When did we stop being “nice” ….(and become “nasty”) 

The bizarre thing is, if you were using a smartphone to take a photo in public no-one would bat an eyelid!

"Hell is other people" Jean-Paul Satre.

On the rare occasion this has happened to me I fix it by talking to them. It only takes two words - the first begins with F and the second with an O.........

I was taking photos of a puppeteer doing a show in Athens. Everybody had their cellphones out and where taking photos & videos. When the puppeteer noticed me taking photos with my DSLR he stopped the show, came up to me and started yelling, told me to delete the photos, if i did not he will call the police one me.. Crazy. I just ignored him and walked away, For some reason people get intimidated by dslrs . anyway,, thats my boring story. Nice video, thanks for sharing.

The irony is the person screaming at you about their privacy probably has their entire life history on line for anyone to read. Unfortunately the internet breeds paranoia. Fear has become a major industry. Now I remember why I started making images of birds. They don’t complain.

The first time I got confronted as a photographer, my relationship to shooting changed. I became hesitant and was always looking over my shoulder, awaiting the next confrontation. I admire the photogs who continue to pursue their craft undeterred.

I agree with you. I was in Paris last spring taking a photo of a cafe from a good distance. A man started to yell at me in English, and I couldn't even tell where he was coming from. I was only interested in the building. I don't even like to go on tours anymore. Most people hate traditional cameras now, including the vast majority of the people on my tours. Most of us experienced photographers are polite and discreet. The cell phone users, with their small, stealthy devices, have no boundaries at all. This is hypocrisy of the highest order.

The objection to being photographed in public has gone before the U.S. Supreme Court more than once. In every case the court has held you have no expectation of privacy when you’re in public and the plaintiffs have lost.

French girl here. I've been doing street photography in both Paris and London for about 10 years now, and I’ve noticed an interesting cultural difference between the two countries. In France, the laws about photography are less permissive than in the UK. For instance, here people have a "droit à l'image" (right to their image) even in public. So if I take a picture of someone in a public space and they tell me they don't like it, I would have to delete the files. On paper, people might assume that it would be more difficult to do street photography in Paris than in London, but it’s actually the other way around. In 10 years of doing street photography in Paris almost every day, I've never had any incidents. People are generally OK with it. Mind you, if they want, they can legally ask me not to take their pictures. But it never happens. The most I get is someone coming to me and asking what I'm doing. After explaining that I’m practicing my photography in the streets, people usually leave me alone. But in London, although I have the law on my side and I've practiced photography there far less often, I've been insulted, grabbed by a guy, shouted at, and every single time I would have a security guard telling me that I’m not allowed to take pictures of their businesses because it's against the law. Every time, I tell them that I’m calling the cops so they can explain that they are wrong, and every time they leave me alone. They basically lie to me about it being illegal. It’s always a weird mystery to me. You literally have a law that is 10 times more liberal and permissive than we do, yet the public behaves as if taking pictures on the streets were somehow illegal. I don’t count the number of times I’ve heard the phrase "it’s not allowed" while taking pictures in London. Yet in Paris, where it’s actually indeed not allowed, nobody bothers me. The only exception was in a tiny village in the south of France where I was taking pictures of a lovely church with a 16mm lens full frame (so the people in the background were very tiny and not the focus of the image), and a woman with obvious mental issues yelled at me in the distance. So yeah, I’m not sure why people are so hostile to public photography in a country where it’s very legal, but I’ve always been very surprised by that difference.

Similar situation, a couple of 'youths' shouted 'are you a paedo?' I shouted back 'If I were, you'd be safe!'

The sad thing is the police will arrive faster to a report of 'a man with a camera' than to 'my house is being burgled'.

