Had an interesting experience today taking a short trip to Golden Gate Park (San Francisco) to Metson Lake just for an hour or so to experiment with photographing some of the resident wildlife, around 10 am PST. It's say 10 minutes from my house.

The lake was relatively quiet, so the turtles, birds and insects were happily doing their thing. For me this was a trip to experiment with a few things, and the nice thing about the location is that it isn't on the main drag of GG Park, and you can park right by the lake so use your vehicle as a safe and accessible repository for equipment while still in the immediate vicinity.

After about half an hour of just quietly observing the dragonflies (or similar things to my uneducated mind from an entomologist's perspective) I found a twig where one hung out. I was experimenting with different lenses with a handheld camera.

I then decided that a monopod might help, plus also different lenses etc.

Well dummy me, I had picked up my monopod with its ball head, but had left all my arca camera plates at home. Duh!

So while rummaging around in my car, I turn around to see someone standing about six feet from me, about twenty years younger (40ish) and six or so inches taller than me, with his arm outstretched taking video, apparently of my sky facing butt!

He then proceeds to tell me that I shouldn't be taking pictures of people, and I should get in my car and get the hell out of there before he kicks seven kinds of sh*t out of me.

I politely explain that I wasn't taking pictures of people, just insects, to which he explains that he is looking for an excuse to beat the hell out of somebody and I should just get in my car and leave.

After a minute or two of his threats and my very polite responses he walks away.

The pic below was taken after that event. I should have checked my equipment bag properly first, I sure could have used that monopod!

Can you spell "Bat Sh*t Crazy?"

On the other hand a good whack on the temple with my ballhead may have given him pause for thought had he actually attacked, but that wouldn't be a good outcome for either of us.

I tried to see if I could find him later, photograph him and report him to the police, but no signs...

Be safe out there, apparently insects can be dangerous. So be prepared!

I do like the Canon 250D close up lens however, and I'm just beginning to experiment with close-up buggy stuff....

Had an interesting experience today taking a short trip to Golden Gate Park (San Francisco) to Metson Lake just for an hour or so to experiment with photographing some of the resident wildlife, around 10 am PST. It's say 10 minutes from my house.

The lake was relatively quiet, so the turtles, birds and insects were happily doing their thing. For me this was a trip to experiment with a few things, and the nice thing about the location is that it isn't on the main drag of GG Park, and you can park right by the lake so use your vehicle as a safe and accessible repository for equipment while still in the immediate vicinity.

After about half an hour of just quietly observing the dragonflies (or similar things to my uneducated mind from an entomologist's perspective) I found a twig where one hung out. I was experimenting with different lenses with a handheld camera.

I then decided that a monopod might help, plus also different lenses etc.

Well dummy me, I had picked up my monopod with its ball head, but had left all my arca camera plates at home. Duh!

So while rummaging around in my car, I turn around to see someone standing about six feet from me, about twenty years younger (40ish) and six or so inches taller than me, with his arm outstretched taking video, apparently of my sky facing butt!

He then proceeds to tell me that I shouldn't be taking pictures of people, and I should get in my car and get the hell out of there before he kicks seven kinds of sh*t out of me.

I politely explain that I wasn't taking pictures of people, just insects, to which he explains that he is looking for an excuse to beat the hell out of somebody and I should just get in my car and leave.

After a minute or two of his threats and my very polite responses he walks away.

The pic below was taken after that event. I should have checked my equipment bag properly first, I sure could have used that monopod!

Can you spell "Bat Sh*t Crazy?"

On the other hand a good whack on the temple with my ballhead may have given him pause for thought had he actually attacked, but that wouldn't be a good outcome for either of us.

I tried to see if I could find him later, photograph him and report him to the police, but no signs...

Be safe out there, apparently insects can be dangerous. So be prepared!

I do like the Canon 250D close up lens however, and I'm just beginning to experiment with close-up buggy stuff....

Had an interesting experience today taking a short trip to Golden Gate Park (San Francisco) to Metson Lake just for an hour or so to experiment with photographing some of the resident wildlife, around 10 am PST. It's say 10 minutes from my house.

The lake was relatively quiet, so the turtles, birds and insects were happily doing their thing. For me this was a trip to experiment with a few things, and the nice thing about the location is that it isn't on the main drag of GG Park, and you can park right by the lake so use your vehicle as a safe and accessible repository for equipment while still in the immediate vicinity.

After about half an hour of just quietly observing the dragonflies (or similar things to my uneducated mind from an entomologist's perspective) I found a twig where one hung out. I was experimenting with different lenses with a handheld camera.

I then decided that a monopod might help, plus also different lenses etc.

Well dummy me, I had picked up my monopod with its ball head, but had left all my arca camera plates at home. Duh!

So while rummaging around in my car, I turn around to see someone standing about six feet from me, about twenty years younger (40ish) and six or so inches taller than me, with his arm outstretched taking video, apparently of my sky facing butt!

He then proceeds to tell me that I shouldn't be taking pictures of people, and I should get in my car and get the hell out of there before he kicks seven kinds of sh*t out of me.

I politely explain that I wasn't taking pictures of people, just insects, to which he explains that he is looking for an excuse to beat the hell out of somebody and I should just get in my car and leave.

After a minute or two of his threats and my very polite responses he walks away.

The pic below was taken after that event. I should have checked my equipment bag properly first, I sure could have used that monopod!

Can you spell "Bat Sh*t Crazy?"

On the other hand a good whack on the temple with my ballhead may have given him pause for thought had he actually attacked, but that wouldn't be a good outcome for either of us.

I tried to see if I could find him later, photograph him and report him to the police, but no signs...

Be safe out there, apparently insects can be dangerous. So be prepared!

I do like the Canon 250D close up lens however, and I'm just beginning to experiment with close-up buggy stuff....