Ever get approached when taking photos outdoors?

[Tom Geiger]

I notice that a lot of us take pictures outdoors. I know I do just for the lighting. When I'm taking progress shots, I'm not all that concerned about the background, so I place a box on my deck and the back ground is pretty much the trees in my back yard. Back when I lived in New Jersey, quick shots were done on my side door deck rail. So those shots had my back door neighbors house in some of them. When taking final photos, I used to do so in my front garden. I had a spot I liked, and when one of my model friends came over, he wanted to see "Photo Rock" so that's what it then got called.

Now on to the question... since some of us take shots in public places, or at least in clear view of neighbors, and it may appear weird for grown men to be taking pictures of small toys, "Has anyone approached you while you were taking photos?" And how did that exchange go?

In my case it was my next door neighbor, a very nice younger lady. She was curious when she saw me at my side door rail. At the time, I was taking pictures of models I was going to sell on eBay, so I explained to her that I collected model cars and taking pictures for eBay. In short order, everyone in the neighborhood was calling me an eBay millionaire!

[signguy2108]

I have a 6' wood privacy fence around my yard, so I can take pictures of whatever undisturbed. except for them pesky drones flying around!!

[Jantrix]

Nope not really. Though I do occasionally take one of my photos and make it the desktop for my work pc. I get questions and comments then. "Nice GTO! I really like the ....... whoa is that a diecast or something?"

[BKcustoms]

My house is far from the neighbor's view so just like Rob said I've only been asked about my builds when they're my Laptop background at school.

[slusher]

l have a nice large lot so l would do it in the back for that reason..

[Lunajammer]

It's the lack of questions that trouble me. My next door neighbor (and great guy) just watched and smoked a cigarette so I felt compelled to explain what I was doing. I got an affirmative nod, but otherwise just watched and smoked.

[charlie8575]

I remember when I lived in New Bedford that I'd have to do my spraying outside of my little apartment. The apartment opened directly onto the sidewalk and I'd set a table outside with my spray box and occasionally, I'd have a passer-by ask me what I was doing. I would also take pictures outside to get good pictures of the colors, which wasn't always possible indoors.

I've never had anyone ask, and I usually don't have anyone else around when I take pictures outdoors. I do that purposely. I don't want anyone walking in between me and my picture, and I like my privacy. I also like the solitude so I can concentrate on my pictures.

Charlie Larkin

[martinfan5]

I remember when I lived in New Bedford that I'd have to do my spraying outside of my little apartment. The apartment opened directly onto the sidewalk and I'd set a table outside with my spray box and occasionally, I'd have a passer-by ask me what I was doing. I would also take pictures outside to get good pictures of the colors, which wasn't always possible indoors.

I've never had anyone ask, and I usually don't have anyone else around when I take pictures outdoors. I do that purposely. I don't want anyone walking in between me and my picture, and I like my privacy. I also like the solitude so I can concentrate on my pictures.

Charlie Larkin

I am kind of with you, I hate it when I am asked what I am doing, more so when it is very clear as to what it is I am doing

[peekay]

I have a 6' wood privacy fence around my yard, so I can take pictures of whatever undisturbed. except for them pesky drones flying around!!

Assuming it's in your "airspace", I wonder what your legal position would be if you brought one of those drones down.

[Steven Zimmerman]

Tom, you sure those who approached you weren't from Homeland Security ?....'Z'

[Tom Geiger]

Tom, you sure those who approached you weren't from Homeland Security ?....'Z'

Steve I did have a visit from Homeland Security... but they asked a bunch of questions about you!

[signguy2108]

I have problems sometimes with reference photos, I keep a camera in my truck to take pics with when I see something I like. Stop and ask if I can take pictures, some people are nice about it, others think your spying for the government.Then there was the one of my neighbor sunbathing, but that's another story....