I started by first job as an apprentice press photographer for the local newspaper in the 1970s. On quiet news days in the summer I was often tasked to go to the local beach to take some kiddie pictures with buckets and spades and the like, sometimes with parents and or grandparents. We called them "filler pics" (to fill the newspaper) or just "sunshine pics" - sometimes I photographed teenagers and young people, male and female, in swimsuits frolicking in the tide. We published them with names in captions. They were VERY popular and proud parents and grandparents would order copies galore. This was in the days of film and no-one much had a decent camera and certainly NO smartphones. Then something happened. All of a sudden we weren't allowed to publish full names, just first names, then no names at all, THEN I was regarded with open hostility and the paper decided on no pictures should be published at all of anyone under 18 without written permission. About this time the term "paedophile" was just coming into the public consciousness. Later I started my own photography business. I had the police called on me numerous times over 25 years for the "crime" of walking around in public with a pro camera when on assignments. Fortunately I knew many of the local police officers from my time at the newspaper but it wasn't pleasant and became tiresome. One assignment I had was to photograph the exterior of several local industries (for a government jobs agency) and I was pounced on numerous times by security guards, again for the "crime" of photography in a public place. I got so sick of having to explain myself politely to some ranting, so-called security guard that refused to listen to me that I printed out a few copies of the law pertaining to photography and just handed it out when challenged. But even this didn't satisfy some of them. One security guard, clearly frustrated, fell back on quoting the law of copyright as I had obviously included the company's name and logo which was on prominent display. Again I was threatened by the police. I ask you. You'd think with the proliferation of photography and folk wandering about with "good" cameras that photography in a public place would not provoke such hoo ha, but I actually think it's getting worse. I'll recount a story from when I was about 19 and still working at the newspaper. There was a large building fire in the town and the police and fire brigade were everywhere. I dashed out with my camera bag and took some pictures of course. I wasn't in anyone's way but a young policeman I didn't know told me to move on or be arrested for obstruction. I moved a few yards and carried on - I definitely was not obstructing anyone, only to be told I would be reported - I had to give my name. Next day whilst in the darkroom I took a phone call. "This is Chief Inspector So and So - were you the lad taking photographs at the big fire yesterday?" I thought this is it, I'm going to be arrested. Nervously I said yes. "Well" boomed the Inspector, " is there any chance of having some copies of the photographs you took for the lads, and to help with training?" Now I'll admit you do sometimes feel a little awkward taking pictures of some disaster be it a fire, a fatal car crash, explosion, scene of a murder etc. but sometimes such images have LATER proved invaluable to the authorities, even Courts etc, and it's usually the people that might have initially objected to the photography that want to see the pictures first. I'll end the rant here!

A few years back I was photographing my daughter’s netball game. I have a decent camera and had some random come up and tell me off. I turned around and said I was photographing my daughter’s game and she said that she did not want my taking pictures of her daughter. Didn’t point out who she was. I turned around and straight up said there is no right to privacy in public. She walked off muttering “strange that you know the rules”

The only place I can think of where cameras annoy me is at a concert and there’s hundreds of phone screens blocking my view.

20 or 30 years ago, no one gave a brass razoo... nowadays, nosy, busy-bodies, outraged Karens and Johns think they know the law or want to impose their senseless views on you. I've noticed in the past years, especially since moving to Northern Queensland in Australia, that people are not very bright. I like taking pictures of settler's houses, odd things and historical monuments. After parking legally and walking 50m down a country road to take images, with my big fat Sony A7III in plain view, a black 4 x 4 drove past, did a 180 degree action u-turn and drove beside me asking: "Can I help you, mate?". When I waved my camera around and said that I was just taking pictures, the people in the car identified themselves as "neighbourhood watch" - as if I'm supposed to soil my pants and run back to my car. A few minutes later, a red car stopped at the house that I walked past. The woman mouthed over to me on the other side of the road so that I had to walk across. The woman stopped work just to come home because the neighbourhood watch people called her. After explaining to the tenant (who had rushed home for no reason) that I was merely documenting old buildings, she invited me inside and gave me a tour and a history lesson. The same when I rocked up at the beach on Australia Day, when I stood there taking pictures, women shielded their precious children. Geez, if you're worried, put some clothing on to hide your fat. Why not vandalise the CTV cameras and those pervert life guards looking through their binoculars. Let's look away when someone drowns because it's none of our business.

One time after 911, I went to my hometown in the UK to make a video. Took video from the train pulling into the station. Two police wrote me a caution and followed me around town from the station. I guess you could say things had changed.

