More Adverse Publicity For Photographers

Bristolian

Bristolian

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Steve
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Only an isolated case, I know, but undoubtedly the press will manage to blow this out of all proportion and we'll all be paedophiles and murderers (again).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11604737

The sickness of the human mind never ceases to amaze me ... for all the wrong reasons :'(

My sincerest deep feelings go out to all the victims of this crime
 
Read this a story during lunch today and had the exact same feelings regarding the press...

There are some really disturbed people out there and my thoughts go out to all the vicitims involved. :(
 
I'm sure people won't think badly of all photographers just because of the actions of this individual. That would be like saying all police officers are idiots just becuse one or two give us a hard time!!
 
AndyB said:
I'm sure people won't think badly of all photographers just because of the actions of this individual. !!
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i wish this were true, unfortunately quite a large proportion of the public at large believe any propoganda the press throws at them. I have several hobbies that,in the eyes of the public, make me a pervert/maniac/murderer and have had to endure the little jibes (supposedly only in fun but you can tell the people who said them really think that way) for many years,for example about 25 years ago i took up clay pigeon shooting,for which i need a shotgun and a licence to own and carry one.One day i was talking to a young guy at work and i told him i had just bought a shotgun to which he replied " so you can go out and rob a building society now then".i just walked away from him.
One of my other hobbies is riding a motorcycle.when i tell people about this the first thing they say is either along the lines of "I know a guy who was killed on a motorbike,fell under the wheels of a lorry and was cut in half" or "so your one of those morons who rides around at 150mph everywhere cutting innocent motorists up are you"
If i tell people im into photography they automatically assume i hang around kids playgrounds and schools and i have actually seen people getting their kids out of the way when someone is nearby taking pictures and giving the tog a dirty look as they do.
One instance that springs to mind is a few years ago i was on a motorcycle forum thats now not around anymore and we had arranged a party for someones engagement.When i told my mother i was going on a night out with some people i had met on the internet she looked mortified and assumed i was getting in with some kind of group of perverts because we all used the internet and thats what perverts do isnt it, or so the press tell us.
seems to me that unless you "conform to the norm" ie go to work 9-5 come home cut the grass ,wash the car on saturday morning then go to the footy saturday afternoon then theres something wrong with you.as a wise man once said

"you laugh at me because i am different,i pity you for you are all the same"
 
chris954 said:
i wish this were true, unfortunately quite a large proportion of the public at large believe any propoganda the press throws at them. I have several hobbies that,in the eyes of the public, make me a pervert/maniac/murderer and have had to endure the little jibes (supposedly only in fun but you can tell the people who said them really think that way) for many years,for example about 25 years ago i took up clay pigeon shooting,for which i need a shotgun and a licence to own and carry one.One day i was talking to a young guy at work and i told him i had just bought a shotgun to which he replied " so you can go out and rob a building society now then".i just walked away from him.
One of my other hobbies is riding a motorcycle.when i tell people about this the first thing they say is either along the lines of "I know a guy who was killed on a motorbike,fell under the wheels of a lorry and was cut in half" or "so your one of those morons who rides around at 150mph everywhere cutting innocent motorists up are you"
If i tell people im into photography they automatically assume i hang around kids playgrounds and schools and i have actually seen people getting their kids out of the way when someone is nearby taking pictures and giving the tog a dirty look as they do.
One instance that springs to mind is a few years ago i was on a motorcycle forum thats now not around anymore and we had arranged a party for someones engagement.When i told my mother i was going on a night out with some people i had met on the internet she looked mortified and assumed i was getting in with some kind of group of perverts because we all used the internet and thats what perverts do isnt it, or so the press tell us.
seems to me that unless you "conform to the norm" ie go to work 9-5 come home cut the grass ,wash the car on saturday morning then go to the footy saturday afternoon then theres something wrong with you.as a wise man once said

"you laugh at me because i am different,i pity you for you are all the same"
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That is quite a wall of text you have there, and what I really find humorous is the way you are labelling a large majority of the public as idiots. Isn't that just as bad as labelling all togs terrorists or peados?

Personally I can't say that any of my family with shotguns or any of the numerous friends with motorbikes have ever had any grief from anyone regarding their hobbies. I've also been taking photos now for nearly 2 years and I have had no problems with Joe Public.
 