[Tom Geiger]

I have problems sometimes with reference photos, I keep a camera in my truck to take pics with when I see something I like. Stop and ask if I can take pictures, some people are nice about it, others think your spying for the government.Then there was the one of my neighbor sunbathing, but that's another story....

I build old beat up light commercial so I've been questioned a bit. People who own them can't imagine why I'd want photos of that! I've been accused of being a city inspector. One time I was photographing and measuring on an old 1970 or so Chevy light mason truck that was For Sale on the highway. This truck had rust, different color body panels, odd bucket seats, hand fashioned parts bins, and a load of junk in the back. It was a modeling dream! It turns out the owner lived in a house that was visible from the highway. He saw me and walked over to ask what I was doing. He was in total disbelief of my explanation and wondering why I'd be in awe of this total piece of junk. He said, "If you like it so much, I'll sell it to you for $600". That was a dangerous moment for me. One of those lines in the sand of how far you go for the hobby! I thought for a few minutes that I could indeed buy it to have that reference right in my driveway, and then sell it later. I didn't. Sometimes I'm sad about that.

[Danno]

I build old beat up light commercial so I've been questioned a bit. People who own them can't imagine why I'd want photos of that! I've been accused of being a city inspector. One time I was photographing and measuring on an old 1970 or so Chevy light mason truck that was For Sale on the highway. This truck had rust, different color body panels, odd bucket seats, hand fashioned parts bins, and a load of junk in the back. It was a modeling dream! It turns out the owner lived in a house that was visible from the highway. He saw me and walked over to ask what I was doing. He was in total disbelief of my explanation and wondering why I'd be in awe of this total piece of junk. He said, "If you like it so much, I'll sell it to you for $600". That was a dangerous moment for me. One of those lines in the sand of how far you go for the hobby! I thought for a few minutes that I could indeed buy it to have that reference right in my driveway, and then sell it later. I didn't. Sometimes I'm sad about that.

The BEST vehicle I ever owned (and I've had my share or more) was a 1964 GMC Heavy-Half pickup that I bought for $600 in 1976. I put 100,000 miles on that baby hauling everything. Multiple trips to the mountains for self-cut firewood, several trips for self-cut Christmas trees, too many trips to the material dealer for tons of landscape rock*, many-many-many trips to the lumber yard for tons and tons of sheetrock, lumber, concrete, and other building materials, and of course - countless trips hauling engines, car parts, chassis parts, and huge AA Ford wheels/tires to and from the tire dealer, etc., etc. She moved me, my growing family, and a player piano 5 times over the years.

She was a hauling beast ~ carried far more than I ever expected from a $600 truck. All I ever put into her (besides fuel and fluids & insurance) was one set of new Firestone truck tires and two tune-ups. She had a 4-speed with stump-pulling low gear (yep, I KNOW that from experience, too). She ran forever with that little V-6!

And, she carried me to and from work for a considerable period of time, too. Saved some mileage on the Z-28. One afternoon, she was taking me across town when I spotted my stolen motorcycle being operated by a blanket-blank perp. She even held her own in a little 'pursuit' driving!!!!

Saddest day in our history was the day I had to part with her. Just no room nor justification for bringing her to Arizona and I knew she'd be happier hauling firewood in the Rockies than living down here in the heat. Sold her to a friend who was eager to give her an appreciative home . . . for $600! That was 20 years after I bought her.

*Funny story about the landscape rock. She was a 1/2-ton. They called it a "Heavy Half." I wasn't sure why. I did notice she had 6-lug wheels that were bigger and more substantial than most of the 1/2-tons her age, and she stood up a little taller than those.

One Saturday not long after she came to be with me, I was working in the yard and I was ready for a load of landscape rock. The material yard was only open 'til 2pm but the bank was already closed. The material yard didn't take credit cards or checks. I had only enough cash to buy exactly one-half ton.