I lived next to a burrowing owl community that was located on an empty lot. The owner could not build on it because of the owls. I talked to the owner and asked him for permission to go on his property to take photos. He agreed. First day I went some lady would walked by and yell at me. She did this everyday I went there. One day I admit I got frustrated. Her yelling was annoying me and the owls. So I approached her. We had a conversation where she yelled and I tried to explain. I told her the owner had given me permission. I pointed to my house so she could see that I was also part of the community. I also showed her the images. I was hopeful things would change. One day I made a quick stop because I could see baby owls emerging. I had my 2 year old in her car seat, rolled down the window and was about to take a few shot and there the woman was again. She yelled obscenities at me and my daughter started to cry. I calmed my daughter, rolled up the windows and exited the car. I had been kind on the numerous other occasions, but I lost it. I told her that I had permission and if she would turn her concern to her own life and stop wearing the piece of tape on her wrinkles because it was not going to make her ugliness vanish. She walked away. The next day she was at my front door with cookies she had baked for my daughter and apologized. People come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and mental issues. Struggle on my friend. -American

I am living in Charlotte,NC . I became serious about photography back in 1959. My favorite photos came from Life magazine, so I always took pictures of people. I still go on to the street today. I have only had trouble 3 times in all that time. In each case it was a person who had a mental problem. People know I am taking their photo. I had a young reporter ask me , “are you taking photos of people?” I said,yes and it is perfectly legal. She asked if she could interview me , and I said yes. Well she wrote about me, and over 400 people wrote in that they had seen me and wondered about me. Well then I had people ask me to take their picture. I realized I was not hidden and now wear bright colors, and sometimes take photos using my silent shutter but sometimes just tap the camera with my finger to let them know that I am going to take a picture. I had a gallery called Charlotte Smiles, and when people asked about why I took a photo, it was to show people in the future what life was like today.

I used to worry about being judged for taking out my camera in public, especially my telephoto lens in my suburban neighborhood. I decided I have the right to enjoy my photography. I get asked questions in nature parks about what I saw, but generally nice. I think people in general are stressed and don’t want to be humiliated on social media. Some people take videos of people and make fun of them on TikTok.

It has happened to me several times in the U.S., including on the grounds of my apartment complex when I was taking pictures of a bird (Pacific Golden Plover). It always disturbs me, to the point I don’t want to go out for a while. The world seems to be angrier and uglier these days.

This has happened to me in my hometown Loughborough, though the first guy accused me of being a paedophile and then his mate came along and said they were calling the Police. I said “OK. Let’s wait for them. Do you want me to call them?” Then they very strongly suggested I give them the camera and they wouldn’t report me. They tried to mug me. I walked away whilst they both shouting to the town I was a pervert. Mud shouldn’t stick, but unfortunately it does. You can be accused without any basis.

I think most of our petty problems now seem related to social media in one way or another.

Street photographer here. I've noticed more and more people being uncomfortable with cameras over the last couple of years. It's a shame

My kneejerk reaponse is usually "Yeah....I don't care" when someone bags on me for no reason. It starves the trolls.

We just can’t let people dictate what we do! The only freedoms we lose are the ones we willingly surrender to the idiots! SO DON’T!

Could this be considered "bullying" or just nastiness? My unscientific experiences and observations have taught me that there is a 1:1 ratio with bullies and cowards...the bigger the bully, the bigger they are as cowards. Besides, "Big Brother" has been with us for sometime, in one fashion or another. Really, life is just too short for this. I guess that you can just be grateful that you live your life as you please and you are not miserable: "Misery LOVES company!" Thank you, Brian. Keep taking your camera out, having fun with your photography and wear an attitude that deflects such nastiness. Well done! Thank you!

Great topic - So strange that people react to someone with a camera nowadays, but think nothing of people with their phones out taking millions of pictures.

The world is not nice anymore it seems

I was once at a vintage vehicle show, I had a camera and a Google Glass, I was approached by a gentleman and he started to rant on about me using the Google glass “were you taking pictures of me?” It was the Google Glass he objected to, I pointed out other people were taking pictures and movies with their phones, cameras, and even video cameras, but he was targeting me because I was using the equipment I happened to be using. I asked him was he going to tell all those other people to stop filming/taking pictures? He responded by telling me he was going to report me to the police, and stormed off! Many well known vintage photographs are of children, one such example is of a young lad with a bottle of wine tucked in his arm, proud as Punch. I have to wonder in this day and age, would anyone be able to take such a photograph in this day and age without being accused of being something other than a street photographer, but something more sinister?

I was taking a long exposure image of a fountain, so I didn't have any people in the shot. A security guard basically told me I was a pedophile and I couldn't photograph because there were kids running around enjoying the fountain. I told him, I'm not photographing them and no one was complaining, but he was adamant and convinced I was a pedophile. I asked him about the woman with the big professional camera and large white lens. I said, why don't you stop her? He told me, oh, she's a woman and has kids she's photographing, so that's ok. I said, I doubt that very much, she's my wife. But I guess women can't be pedophiles... Many other instances of people getting nasty and accusing me of all sorts. It's a risk. But mostly only in the UK...

