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  4. Security guard grabbed my camera

Security guard grabbed my camera


7 years 6 months ago #502668 by ArtWagner
I was photographing a field that was behind a chained linked fence when a security guy came up and with out any warning grabbed my lens (and scared the crap out of me!) and pushed it down while saying "you can't be hear and you can't be taking photographs here". 

Mind you, I'm photographing a field that had this creepy looking tree in the center.  There were a couple run down buildings further back.  Nothing that looked habitated or looked safe to even enter.  

Where was I was standing was the side walk.  Can a security guard do this?  
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7 years 6 months ago #502672 by Scotty
As long as you weren't trespassing or it was a location of national security, he can't do shit.
When the last candle has been blown out
and the last glass of champagne has been drunk
All that you are left with are the memories and the images-David Cooke.
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7 years 5 months ago #502675 by ArtWagner
Neither to both of your concerns.  I was on a side walk and hardly any national nothing here.  Just a small field with a creepy looking tree and some run down buildings in the background.  
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7 years 5 months ago #502677 by effron
More info, did he keep your gear? If it was me, there would have been a fight. I'm older now and not so easily pushed off of my rights....
Why so serious?
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7 years 5 months ago #502680 by ArtWagner
No he just came out of nowhere and grabbed my lens, pushing my camera down towards the ground.   

I'm with you on that one, I didn't think I was wrong, so I was a little 'mouthy' and he threatened to call the police. When asked why, and that I wasn't on private property. He just commented that I'm not allowed to take photos from side walks of other peoples property.  :huh:   This place looked like no one had been there in a thousand years.  
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7 years 5 months ago #502691 by effron
I'd have demanded he call the cops, he is NOT allowed to touch your gear!
Why so serious?
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7 years 5 months ago #502696 by icepics
Why would an empty field be fenced in and have a security guard?? I don't know what you wandered onto/nearby but there must be some reason for a security guard to be there. If it was abandoned property there wouldn't be anyone to hire security.

It seems like from what you described he shouldn't have grabbed your camera. But mouthing off at him didn't exactly help your situation, did it? I would suggest asking who owns the property and contact them, to find out if you were/weren't on their property, to ask permission, or to make a complaint about how you were treated by the security guy... but now how are you doing to do that?

I think it's necessary to handle these type situations in a calm way and then contact the property owner instead of arguing with a seemingly self important security type. He's probably not  the one who has authority to give permission if necessary anyway. Even if you were on a public sidewalk and within your rights to be there, this seems to have escalated into more than it needed to be. I think even if it's not necessarily a professional situation it can help to handle it in a reasonably professional way. Sometimes even if you know you're right it can be better to be the bigger person and let it go so you don't end up lowering yourself to their level.
Sharon
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7 years 5 months ago #502700 by icepics
And if he seemed to come out of nowhere that might be telling you to try to be more aware of your surroundings. I did home visits in all kinds of neighborhoods of a major city, including the areas on the news with shootings and drug dealings, etc. So I had training in how to scan an area getting out of the car, how to keep an eye and ear out for what's going on around me, etc. It usually isn't good to get caught off guard and this might have had a better outcome if you'd seen him coming. Then you could have greeted him and maybe been able to talk to him and things might have stayed more friendly.

You probably were fine taking pictures but if you were shooting thru the fence could that have put you close enough to be on their property? maybe just on the edge of the property?? I don't know, but I learned (and it does work) if the other person is behaving in a way that's inappropriate it can help to speak calmly and keep things reasonable as much as possible to help de-escalate the situation.
Sharon
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7 years 5 months ago #502719 by Joves
I would go back, and shoot it again. Then when he tries to stop you, call the cops, and shoot it when they are there. If he is dumb enough to try, and stop you while they are there, have him arrested for assault&battery, since they touched you. You were well within your rights to shoot as long, as you did not violate the fence line. There are far too many power drunk idiots that think it is their right to stop you from exercising yours.
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7 years 5 months ago #502833 by Tim Chiang
Security guard was way off beat.  They don't have the right to go touching you based on the scenario you have shared.  
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7 years 5 months ago #502861 by Karen Comella
OMG I would have kicked him in the you know where for touching me or my gear.  
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7 years 5 months ago #502884 by Lavender Photo
A security guard came up to you on the sidewalk? Yikes, that's a little out of hand. Hope you and your equipment or alright (and that you managed to get your shot before the guard interrupted)
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7 years 5 months ago #502893 by icepics
I don't quite get if this happened out on the sidewalk or on the edge of the property... if you're shooting a tree thru the fence wouldn't you need to have your lens right up close to the fence to shoot thru it?

Nothing excuses the security guard grabbing the lens. But if you feel you're in the right and he was in the wrong, how does it help a situation to get into any sort of argument with the guy? Leave and call the property owner, or call the police. I think it's a matter of knowing you're in the right, but to decide what's worth doing after the fact, what's worth pursuing?
Sharon
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7 years 5 months ago #502910 by Robert Chen
Sounds like Barney Fif was wrong!
Nikon D300 24-70mm f2.8
70-200mm f2.8
50mm f1.4 & 50mm f1.8
105mm f2.8
2 SB800
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7 years 5 months ago #502939 by Gene.Culley
Oh heck no!  I would give him a few colorful words, basically don't touch me!  
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