion like this in a particular way but its so out of left-field. And for the most part, we’ve all got our ‘polite’ on, haven’t we. Creeps like this take advantage of that.
But yeah, the next cretin who tries this sort of crap with you possibly won’t have the element of surprise on his side! If anything of the sort happens again at one of these types of events, I wonder if its worth quietly contacting the event manager and letting them know. Noone wants their guests to be uncomfortable.
Wohh that is seriously creepy and defintely crosses the line.
It’s common courtesy to ask someone before taking a photo and asking once again if you’re going to post them somewhere.
Maybe you should have stepped on his head?????? Noo that’ll just be mean.
Sorry this happened to you.
BTW I had no idea you had a tattoo!
XXASAB
That’s definitely creepy. I’m not sure about actual legal issues but some people don’t have any sense of propriety. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking someone’s photo (sure, it could be nice to ask but if someone’s too shy taking a photo without asking can be OK) so long as there’s no invasion of personal space, and that guy was clearly crossing the personal space line.
-Andi x
Sucks how that happened to you – but should that ever happen again, you would be more prepared for it. Possibly.
I wonder if they were really interested in your shoes/tattoo or something else…goodness me I hope it was the former.