Not just photography Brian. I am in my 70s and walk regularly on a country road with very few cars. A few months ago a man stopped his car wound the window down and asked if I had read the Highway Code for walking on highways? Apparently I need to get off the road when a vehicle wants to pass. I looked at him burst out laughing and said I would have to remember that one, It’s a classic. He has passed me again since but doesn’t stop.

I am holiday in the Peak District. A couple of days ago I was taking some landscape shots using my EM1 mark 3. A man and a woman in their late sixties appeared in front of me over the brow of the hill. The man very abruptly said' I hope you aren't photographing me'. I replied, 'why would I want a picture of you and even if I did I was perfectly within my rights to take one'. Silence was his reply. Why couldn't he just give a friendly hello like the many other people I have met in passing on holiday? It was very off putting. Some people are just rude and miserable and they will not deter me from taking pictures. Carry on Brian and enjoy your camera.

I agree with you 💯! Years ago, I was hired by a local EMT (Rescue team) to photograph them working a “fake” car wreck (my daughter was one of the EMT’s working the scene as well). Things were good until this woman pulled up and not only yelled at me, but made it her mission to yell at the police officer about me as well, and that was after the chief of the EMT’s and the police officer said they hired me 🤷‍♀️

Curious to hear of anyone experience at taking photos in public using massive cameras on huge tripods as if being professional photographers working on a project. If I'm not mistaken this is what happened to Joel Meyerowitz. After the September 9/11 attacks, Meyerowitz became the only photographer granted unimpeded access to Ground Zero. Initially, he faced resistance and was told he couldn't take pictures because it was a crime scene. However, he persisted and returned with a large format camera, which gave him a more professional appearance. This move helped him to document the site extensively, resulting in a comprehensive photographic archive of the aftermath and recovery efforts.

A few days ago I was taking some pictures and a chap approached me and said "that's something you don't see very often". Looking around I said "what's that?", he replied "someone with a camera". After an hour or so chatting I had made another photographer friend. When I go out walking in my local, small costal village, I always take a camera and often get asked about my equipment etc. I am thinking of getting a T shirt with "I am not a tourist, I am a photographer" on it.

Thanks for this. You and me both! I live in a housing estate surrounded by wildlife. Yet I have been accused of working for the police and being a pervert! I even had to show the photos of the Autumn trees I was taking before one chap would stand down. It made me feel as if I shouldn't be taking photos at all - thanks for the encouragement.

Dear Brian, I am in the same situation here in Belgium. I completely understand how you feel. I usually photograph outside of cities, but even there, I recently had people approach me aggressively to ask 'what the hell I’m doing here'... disgusting. I now prefer to use my compact GR3 instead of my DSLR. But even with that, I have already received comments... we have entered a crazy world... that's for sure....

"...something horrible has happened to British public life..." Peter Oborne

For many, being obnoxious is becoming a national pastime. It’s not just photography, you see this behaviour everywhere now. Parents abusing teachers, road users abusing each other, shoppers abusing shop assistants. It’s very sad and I wish I could blame it all on the youngest generation but that would be far too easy. Plenty of older people who really ought to know better are the worst. People simply have no shame anymore and have become shamelessly self absorbed. Keep up the great work. Nil illegitimi carborundum!

It's because the masses no longer use a camera, so it stands out. As someone said below if it was a phone nobody would bat an eyelid. If your doing street photography you sometimes get odd looks but what's amazing is if your near the bus terminals over the intercom comes ' if you see something suspicious phone ?????' that's in my local city of Liverpool. The secret is to do street photography on a regular basis like each week and embrace the fact that CCTV cameras get to know you. I now find I photograph always around the area where there are cameras if someone challenges me about my work I can point to the CCTV cameras saying your being watched all the time with a camera, it tends to calm the situation down. So the secret is what ever city your in know where the security cameras are including those that are in the shops and you will feel prepared & safer for knowing this.

Please don't stop, Brian.. Thankfully nothing I never had anything like what you went through.

This is such a timely subject. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I don’t have any answers but very much agree with you. As a 70 year old I feel certain I grew up in a much nicer world and feel grateful for that. So much makes so little sense to me these days.