So, I took my 1/2-ton (okay, Heavy Half) pickup to the material yard with just enough money to buy 1/2 ton of rock. I said, "Fill 'er up!" They did. When she started to settle on the springs, I cut them off as she was at her load capacity. Went to the scales and found out I had 1-1/4 tons of rock!! Not enough cash, but fortunately my employment as a law enforcement officer convinced them to take a chance on my check.

That's when I found out what "Heavy Half" really meant to GMC ... back in those days!

[Agent G]

That's when I found out what "Heavy Half" really meant to GMC ... back in those days!

Oh heck yes.

Heavy Half meant a whale of a load, not a fat girlfriend................................................

G

[Harry P.]

The BEST vehicle I ever owned (and I've had my share or more) was a 1964 GMC Heavy-Half pickup that I bought for $600 in 1976. I put 100,000 miles on that baby hauling everything. Multiple trips to the mountains for self-cut firewood, several trips for self-cut Christmas trees, too many trips to the material dealer for tons of landscape rock*, many-many-many trips to the lumber yard for tons and tons of sheetrock, lumber, concrete, and other building materials, and of course - countless trips hauling engines, car parts, chassis parts, and huge AA Ford wheels/tires to and from the tire dealer, etc., etc. She moved me, my growing family, and a player piano 5 times over the years.

She was a hauling beast ~ carried far more than I ever expected from a $600 truck. All I ever put into her (besides fuel and fluids & insurance) was one set of new Firestone truck tires and two tune-ups. She had a 4-speed with stump-pulling low gear (yep, I KNOW that from experience, too). She ran forever with that little V-6!

And, she carried me to and from work for a considerable period of time, too. Saved some mileage on the Z-28. One afternoon, she was taking me across town when I spotted my stolen motorcycle being operated by a blanket-blank perp. She even held her own in a little 'pursuit' driving!!!!

Saddest day in our history was the day I had to part with her. Just no room nor justification for bringing her to Arizona and I knew she'd be happier hauling firewood in the Rockies than living down here in the heat. Sold her to a friend who was eager to give her an appreciative home . . . for $600! That was 20 years after I bought her.

*Funny story about the landscape rock. She was a 1/2-ton. They called it a "Heavy Half." I wasn't sure why. I did notice she had 6-lug wheels that were bigger and more substantial than most of the 1/2-tons her age, and she stood up a little taller than those.

One Saturday not long after she came to be with me, I was working in the yard and I was ready for a load of landscape rock. The material yard was only open 'til 2pm but the bank was already closed. The material yard didn't take credit cards or checks. I had only enough cash to buy exactly one-half ton.

So, I took my 1/2-ton (okay, Heavy Half) pickup to the material yard with just enough money to buy 1/2 ton of rock. I said, "Fill 'er up!" They did. When she started to settle on the springs, I cut them off as she was at her load capacity. Went to the scales and found out I had 1-1/4 tons of rock!! Not enough cash, but fortunately my employment as a law enforcement officer convinced them to take a chance on my check.

That's when I found out what "Heavy Half" really meant to GMC ... back in those days!

For going completely off topic in a thread in the "Off Topic" area... in other words for going off topic squared... I hereby award you the "Completely Irrelevant Post of the Week" award.

[martinfan5]

The BEST vehicle I ever owned (and I've had my share or more) was a 1964 GMC Heavy-Half pickup that I bought for $600 in 1976. I put 100,000 miles on that baby hauling everything. Multiple trips to the mountains for self-cut firewood, several trips for self-cut Christmas trees, too many trips to the material dealer for tons of landscape rock*, many-many-many trips to the lumber yard for tons and tons of sheetrock, lumber, concrete, and other building materials, and of course - countless trips hauling engines, car parts, chassis parts, and huge AA Ford wheels/tires to and from the tire dealer, etc., etc. She moved me, my growing family, and a player piano 5 times over the years.

She was a hauling beast ~ carried far more than I ever expected from a $600 truck. All I ever put into her (besides fuel and fluids & insurance) was one set of new Firestone truck tires and two tune-ups. She had a 4-speed with stump-pulling low gear (yep, I KNOW that from experience, too). She ran forever with that little V-6!

