My First Confrontation

[Darren Turner]

Whilst walking around my home city & the huge, very busy Manchester Christmas Markets this evening and taking a few photos along the way I was confronted by a chap from one of the markets stalls in st Ann’s square who obviously had a bad day. We had a rather nice discussion about why he had decided that I cannot take a photo or 2 of and near his stall

I had been mooching around the stalls for around 60 mins with no issues at all (just like I do every year ) with me taking a few photos here and there in fact in almost every direction you looked people were taking photos, some with DSLRS, many with compact style cameras and even more with their phones.

I approached this one particular stall and spotted a few interesting items for sale which caught my eye, I was using a longer lens so I wasn’t even close to his stall at all I raised the camera to my eye and fired off a few shots. Just like I had done on a few other stalls previously this evening I then heard someone shouting Excuse Me……….. EXCUSE ME………… In a aggressive English accent, I ignored the calls at first as I presume they were not aimed at me until this guy was stood at side of me as I lowered the camera from my eye.

Our Conversation Went Something Like This…….
His Attitude & Tone Of Voice Was Very Snotty, Abrupt & Verging On Threatening. Mine Was Calm As A Cucumber As I Am A Very Chilled Out Kinda Guy. I Was Also In Shock At What The Guy Had To Say More Than Anything

Him: Excuse Me You Cannot Take Photos Here

Me: O Right Hello, Who Are You & Why Is That The Case

HIM: Because it’s MY Stall

Me: Ok So Why Is Me Taking Photos Of Yours Or Any Other Stall On The Markets A Problem Then

HIM: Because its My Stall And I Said You Cannot Take Photos

Me: But I Haven’t Taken Any Photos Of You Just Your Stall

HIM: You Cant Take Photo Here Because It My Stall And You Need My Permission Which Your Not Getting

Me: I Think You Will Find That This Is A Public Space & As Far As I Am Aware There Are No Rules Or Regulations
That Prohibit Me Or Anyone Else From Taking A Photo, Therefore I Am Perfectly Entitled To Take Photos Of Anyt
hing Or Anyone From My Position As Long As I Am Not Causing Any Obstruction (which I wasn’t)

HIM: Well Move On And Take Photos Of Some Other Stall

Me: I Am Not Going Anywhere Until I Am Ready & Also Not Getting Into Any Arguments With You I Will Take Phot
os Of Whatever I Wish And Move On When I Am Ready.

HIM: I Am Not Arguing Either I Am Telling You NOT To Take Photos Of My Stall

Me: ( At This Point I Just basically Ignored Him As He Was Obviously In A Bad Mood & He Was The Kinda Guy Who Will Not Give Up Regardless Of What I Say ) I Just Said Ok What Ever. And Carried ON Getting A Few Snaps In The Other Direction And Then Of His Stall Just To Wind Him Up Further. The Guy Did His Best To Get In My Ways To Avoid Me Getting Any Further Shot He Was Still Ranting & Raving. So I Just Walked Off. Telling Him I Wasn't To Bothered I Have Got The Shots I Am After Thanks.

Now I could understand if the items on his market stall were photographs, pieces or art of that sort of thing, maybe he was worried about copyright issues or similar, if this was the case he should make himself clear, and thus I would respect his wishes but they was not he just came over with a bad attitude.
I Continued To Walk Around The Markets, Enjoying The Stalls, The Food, Drink & General Fun Atmosphere For A Further 2 Hours Not Once Did Anyone Bat An Eye Lid With Me Or The 1000s Of Other Visitors To The Market Taking Photos.

Well I Have Been Taking Photos As My Hobby For Around 4 Years Now And I Have Heard Many Stories Of People’s Attitudes Towards Photographers Many Of These Are Usually Police, Security Guards Who Have Issues With Photographers And Are A Little Wary Of Possible Threats Of Terrorism Which I Fully Understand During The Current Climate.. I Have Never Heard Of A Market Stall Holder With Any Issues So This May Be A First, It Is Most Certainly My First Incident Of Conformation From Someone’s Else With Regards To Me Taking Photos

Daz

 

[Kev Pugh]

Maybe his name was Arfur and he was selling moody gear what a total pr@t

 

[Dave Moss]

Sounds a total idiot although I had a similar confrontation last year with a pcso who even called through to check if I was on the sex offenders register! The local police inspector was there (it was a community day) he called me over and asked what the problem was I said I was taking a few photo's as photography was a hobby and I had just been told I wasnt allowed to by the pcso as the council were taking them. He told me to carry on called the pcso over and asked him in front of me why the hell couldnt people take photo's

 

[Pete Askew]

Best ignored and sounds like you did all the right things. And I see he was selling traditional Xmas goods as well and not just a load of Chinese tat so you'd have thought he'd be in a festive mood!!

