I was just taking some pictures today of some scarecrows for a photography contest. I first was taking them in one of the near by towns. It is an annual event. Kids make scarecrows on the main street in town.

I live in an apartment complex. When I came home from taking pictures before I happen to notice someone had put a small scarecrow on the lawn. This small scarecrow was small and cute and I thought I would take some pictures of it.

I was not inside any of the buildings in the complex. I was on the side walk and the scarecrow was on the front lawn of one of the buildings.

Most of the apartments you have to go up stairs to. There are a couple of apartments in the complex that are on the ground floor.

Where I was taking pictures was on the other side of the complex and I don't know how the apartments are set up where I was taking the pictures.

I took some pictures of the scarecrow and it was getting dark so the flash did go off.

The next thing I know some teenage kid comes out of the building as if he was going to attack me saying why was I taking pictures of his apartment?

I didn't even know what he was taking about. Apparently this was one of the ground floor apartments.

I could not see into the building since there were blinds and they were drawn. The scarecrow I was taking pictures was small and of was on lawn on the ground.

I told him what I was doing. I showed him the photos of the scarecrow and even offered to give him the memory card.

He said he was sitting inside with his friends and saw the flash and one of his friends said there was someone taking pictures of his apartment. The blinds were drawn and I could not see inside this apartment. If I could not see inside he would not have been able to see outside. So something sounds fishy to me.

I have lived here for over ten years. I see people taking pictures all the time in the complex with camera and with their cell phones. I take pictures around the complex all the time. I have always tried to be careful and considerate and not to take pictures of windows. I am wondering if this kids were up to something and maybe I should have called the police? This kid seemed like he was going to attack me.

I agree that Light is the third element in the exposure triangle. But it is simpler to say ISO, as one of those 3 factors that may need adjusting in the camera. Of course changing the amount of external light is the best solution! Just need to understand the best way to do it in different situations...

I seem to remember the existence of an Inverse Square Law from some course I took at University... Not that I remember it now! I am guilty of not having a good speed-light, but have finally decided to buy one. Now all I have to do is get around to it [already decided which one!].