Very interesting and valid video, Brian. I have been very fortunate here in London as I regularly have people showing a genuine interest in the sort of photos I am taking, I have had security guards even suggesting places I might find interesting. I have had no abuse at all in the last few years. I also just posted a couple of photos of my own grandparents, and my mum, taken on the beach at Southend-on-Sea in 1922. They are all sitting in deck chairs, all fully dressed in their best clothes, the men with flat hats, suits and ties. As you say, no-one bothered and everyone actually WANTED their photos taken. Strange times indeed that we live in now.

I was out a few years ago on the Southbank in London. I forgot my lens hood, so improvised one out of a paper coffee cup. A hood rat thought I'd taken his picture and grabbed at my camera. I walked away with him holding the cup and looking very confused. It hasn't stopped me from street photography. If anything, it's made me more confident.

Maybe they’re suffering from cognitive dissonance. People willingly submit to surveillance from their phone, computer, car, TV, even laundry machines and refrigerators. But if you make them aware of a camera they flip out. That’s weird.

To quote some random guy on TikTok "Manners cost nothing, but neither does being mean to each other" sums up how we treat each other these days

Same in America, a guy assaulted me while I was taking photos of the buildings behind him. Its crazy what people think, this was in Boston, MA which I guarantee there are no less than 10 cameras mounted on traffic lights, police poles, and other security cameras. People are just losing their minds wanting to control the situation, but fail to use logic. He was screaming at me to delete the photo I never took of him. Wild out there, stay safe.

Sorry to hear this Brian. It happened to me once and it was very upsetting, it just blindsides you. People can be so ignorant and self centred.

I do a lot of street photography and often take photos of people, not right in their faces but more so candid shots to get the mood of society and so forth. For the most part I have not had issues, some people will look at your camera but over where I live it is more so accepted and expected that you will have your photo taken in public. I have come across lots of people who are willing to get their photos taken, which i must admit is quite encouraging. The only two times I had been confronted were of people I wasn't taking photos of, and it was a time where I focused more on landscapes rather than actual street photography. One guy wanted to punch and on a separate occasion a woman threatened to sue me even though I paid little attention to her. All I can say, is that there are a lot of entitled idiots around in the world. Don't let them get you down. Keep taking your camera along.

Yet curiously nobody bats an eyelid when you take photos with a cellphone in public. Likely the folk who take issue with photographers have something to hide. They probably think you are a private detective for the benefits agency or they made a dodgy insurance claim and think evidence is being gathered lol. The irony that their image is recorded by hundreds of devices daily and they can be tracked using their cellphone is totally lost on them.

Good video and your getting some decent comments. We are constantly under surveillance via sophisticated CCTV and I think this unconsciously puts people on edge. The line is very blurred between authority and our art.

I think the weird camera hatred is fallout from the surveillance society.

I'm glad you have said this Brian, I'm a self-shooting filmmaker based in London. Since the pandemic, people have become much more agressive and rude. I find it at times very bad in London sometimes. Depending on what I am filming a feature drama or documentary. I do film outside with a tripod, so I stand out much more than photographers, but I do what I can to get the B-roll for my films. Hang in there Brian please!

Brother, here's a hug. I understand your passion. In such dire moments, best is to practice empathy and diffuse the situation then move on.

I was screamed at by a random stranger on Southbank as I was taking a picture of the London Eye. Funny thing is there were many people around me doing the same thing. The difference is I was shooting with a camera and they were using cellphones. People seem to have an inexplicable aversion to proper cameras these days.

Great points. From Canada, I haven't had these experiences with my camera, but speaking more broadly, I have certainly observed this tone of nastiness rise in the the general public in other areas. And, yes, I attribute it to COVID isolation/desocialization. Keep a smile and we'll rebuild civilization and community again, hopefully. And keep shooting.

Probably the best video on this matter Brian. I had a very very bad experience last year, some people knocked me out, broke four ribs, reported me to the Police, I ended up in custody, house raided cameras and pcs sd cards taken. I was half asleep in the sunshine on my way to a nature reserve. Got called a pervert because i was wearing camo, and the Police interviewed me for 45 minutes. They had a problem with the camo tape wrapped around my telephoto lens, questioned why I was in the area, also why i had two cameras and three lenses with me. They dropped the case 5 months later.

