steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

My wife and I are on vacation for a week on Marco Island Florida. This morning my wife passed on going with me for a 3 mile walk. I thought great opportunity to head out with my Canon 60d for a photo walk. To give you some background on Marco, it is absolutely gorgeous. There's a lot of wealth here I'm told that some famous people own homes here, many are sealed shut already for hurricane season. Those that are sealed shut no doubt are just vacation homes. We are renting here for 1 week at a price that is very reasonable and about half the cost of what it would cost us to rent closer to our homein New England near Cape Cod. In other words we are not even close to wealthy.

Ok back to this mornings walk. I get about 1 block from the rental and there's a young man eyeing my 60d while he is sitting on a riding lawn mower. I say good morning but he gives me a dirty look. I walk a few yards further and spot a great shot with homes and boats. I stop take a few shots and next thing I see is this 30 something year old guy charging at me yelling what are you doing. Well whaddya think I'm doing? He asks why? I reply I'm on vacation and where I live doesn't even come close to having the homes and scenery here. The guy was hard to understand if I'd have to guess I would say he was probably a deaf mute. He seemed to accept that answer but he kept his eyes on me as I continued my walk.

About a quarter mile later I approached a small bridge over a waterway with some great possible shots. A small boat was approachingon the north side of the bridge and I did not want the small boat in it because there were much better and larger boats I wanted shots of. Satisfied with the shots on the north I crossed the small street to the south side of the bridge. About that time the small boat I was avoiding comes under and to the south side. I'm looking around for some shots to take but the guy in the boat stares up to me as if to say don't even think about it, he must have turned around 5 more times to make sure I didn't take his photo. Hey this is fun!

Well I walk another half mile to a place called Mackle park and I'm getting ready to shot some more and this grounds keeper looks at me and says no photos. I said don't worry buddy I had no intention of shooting you, but I would like to know where I can get some shots of pretty women instead of guys mowing lawns. What is with people? Have we become that paranoid in the age of big brother/ post 9-11?

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

If you are on public property, you can photograph anything in view. If anyone tells me that I can't, I tell them that if they don't want it, they need to put up a privacy fence. If it is in view, you are within the law to photograph.
and if anyone charges up to me, I have Smith & Wesson with me.
I'll always have at least a decent sized blade, if nothing else.
I also have an air horn, which can attract quite a bit of attention if necessary.

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

You are so lucky ...
I am waiting for some SOB to confront me and tell me I can't take pictures in public.
I never get what I want!

B.T.W., when I was a kid, (young man) I sold property for the Mackle Brothers in Marco Island.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

There are a lot of idiots out there these days. If you are in the public right away, you have full right to shoot what you want. Maybe some of those people are in witness protection? Who know? Keep shooting is what I would do.

Mytherwyn Loc: United States

Yeah I can't wait to kill or stab someone to death so I can get that great shot!!!

steveo52 Loc: Rhode Island and Ocala Florida

Yea lots of idiots for sure. I just kept moving and shooting. Makes you wonder about people and if I were casing a place to do a B&E you can bet I wouldnt be doing it with a Canon 60d and zoom lens at 9 am.

Robert interesting you working for the Mackle bros.. Gotta say I had to use some self control I'm a gentleman to a point.........

authorizeduser Loc: Monroe, Michigan

While you do have a legal right to photograph anything viewable from a public right of way there is a potential problem. If someone were to call the Police, many Police Officers either do not know the law or simply do not care. There is always the chance of being harassed, arrested and having your camera taken or worse taken, broken or lost. Then there is having a weapon on you, even if it is legal. You sit in jail until they are ready to deal and you wait why your lawyer sorts it out. It has happened, way too many times. Sometimes it is just better to relocate. Just my opinion.

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

To answer your question directly, yes, since 9/11 the general public has become more paranoid. Yes, you do have the right to take pictures from any public place. Just because you have this right does not mean that you will not get harassed by someone.

Blake

rocar7 Loc: Alton, England

We have similar rights in the UK, and often the same problems. The general public has strange ideas about their rights, and seem to think that they have to give you permission to take a photo with them (or especially their children) in it. If they don't want to be in a photo they shouldn't be in a public place.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

Where children are concerned you had better be very careful, I only ever take my own unless someone asks me who i know.

3Stripes Loc: Rocester, UK

I work in the UKs premier, leading theme park and I often want to go and take photos in the grounds, gardens and of the rides as the expressions on the guests faces are fantatsic photo ops but, although I've never been confronted, I do wonder if it counts as a public place seeing as its a business and people pay to get in.

Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

In the U.S. and Canada you can take photos in public spaces almost without restriction.

This may not be true in other countries, and it is good to be aware of the local laws before attempting to assert legal rights.

That said: People are more paranoid, and in places like Florida where "stand your ground" legislation has led to lethal confrontations, it is probably best to exercise "the better part of valour" to avoid the possibility of grave consequences. That said: Being polite and non-aggressive as it seems you were is usually effective.

MsJ Loc: Northern Indiana

Great sarcasm! :thumbup: :thumbup:

glojo Loc: South Devon, England

We live in an area where folks regularly come to either drive by, or take pictures of.. In all the years we have lived here I can only ever recall one such similar incident to what you are describing and strangely enough this was also by someone in the employ of the householder who was not aware of this person's obnoxious behaviour.

All I can say is take care and being right does not protect us from injury. What that gardener did was unforgivable but possibly understandable but still inexcusable. Taking pictures of a nice view, property, garden, building is something we all do and long may it continue.

If I want to commit a crime in a certain area then why risk being seen taking pictures? Google Earth will show me everything I want to know about the layout of my target, but I guess there is 'nowt as queer as folk'

My advice will always be to be sensitive or perhaps aware of where you are and any risks there might be when taking pictures. Being right is no consolation. Political correctness has now over-ruled any form of sanity and woe betide anyone that dares to try and take a picture of their child competing in a swimming event!!! . No votes to that gardener, no votes to this politically correct attitude that we have all allowed to rule our lives :(

Hopefully you got the pictures that you wanted? :thumbup: :thumbup:

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

I try to avoid dangerous animals (humans) and photograph trees, lakes, rivers any other species, but only in places where there are no dangerous animals. I don't like this species and avoid them as much as possible. I just got back from the Grand Canyon, Zion and Yosemite. They were there in great numbers but I still found many quiet places and avoided them. I got some very nice photos too. Florida is my home but there are humans here.