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.
[...] Jeremy Brooks » If You Put That Picture On The Internet I’ll Call My Lawyer Other Stuff You Might LikeAnother Sign of InflationThe Villages: A Journey Straight Into the Pits of HellQueer PalmsManbabiesJesus is Real … ly colorful? [...]
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.
[...] ترجمه آزاد از این لینک : [...]
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
[...] http://www.whirljack.net/jeremybrooks/2008/05/06/if-you-put-that-picture-on-the-internet-ill-call-my... Posted in: Photography on May 12th, 2008 by: Adam Patterson Previous: How Much Does a Traffic Jam Cost? Next: Urban Photos –> [...]
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.
[...] If You put that Picture on the Internet I… [...]
This reflects one of the aspects of our society that really disturbs me.
There’s this illusion among modern Americans (Americans because I can’t comment on other nations because I don’t know them well enough) that we should exercise free speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of expression at every possible time merely because we can. That’s ridiculous. There’s another illusion that mistakes any altercation with another human being – be it a stranger or a friend – for a personal affront. That’s even more ridiculous.
You were legally within your rights to take and post this picture, but in doing so, you acted in a more bitter, angry manner than this man. His anger probably had nothing to do with you – people who yell at homeless people on the street are generally dealing with something personal. Did you stop to consider that this man may have just got the worst news of his life? Or did you do nothing more than stand there and be a huge asshole? Did you at any point try to explain that you hadn’t taken his picture yet, even though it was within your right to take it?
Seriously, I’m disgusted that this is being posted and re-posted. It’s just immature and hateful. “Tit-for-tat” is not justice.
Post pics of her daughter or it didn’t happen.
What if Angry Guy is in the witness protection program?
What if Homeless Guy grabbed Angry Guy’s daughter and you failed to see that?
I can go on and on, there are plenty of reasons why this guy might had a valid reason to go ape-sh!t on Homeless Guy and not want his picture published.
Regardless of his actions you are just as much, if not more, of an @ss.
I think the photographer is the prick… The angry man was having a bad day obviously, and like another commenter said, we don’t know why… But the photographer was having a good day and went out of his way to further piss off an angry man… not smart. Stop being obnoxious kid.
…where the hell are the comment numbers??
confrontational blog post is confrontational
wow you sure showed him Mr. Self Righteous Internet Blogger Guy.
@Andrew: Your average person doesn’t pick a fight with everyone on the street. We all fuck up a little bit sometimes when we’re stressed, but how you deal with that is a big part of what determines what kind of person you are. Everyone gets a little snappy and defensive sometimes, but lashing out at random people on the street makes you a dick.
Jamesk I was just thinking the EXACT same thing almost word 4 word!!! Funny
He wasn’t saying “I’ll call my lawyer”, he was saying “Pull my finger!”
Well, that’s what the picture looks like at least.
What a tool, you are lucky you didn’t have to be rushed to the hospital to have the phone removed from your rectum. Angry guy gets grand prize for asshole, you get peoples choice award for being spoiled obnoxious prick.
I’m trying to figure out which one is the biggest douche; Mr. Angry Overreaction Man or the photographer. It’s one hell of a dilemma.
That guy sounds like a complete dick, so do you by the way.
It’s not illegal to take someone’s photo without their permission, just really rude and disrespectful. I hope someone follows you throughout your days, snapping photos of you in your worst moments. Hey look, here’s one right here!
You’re an arrogant, self-important piece of shit with an entitlement complex, just like all of you other photographers. Why don’t you get a real job and do something meaningful with your life, you fucking loser!
Yeah… You both sound like an asshole.
The photographer is a fu*king asshole.
An armed society is a polite society, this is why I support openly carrying firearms.
You don’t go into some parts of SF, Oakland, Richmond huh? I’m guessing those areas are too scary for you. Sad, because you’re missing out on some real opportunities to photograph people and places that are way more compelling than some angry man getting in your face. Who on earth cares that you got a picture of a man yelling at you? None of this makes you noble in any way. If you need drama to get good photos, you need to practice more. Anyways, go ahead and stay out of the Bayview, that’s where I get my best shots and I don’t want you angering those residents as well.
Dude kinda looks like Henry Winkler…
Taking a picture is not ilegal. Making a physical assault is. But no one should make “leña del tronco caido” that means taking advanvatage of the disgrace of that person..
How is this photo getting so much popularity today? The post was submitted 2 years ago.
Glancing over the responses, I’m seeing a common enough theme. Made me think.
Yes, perhaps the guy was having a bad day or perhaps he was very justified in his actions against the homeless man. That does not excuse him or his actions against the photographer. Had he been calm about it or even polite, I’m sure the photographer would have obliged. I would have and have done so in the past.
The simple, undeniable fact is this; one is responsible for one’s conduct. Emotional or stoic, we alone are the ones who control our behavior. If I go off the handle, I’m responsible for the consequences. I may not be proud of it and I’ll likely resent it, but it happened and I let it happen.
The angry man and the photographer each had a choice with multiple possibilities. The angry man chose to be angry (and assault) someone other than the original target of his ire. The photographer chose to post a picture of the one acting like an ass and not a picture of the other two characters. This is the result of those choices.
I would have kicked your ass and taken the camera.
5/5 stars.
First rule of photography, don’t photograph someone who doesn’t want their picture taken. Public or not.
Just because it’s legal to take someone’s picture without their consent, and post it on the internet for the world to see, doesn’t mean it’s ethical.
Too bad you’re such a horrible photographer. Maybe when you actually have the chops you can talk all the BS that you are now.
But I understand why you would be upset at that guy for touching your camera. Must have taken a lot of hours of working at Starbucks to afford it.
@ jay:
“I would have kicked your ass and taken the camera.”
That is a good way to get shot or stabbed (but frankly, so was the behavior of the photographer). If I were in the photog’s shoes and you attacked me, I’d fight back for all I was worth (might not win, but that doesn’t matter), deal you a good beating even if you “kicked my ass” and then I’d get to press charges against you and enjoy the civil lawsuit I filed as a result of your totally unwarranted attack on me.
@Ethan-
You’re so cool. You insulted him by implying that he works at Starbucks (as if having any job in this economy is bad). I wish I were you. /sarcasm
Go crawl back under the bridge you usually troll.
Wow. Really? This is what makes it into the top ten on Reddit now?
There is a reason some people react like crazy people when random people take their pictures in public places: it’s Orwellian behavior. People don’t like their fellow citizens obsessively documenting them without their permission. If the situation really bothered you so much, why not just go up to the guy and say something and try to intervene like a man?
Instead, you’ve appointed yourself the position of “futuristic morality police,” and you use your gay little camera and your gay little blog as your weapons.