Been filming professionally full time in UK for over 5 years. Very occasionally had people in the background come up and challenge. I usually just smile and keep filming. We have a right to work and if they don't like it they can simply get out of the frame! Don't be disheartened, keep taking photos and stand your ground, nicely with a smile 😂

I’ve had that recently in a town centre I was trying to take a photo of a gate and a person kept walking in to my shot so I waited and then as he wondered off he shouted that I can’t take peoples photos. I wasn’t even trying to take a photo of him. Madness

People are insane-and it’s a sad day when a person just going out and having fun doing street photography gets accused or attacked for doing something legal-My sympathies Brian for your experience. I was doing street photography the other day in New York City and a lady who I hadn’t photographed came over to me and yelled at me to ‘Delete that photo you just took of me!’ I told her that I didn’t photograph her and she insisted on seeing the last photo that I had taken and I told her that wasn’t going to happen, because who is she that I should have to justify doing something legal in a public space? She then told me that she didn’t like the situation, and walked away-I yelled after her that she should keep up the good work of not minding her business, and have a nice day! I had photographed the woman walking behind her, who had smiled at me as I was taking the photo. I’m not going to allow public opinion of me to keep me from enjoying street photography, and will try to deal with people who confront me with respect and dignity to a point because I am going to stand my ground.

Good video topic. I have experienced it a few times myself. Sadly, we seem to be residing in a very paranoid society at present. I also get funny looks when I am testing out old video cameras. As many on here have said, everyone is okay with a smartphone but not an actual camera. Have people in general forgotten about ACTUAL cameras?

The irony is the UK has more CCTV per head than any other country. People are being watched all the time, and they are being recorded for reasons other than art, yet they have no problem about it.

These days there are a large number of people who are just desperate to be offended, it’s not specific to photography. Resist letting them win by not changing your behavior. There are still lots of other sensible people around thankfully ….

Had it happen twice, it's a bad thing when the police don't know the law of the land.

as a freelance photographer from Australia I've noticed the same thing! And yes since 2019-2020 people's attitudes started to change and has collectively gotten worse to today. I put it down to how the government policy's have treated people in the last 5 years eg. losing jobs, loosing homes, split up familys, the rising cost of living, inflation, rising Morgage rates getting swamped with immigrants e.t.c. people are stressed and on edge! its like the bully at school they go others at a whim to make themselves feel better. its psychology 101 people express outward what they feel on the inside I wouldn't take it personally for so many people right now they are going through extremely hard times I know it sucks but the timing cant be ignored.

I’ve only had one encounter. I was out early morning. In a parking lot of a facility open 24 hours a day. Security DROVE out to ask me to leave, I said I would leave and started packing up. Then he really irritated me when he threatened legal action against me! He said it was illegal for me to take photos. I think people just want to overreact. To exert their power over the situation and the person with a big camera is an easy target.

I used to treat people as I want to be treated, now I treat people as they treat me. My default is nice and then I match my response to theirs. Its amazing how people react when you are willing to talk to them the same way they talk to you.

I’ve had the sort of incidents you describe occur numerous times over the years. Recently it seems mostly to be people obsessed with “privacy.” In most urban areas, a person is photographed numerous times by cameras they probably don’t know are there. But a person with a camera is an obvious target for them. I usually tell them I’m willing to wait around if they want to call in the police to determine if I was doing something illegal. No takers yet. Several years ago, I was taking a photo of a Toronto office building from the sidewalk. A building security guard rushed over to tell me I wasn’t allowed to photograph the building. I informed him that was not the case. He then told me I was banned from the building. I then took his picture. When he asked why I did that, I told him I’d pass it on to several companies in the building as part of my explanation as to why I’d no longer be doing business with them. The next time I was in the building he scowled a lot, but made no attempt to escort me out.

Nice to see you BJ - keep up the good work :)

I do a fair amount of urban/street photography in London and apart from being asked politely to move on by security guards if I'm using my camera on privately owned property/land (of which there is more than you would think), I have very rarely, if ever, encountered abuse. I think people in London are just used to seeing so many tourists using cameras, so don't get worked up about it. However, I am a little more careful (discrete) in my south east home town, but cannot recall receiving any abuse. Of course, it's possible that as I am of advanced years, I'm probably invisible to most of the younger public 😊!

❤love the video 😊

If someone complains about being photographed I always say, don’t worry, I only make photos of nice things.