I think there's a lot of parranoia going on there! I understand what you mean but you need to keep things in perspective. A lot of the time these things are said in a tongue in cheek manner but if you take them all seriously you'd never leave the house
 
What annoys me here is the way the press is getting the blame here.
Can't grown up adult people make up their own minds?
There is nothing in that story that would make a right thinking intelligent individual think all photographers are like this. This guy is obviously a mentally unstable pervert.
The press had nothing to do with it!
 
northern342001 said:
What annoys me here is the way the press is getting the blame here.
Can't grown up adult people make up their own minds?
There is nothing in that story that would make a right thinking intelligent individual think all photographers are like this. This guy is obviously a mentally unstable pervert.
The press had nothing to do with it!
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But it's the press that informs the "right thinking intelligent individual". Without the press (or media in general) those same individuals wouldn't be aware of the story at all. The slant that the press put on a story has a direct influence on the way that story is interpreted so you can't claim that the press have nothing to do with it.

Let's not forget that some elements of the press are more interested in selliing newspapers than ensuring their facts are straight. This is borne out by the number of a) libel cases settled out of court and b) apologies printed after the fact.
 
That's the first I've heard of that case, I used to live in Wigan and still have family there. That's properly disturbed though.....
 
I saw this also, and like most was totally sickened by it, but at least he is now on sex offenders register, and will show up in any future C.R.B. checks, which could help prevent any re-occurrence of this criminal behaviour .
 
AndyB said:
I'm sure people won't think badly of all photographers just because of the actions of this individual. That would be like saying all police officers are idiots just becuse one or two give us a hard time!!
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Sarcasm?
 
Awful . . .
My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

As for it being harmful to photographers in general, I still have faith that the majority of the British public have enough intelligence to see it as an isolated incident relating to a couple of very sick individuals who could have exploited any number of professions.
People didn't stop going to the doctors after Harold Shipman or sending their kids to nursery after the latest abuse scandal. This time it just happened to be photography that was used as a means to securing their victims.
 
Nasty stuff. But as the saying goes, what is today's news will be lining tomorrow's bins. I reckon the worst you'll see is models taking a few extra precautions for a while.
 
Dreadful story but I'm not sure why you're blaming the press - all the BBC did here was report the news.
 
Should have thrown away the key!!!

Another side of the coin, they make the point, he was a 'Taxi Driver' . . . I'm a taxi driver and photographer, I carry a G1 in the car at all times . . . in the eyes of the media what might that make me??? :shrug:

CJS
 
CJS said:
I carry a G1 in the car at all times . . .
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As in the FAL-G1 :eek:

German_FAL-G1.jpg
 
gman said:
As in the FAL-G1 :eek:

German_FAL-G1.jpg
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Not a bad idea 'Gman' considering some of the plonkers I come across . . . 2000, I got mugged, destroyed my confidence in people, can only work day time now!!! . . . :bat:

However, its as in; 'Panasonic G1' . . . :shrug:
 
Ah, well not quite the same as a rifle butt in the face but I'm sure if you swing it hard enough..... Sorry to hear about mugging, some people are just rotten to the core.

I'd be carrying a camera as well, like bikers you'll often be on your own so you need a witness - be it digital!
 
gman said:
Ah, well not quite the same as a rifle butt in the face but I'm sure if you swing it hard enough..... Sorry to hear about mugging, some people are just rotten to the core.

I'd be carrying a camera as well, like bikers you'll often be on your own so you need a witness - be it digital!
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The G1 is about perfect for me, I have periods when I'm sitting, waiting . . . looking for a picture beats reading the drivel in the 'News'? paper!!! I considered the GF1/20mm, and have had compacts, but a G1 + 14-45 lens is perfect. Small enough to store out of sight, but with a lens that has some flexibility about it, (I don't have time to go chasing about on 'leg zoom') cracking picture quality and the G1 is very tog friendly. Because its 'EVFinder/EVScreen', any changes in setting can be seen 'real time', very useful . . . helpful in the learning process too.

In my job 'people/street style' would be easy, however, I worry that people will get the wrong impression, it only needs a report to the local council Taxi Office, I could loose my licence?

CJS
 
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