And, she carried me to and from work for a considerable period of time, too. Saved some mileage on the Z-28. One afternoon, she was taking me across town when I spotted my stolen motorcycle being operated by a blanket-blank perp. She even held her own in a little 'pursuit' driving!!!!

Saddest day in our history was the day I had to part with her. Just no room nor justification for bringing her to Arizona and I knew she'd be happier hauling firewood in the Rockies than living down here in the heat. Sold her to a friend who was eager to give her an appreciative home . . . for $600! That was 20 years after I bought her.

*Funny story about the landscape rock. She was a 1/2-ton. They called it a "Heavy Half." I wasn't sure why. I did notice she had 6-lug wheels that were bigger and more substantial than most of the 1/2-tons her age, and she stood up a little taller than those.

One Saturday not long after she came to be with me, I was working in the yard and I was ready for a load of landscape rock. The material yard was only open 'til 2pm but the bank was already closed. The material yard didn't take credit cards or checks. I had only enough cash to buy exactly one-half ton.

So, I took my 1/2-ton (okay, Heavy Half) pickup to the material yard with just enough money to buy 1/2 ton of rock. I said, "Fill 'er up!" They did. When she started to settle on the springs, I cut them off as she was at her load capacity. Went to the scales and found out I had 1-1/4 tons of rock!! Not enough cash, but fortunately my employment as a law enforcement officer convinced them to take a chance on my check.

That's when I found out what "Heavy Half" really meant to GMC ... back in those days!

[philo426]

Might be O/T but it sure was interesting and entertaining!

[crazyjim]

I've been approached but would like it if the right type of female did it.

[Tom Geiger]

I thought Danno's post was just fine. Nothing like an interesting true story. Sure beats ;70% of the three word replies on the board fer shure!

[Harry P.]

I thought Danno's post was just fine. Nothing like an interesting true story. Sure beats ;70% of the three word replies on the board fer shure!

I guess you missed the fact that I was kidding!

[Danno]

I guess you missed the fact that I was kidding!

Really? The coveted "Completely Irrelevant Post of the Week" award?

I appreciate it! First time I've ever won an award for a post.

Now I can claim to be an "Award Winning Poster" too!

"I'd like to thank the academy and all the Harrys who voted for me!"

PS: It's okay, Harry. I know what a burden it is to have a sense of humor!!

[Harry P.]

PS: It's okay, Harry. I know what a burden it is to have a sense of humor!!

[Greg Myers]

I took all kinds of pictures when I was overseas in the Navy ('70-'73), never a problem, aircraft, missiles,

flight line, on missions, foreign country's, foreign airbases.

Then when I came back and landed at San Diego, not only was I excited to be back, but all those boats really got the juices going, I was an Airedale ( Aviation mechanic, not on a boat). I got stopped, I got searched, they took all my camera stuff ( old school SLR long lens etc.), well the guy on the radio wanted to know what ships (boats in AV speak) I was taking pictures of, a quick look around, I picked out the most innocuous ships I could find, cargo types, tugs, The guy on the radio ( I'm guessing some Navy security kind of guy) told the civilian rent a cop to give me back my cameras and stuff and let me go.

That was the only time I can remember anyone asking me what I was doing.

Edited June 8, 2013 by Greg Myers

[Agent G]

Really? The coveted "Completely Irrelevant Post of the Week" award?

I appreciate it! First time I've ever won an award for a post.

Now I can claim to be an "Award Winning Poster" too!

"I'd like to thank the academy and all the Harrys who voted for me!"

PS: It's okay, Harry. I know what a burden it is to have a sense of humor!!

What? It's a joke? and all this time we two have been striving for that perfectly off-topic irrelevant comment to snatch the coveted award.

I'm crushed.....................

I'm going to sulk and drink some none kool aid.

G

Edited June 8, 2013 by Agent G