The weird thing that I've noticed is that over the years how things have changed. When I was using film ( yeah I'm THAT old lol ) things were entirely different, it's as if using a Digital camera has altered peoples perception in some way... 'Oooh...he's got a DIGITAL camera'! And it's not just people on the street. I was in Trafalgar square early one morning, two cops came over...before you know it there's FIVE of them. All 'having a go' at me for daring to take photographs....in Trafalgar square !!

I had someone call cops on me while I was taking a time lapse of an intersection. Had my EarPods in, listening to an audio book and heard him yelling from behind me, turned around and there he stood, saying someone had called about a man taking video of cars…

Unfortunately, what you experienced just become more common nowadays. It makes me sad. Thanks for sharing this video Brian, all the best.

Excellent video. I did alot of street photography for around 10 yrs but I gave it up around 3 yrs ago because people are just so angry all the time for no reason. I only do macro and wildlife photography now because animals are alot more civilised than 90 percent of people

Hi Brianyes I agree people these days are just looking for anything to complain about moan about or feel hard done by. The UK needs to have a blooming good shake. Please keep up your work I'd be lost without it. Steve

I understand what you mean and it’s very sad! Had the same thing happen to me a few times, and you just feel terrible for no good reason !…

Last year I was at a local event taking photos. As I was leaving the area I was surrounded by four security guys who told me I was being kept there until the police arrived. So embarrassing to be held there by these guys while thousands of people were passing and rubber necking. After half an hour a cop arrived on a motorcycle and I explained I had been taking photographs at a public event so not broken any laws. He agreed and called off the security officers. Next day I was contacted by a friend who told me the mother of one child had posted a photo of me on Facebook with the warning 'Beware of this man who is taking photos of children'. This was reposted many times by people who added their own comments. Fortunately I am fairly well known in the area and many came to my defence saying I was a good guy and the original poster should be ashamed of herself. Since then I have been a bit more cagey about taking photos of children but of course at fairs etc that is almost impossible. Yes these days people are getting really paranoid especially were children are concerned. On another occasion I was stopped by two community cops who told me it was against the law to photograph them which is totally wrong. Everyone thinks they know the law.

Great video Brian :) I go out of my way to NOT get a reaction from people too & keep a low profile… A VERY Low profile!!! But unfortunately there is still the odd person that spoils the experience…

Social Media factors in to the not being nice attitudes as well.

I use a small compact camera for this reason for street photography. I also turn off the shutter sounds the flash & the aluminator. I don't get any hassle you have to try to be inconspicuous, not in a bad way of course, but some people are over sensitive, & over react.

Sorry to hear about your recent bad experiences. I'm not in the UK, but I've only ever been given trouble by people who are mentally unwell and/or are poorly informed about the law while doing street photography.

Thank you for sharing this video Brian. I like doing street photography in the United States. I know that the potential for a confrontation is out there. We as photographers need to know the law. Please don't stop doing street photography.

“When did we stop being nice to each other” great question! 😎✌️

This topic has been on my mind for many years. I have since had to give up photography for health reasons, but it has happened to me so often in the last 15 to 20 years that I have been attacked for taking photos in public. I have been threatened with beatings. For a very long time, I've avoided crowds of children when I'm out and about with my camera. Especially if you're male, over 40 and perhaps - like me - still overweight, you're immediately seen as a pervert, paedophile or whatever else. I can remember a situation here in Switzerland when I was standing on a cycle path taking ‘motion blur’ photos of cyclists. One of them turned round, raced towards me and barked at me, asking if I had taken a photo. I said I had, what the hell? I took the photo from the side with a long exposure time so that I could capture the motion blur. You can't recognise anyone in photos like that, not even your own son. Another encounter was when a man insisted that I delete the photos. I was using an analogue camera at the time. I told him it was difficult because it was an analogue camera. He then said ‘Ana ... what?’ and probably thought it was a dirty word or that I was making fun of him. I think I was smirking because his request was so ... ‘digital’ ... But it's true that there is uncertainty about the legal situation, both for photographers and, above all, for other people. People in Western Europe are so keen to insist on their rights and not to give up any of them voluntarily that they have completely lost their sense of proportion. It's different in many other parts of the world. On the other hand, many people enjoy photos that show what life was like 50, 70 or 100 years ago. If people had behaved like this back then, most of these photos would not exist.

There are more nice people than others. Don’t let it bring you down.

