This guy was on the corner of Stockton and Columbus in San Francisco yelling at a homeless man. Anger, conflict, drama — sounds like a great shot to me. I crossed the street but was unable to get anything interesting, since I only had my 50mm lens on the camera and I was just too far away.
However, Mr. Angry Overreaction Man decided that he now had a problem with me. He confronted me, demanding my camera. Of course, I refused. He got in my face and started threatening me, telling me that I cannot take his photo without his permission. I told him that yes, in fact, I can. He then walked up and bumped into me, trying to act tough. I told him that one more touch and I would call the police.
Of course, he didn’t like that very much, and at that point told me that if I put his picture on the internet, he would call his laywer. I assured him that his photo would be on the internet, and he then walked up and grabbed my camera lens. Well, that’s just not something that I will put up with, so I pulled the camera away from him and reached for my phone and started dialing. Once he saw that he turned away, still yelling threats, and continued on his way.
I felt bad for his daughter, who was with him, because she was obviously embarrassed by his antics and kept pleading with him to stop. I have a great shot showing her looking up as if saying “Oh boy, here he goes again”. But I’m not going to post that one, as she was not acting like an idiot and I don’t want to embarrass her. Mr. Angry Overreaction Man seems to do enough of that.
So, Mr. Angry Overreaction Man, your photo is now on the internet. Call your lawyer. Tell him somebody on a public sidewalk took your photo while you were on a public sidewalk. Then tell him you physically assaulted the photographer. See what he says.
The photographer, the guy in the photo, and commenter # 327 and 328 Dan A all sound like assholes to me.
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I don’t see the problem with posting his picture. As others have pointed out here, it’s perfectly legal to do here in the US, and if he’d asked politely not to have the picture taken/shared, then I suspect Jeremy would have obliged (I know i would have). If you want someone to respect your wishes, particularly if you’re asking them to forgo something that’s perfectly legal, then you need to be courteous. If you go around assaulting and threatening someone, don’t be surprised when they ignore your wishes or fight back in one way or another.
Jälleen kerran olen todella onnellinen etten asu amerikoissa, siellä kuka tahansa kusipää saa tehdä mitä huvittaa ja ärsyttää ihmisiä ja ottaa heistä kuvia ilman lupaa. kyseessähän ei ole mikään julkimo tai muu sellainen vaan ihan tavallinen kaduntallaaja. 100%:sti turha kuva!
Has any one of you, 300 people ridiculing the angry man, ever snapped, been in a crisis, done things you regretted later? If not, it means you have not lived long enough. Shouting at a homeless person seems ugly, but we do not know the reason. No-one is an angel, including the homeless.
If the guy had been an evil prick, you would not have left the scene with your camera. What about the girl? There are genuine reasons for trying to remain anonymous. You have defended your American rights. But I am not sure you have done the right thing.
I fully agree with the comment 306.
The picture and story were both very interesting. However after reading through all these comments I feel a little sick and woozy. Take your meds, people! Anyway. I have a question for you Jeremy,
If you took his picture, and instead of going bananas he would have asked you in a polite and calm manner to not post the pic or take anymore, would you have obliged?
Tove (#356):
In the past I have not photographed people who were in public and asked me nicely not to. If he would not have flown off the handle at me, there wouldn’t even have been a photo to post — the photo above was taken after he turned his anger on me.
This is stupid on many levels. First, who is this bored, to go around taking pics of pissed off people?
Second, was there nothing better to blog about on this day? (I’m surprised how many people congratulate you on a job “so very interesting.”) Taking a picture of your toilet contents this morning would have been equally interesting.
Third, if Guido is not a racially-charged term, then I’m just out of the Frisco loop. (That’s good, BTW.)
I’d like to slap the slap the jackass that caused me to stumble on this page.
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good shot
every good foto needs cotroversy
Hahah this is excellent- now i know how to really wind up my customers at work who reckon they will sue me etc etc. Good pic mate
Genius
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If you were already pissed off to begin with and then someone starts taking pictures of you, I’m pretty sure that would piss you off more. Also, if you’re already pissed off and someone is taking your picture I doubt you’re going to nicely ask them to stop doing it.
Good story – so nice that you have the jerk on the Internet. Perhaps he can sue me as well, I just called him a “jerk”.
I would like if you would’ve given us more photografic essey on all this. Few shots, even his daughter (granted, obscured), a homeless person, the whole situation, spatial relations, not only having him threatening you…
haha that is classic!
well done
Okay, first, this guy is in the wrong to yell at you or touch you. It’s assault. He’s in the wrong and you are in the right.
Now, that said – if you persist with this sort of thing, thinking a phone or the threat of calling 9-1-1 is going to protect you – you are more than likely GOING to get beat down on a long enough timeline. You need to accept that you are likely to get beat down, hit, whatever you’d like to call it, your 9-1-1 dialing notwithstanding.
Start being realistic about what you may be getting yourself into with this gritty street photography. Your phone is not going to save you from a large angry man, even if he is wrong to assault you.
DWA: I am realistic about what I may be getting myself into. I watch where I am, who is around me, etc. I do not go into some areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond. But I am not going to stop taking photographs just because somebody threatens me, especially in the middle of the day on a public street in a crowded area.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
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