 

[Paul Lange]

Perhaps that is a statue of his misses.

 

[Pete Askew]

Well at least she looks 'armless enough!!

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Hahaha!! I love the confrontation, I absolutley love it!!
I don't need anger management folks let me reassure that, I am however very assertive when it comes to confrontation. As long as your not doing wrong, or causing anyone any harm..... Stick to ya guns (or cameras in this case) lol.
It is SO Unfortune for us good photographers in society are tarnished with the brush of many categories.
Great shot and story Darren. Have you got some setting where it allows you to Write Every Word As If Your Starting A New Sentance??

 

[Garry Lee]

If you speak a foreign language you should've spoken it to him..

 

[Darren Turner]

Hahaha!! I love the confrontation, I absolutley love it!!
I don't need anger management folks let me reassure that, I am however very assertive when it comes to confrontation. As long as your not doing wrong, or causing anyone any harm..... Stick to ya guns (or cameras in this case) lol.
It is SO Unfortune for us good photographers in society are tarnished with the brush of many categories.
Great shot and story Darren. Have you got some setting where it allows you to Write Every Word As If Your Starting A New Sentance??

cheers Dan i have a real short fuse to be honest and i have learnt over years to stay calm and collective & talk / discuss my point of view rather than talk with the fists as i have done with days gone by when i was much much younger haha............... In this case i basically told him straight, i got my photos and i was quite happy regrdless to what he was saying.

not quite sure what "Have you got some setting where it allows you to Write Every Word As If Your Starting A New Sentance??"
mean but i do openly admit my english literature is dam appauling............

Daz

 

[Kev Pugh]

If you speak a foreign language you should've spoken it to him..

This i do when confronted by Jehovah's and those grab yer cash gals and guys trying to get you signed up for something or other in town....................Russian is usually good one. Simply put "I'm a rushin".............say it quickly and the stoopid people haven't got a clue, especially when accompanied by some hand gestures

 

[Paul Lange]

Its called Title Case or Key Caps and is used on things like the RE: line on a letter or often on spare parts listings as its a little easier to read.

RE: Your Query Regarding Why The Words I Write All Start With Capital Letters

Qty 1, Replacement Head
Qty 1, Replacement Broom Handle
Qty 4, Retaining Screws

Not that I have a good grip on proper written English either.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Fists don't generally sort out anything as you realise the maturer you get, and especially when you've got some expensive gear around your neck that you wouldn't want to get smashed in the process of anger release. Lol.
Your literature is great Daz!! I had to double take on a few sentences because I don't usually read every word starting with a capital letter. Lol. It's not a problem, I didn't know if you had some type of setting applied.

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Its called Title Case or Key Caps and is used on things like the RE: line on a letter or often on spare parts listings as its a little easier to read.

RE: Your Query Regarding Why The Words I Write All Start With Capital Letters

Qty 1, Replacement Head
Qty 1, Replacement Broom Handle
Qty 4, Retaining Screws

Not that I have a good grip on proper written English either.

Aha!! That's explained it !! Thanks Paul.
Did you speaks proper England when you was a children Paul?

 

[Kev Pugh]

Did you speaks proper England when you was a children Paul?

Thats Proppa wuzza is that Dan, is you proppa wuzza then?

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Ennit pal, you'm proper wuzza I reckons too babs. They'm all like it look.....

 

[Kev Pugh]

Yep wuz on the buz the other day gooin ter brickies an ther wuz loads of um ther

I have refrained from using the correct Brickfield language because the Censor bunny would have a fit

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Haha! This could get out of control.

 

[Darren Turner]

Lmao you lot are bonkers, thank for clearing that up also..............

 

[Paul Lange]

Aha!! That's explained it !! Thanks Paul.
Did you speaks proper England when you was a children Paul?

Te He!

No, no where close. I was born in East London and used to have a strong accent and said things like init, Geezer, flawers, Guvnor, Apples n' pairs. Problem was I got a job that involved talking to people around the world and no one had any idea what I said. TBH I still say those things quite often!

 

[Darren Bradley]

I generally have to run everything you lot write on here through Google Translate, anyway, so whatever!

As for the confrontation, it happens to me all the time. I think perhaps Yanks are more paranoid than Brits these days and it's usually fear-based.