Once I was taking a photography of a scenic lighthouse from a high location which also overlooked a beach area. Some person started shouting loudly that I was a pervert taking pictures of kids on the beach !!! I was some 80m from the beach, and the lighthouse, probably, a further 60m beyond that. I was using a small tripod. The guy even tried to take my camera away from me when I attempted to just leave. In the end I called the local police station and reported him . I told them he seemed to be accusing anyone with a camera. A police woman arrived and just asked him to move along. Apparently he was a local 'celebrity' with them.

People do have too many sensitivities, Brian. It's the way of the modern Western world unfortunately. Being nice costs nothing and does the world some good. It's a shame we don't see enough of it. Take care.

I get what you’re saying. I sense the same thing. Although I do professional photo and video, last year when I was in the Netherlands for a holiday I used my phone. My phone takes excellent pictures and video but it seems invisible to most people.

I like street photography, but I am terrified of taking out the camera in front of people. So I started photographing landscape and empty places in the countryside where there are no people. I went Europe, Spain and Hungary, not a peep or bad looks from anyone. They just smile or give me the tongue. UK is done, Europe will follow.

Thanks Sir. I have always wondered about this when making me you tube videos in public. I have also been admonished by the public for taking pictures in public also.... the world is full of A-holes.

There’s a cruise channel called Cruise with Ben and David where they were recently banned from taking photos on a cruise even though other guests weren’t. It’s an interesting story. The line was MSC and apparently MSC have now apologised and invited them to be consultants for their new media policies for vloggers.

Folks in the UK have become routinely hostile and self-righteous over that last few years. It saddens me daily.

It really can get irritating and frustrating when others push their “law” on you. It comes in runs for me so I’ve decided it’s a full moon kinda thing.

I have had similar situations, not only is it frustrating but it has got me down. As you have said, I'm almost too nervous to take my camera out with me. I was photographing a country lane, used by many walkers near our house, and this woman accused me of taking photos of her. I didn't even know she was there until she mentioned it, she was shouting. Although in her case I think she was mentally disturbed by her reaction and trying to speak to her. I actually reported the incident to the police, I was concerned she might accuse me of something, she seemed that unstable. It was the first time I had been out of the house for several weeks, I suffer from depression, only to meet this mad person. I have had about 3 or 4 such incidents over the last few years. Honestly could do with a campaign explaining to the general public, it is not ilegal to take photos outside in public areas. What really niggles me about this is, I am led to believe the UK had more security cameras per square mile than any other country in the world, where one is constantly watched, but these people never complain about that. They will say it is for security so it's a good thing, but having that amount of surveillance can never be a good thing, even taking on board the security aspect to it. Yet some people are happy to stop a photographer taking photos.

About 10 - 12 years ago I did a long street photography project in my closest major city. I was finishing my undergrad in Sociology and was deeply emersed in the city shooting sometimes 3-4 times a week. When I was really into it I could blend in and only had a handful of "bad" experiences but overtime the anxiety of shooting in public made it less and less fun. I can't even imagine doing it now. The shame is that people love looking back at pictures of towns, cities and people of the past whilst being totally oblivious to the fact that someone had to actually go out and take that photo! Unfortunately I think were destroying a lot of what makes society function and as you pointed out the lock downs have had an extremely negative impact on society and how people interact with each other.

I am in Greece and do not know whether it is the overall ambience of being a “tourist place” but generally people smile and even try not to disturb me if they see me taking a photo, and I am not talking about locals alone, but visitors from everywhere. I smile, a greeting and frankly my day or night is made.

Yes, it happened to me and a friend. He took a photo of a girl's tattoo, it was on her back. We were at an event downtown. Her boyfriend got all warped out of shape and said we couldn't take her photograph. We told him if she/he didn't want to be photographed she should have worn something less revealing and that there was no law against public photography.

I was flying my drone out in the countryside one evening recently, when a woman came up behind me and started with "Excuse me, excuse me, why are you flying a drone near my house"? I asked her where her house was, which was about 200yds away. So I said, no, I was flying above that hill, about 500yds away in a different direction (catching the sunset). She wasn't shouting, but was plainly annoyed, not believing me, and grumbling about filming her sunbathing - even though it was 9pm!. I said I'd fly it back, and she could look through whatever I'd taken. When it was overhead, she asked "Can you see my house from here", so I turned the drone towards it. Next came "Could you take some photos of it"? Followed by "Can I have some copies. I'll pay you for them" We ended up swapping phone numbers, and me promising to take some more photos when her building work is finished! But it was an 'Uh-oh, here we go' moment when she started