johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Today I went to a charity run in Liverpool to take some shots of my wife who was competing. Every runner was wearing a Santa suit as it was a fun event.
I grabbed a spot near the start so I good get some shots of the wife as she went by, just as she came into view a professional photographer elbowed his way into my spot and without a single word planted his huge tripod and even larger camera in the spot I had occupied for the previous 20 minutes.
Because of this idiots selfish action I was unable to get my special photograph, I was not the only one affected by this persons mans selfish attitude, what other UHH member would have done. I reacted by standing in front of his camera lens, but I did not realise a he also had a step ladder.
There was no excuse for this sort of attitude from so called "professionals" especially as he could arrived much earlier and set himself up without upsetting the family photographer.

Oliverp Loc: Miami, FL

Did you have any conversation with this person? Did you point out the intrusion? Was there a response?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Did the event sponsor hire this person? If he was working and doing his job and was in the employ of those who organized the event you may be the one who was out of line.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

He is one of vast crowd of people who think they can do whatever they want, since no one else in the world is as important as they are. Since you asked, I would have made sure I got wherever I had to be to get my shot. Then let him complain that you occupied the spot he had stolen.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Regardless, you don't push your way in front of someone who is already there. If the event hired him, they should have had a spot for him. This type of thing is not uncommon. See what happens when you take a little kid to a parade. Basically, people aren't very nice.

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Absolutely!

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I did react, but he did not respond other than producing a step ladder, and to make things worse after about 5 minutes he disappeared although I did spot him in several other locations later, no doubt having invaded those just as he did to me.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

You obviously have never shot a run. You can't just choose "a spot" you need to be able to move around and get shots from various angles. I've been in this situation many times and the event organizers depend on the professional photographer and some pay a considerable sum for the photographers services. Along with the fee come expectations and assumed results. If anyone would be expected to understand the plight of the photographer you'd think you'd find them here.

Larrie Loc: NE Ohio

I would have reacted with a swift kick to the leg of the stepladder while he was on it. If you were standing in a spot reserved by organisers then they would have asked you to vacate. If he was hired by the organisers he should have staked his claim by arriving early. More then likely he was freelance with an attitude

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Or loosen the leg of a tripod. :D

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

IMO there is no excuse for this behavior. I would have gotten the shot of my family member. I would also have asked him to move as he was blocking my view. One time on a photo outing with one of my camera clubs, a young man set up his large tripod with massive canon lens so close to me he actually had to put one of the tripod legs directly in front of me. I could not raise my camera without bumping into his lens. He just grinned at me and said "sorry, I take up a lot of room". He then put his large backpack on the ground directly behind my leg. I had no option but to move to a different location if I wanted to use my camera. When I moved, he then took his back pack and placed it even further over, moved his tripod some, and now he was encroaching so close upon another woman, that she also had to move. He had cleared out about 8 feet of space with himself and his gear. Since I was fairly new to the club, I didn't say anything. But, I never saw that man again. Apparently he had been invited by another member. I was still able to get some decent shots, but not from my preferred location. I have seen this several times, and usually by someone who has all the "impressive" gear who tries to move those with entry level dslrs or point and shoots aside, as though they and their equipment are meaningless. Now, I often speak up. But just as often I move.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I will certainly agree that there is plenty of rude and inconsiderate behavior on both sides of the fence. Consideration and kindness rarely comes into play when dealing with photographers at any level.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

How do you know he was a professional photographer hired by the event?

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I don't that's why I asked the question in my first post. I never received an answer so I was just playing the devil's advocate.

rebride

Exactly!
Professional my Butt. Pseudo perhaps, but 'professional' NOT.