Gender perception

[Durnik20]

So this is just a discussion on a topic that I have some experience with that other people might like to read I think. First a little about me.

I am a big guy, 6 foot 2 and 340 lbs (And dropping thank you weight watchers) I carry it decently and can be pretty imposing. The amusing part of this is that I am a very friendly guy. I live and shoot around Washington DC and their in lies the problem for me.

If I take my camera and go anywhere in DC, literally anywhere, I am getting stopped. Not by the people I am taking pictures of (I do a lot of street photography for local galleries) but by the police and "officials" of where ever I am. Sometimes, sadly the minority, the DC police know the drill and just come by to say hi and make sure I am not some kind of weirdo taking pictures up peoples skirts or something but sadly MOST of the time the person comes out and is downright threatening. Ive been yelled at, had stuff thrown at me, and threatened with arrest. Now I am very educated on a photographers rights, if you shoot in DC you had better be, and I also understand that few of the people I talk to are so I actually keep a pamphlet on me (linked below) to help explain to people. I can deal with those situations.

What surprised me was when friends of mine, specifically female friends, would tell me that they have never ever been stopped. So I decided to test this out. I would go down and take pictures on the mall or outside a famous landmark till I was stopped and had to whip out the pamphlet, while I was doing this a few of my friends (6 of us in total) would be nearby also taking pictures at various landmarks. it was uncanny, of the 3 male photographers all 3 of us were approached and 2 of us were asked to leave public landmarks by security. of the 3 female photographers only 1 was approached and that guy ended up giving her his phone number...

So I put this out there to you guys, what are your experiences with being accosted by some form of authority and do you think that the perception of female photographers is an asset to them that can let them get away with more adventurous shots because they are less likely to be confronted or is that just a local perception because of the Rigid security out here? Give me your thoughts, your opinions and let the discussion begin!


The pamphlet link
Bert P. Krages Attorney at Law Photographer's Rights Page

[thatBilly]

I've read and watched a lot about people in the UK being arrested for taking photos. Anyway, I have little to add to your discussion but I do find it interesting so thanks for starting this topic.

One thing I will add is that I have noticed on quite a few occasions that people are often amused or bemused by the spectacle of me using a large camera. The SLR attracts a lot of attention, mostly unwanted.

[Durnik20]

Indeed it is, for those involved keep in mind that the pamphlet I linked is American laws only, your lawws in your country may and likely are different!

[SwissJon]

Hmm.. I think your experiment was flawed..

How many men wearing skirts and in high heels got stopped?

[Durnik20]

True perhaps thats it, next time ill go dressed in stilleto's and heels and see what the outcome is.

[NicoleScraps]

What I am about to say is a very broad generalization, but I think that the general public perceives men and women very differently. Men are in general larger and more physically imposing. Men can be more agressive and therefore more threatening (to some people). Take me and you (the OP) for example, you have a foot in height and 200 pounds on me. Who is the bigger (perceived) threat? I am not saying that it is fair or that is should be this way, but the fact of the matter is that people for the most part make assumptions based on what they can see with their eyes. I've done it. We all have.
Having said all of that, I would be curious to know the gender of the officials who have been hassling you? I bet they are all or mostly all men. That could have something to do with why they weren't hassling the women. Were the women physically attractive?

BTW, I have never been hassled about taking photos. But then again, I don't really do much street photography.

[veritasimagery]

You also have to take into consideration the hysteria in the public, and the media, about "sex offenders" and the perception that the all these predators are male. Just look at the thread about the proposed law against taking pictures of children in public. People are seeing predatory "sex offenders" on every corner, just like back in the "Commie" scare in our country's recent past. So now every male with a camera must be hunting for their "next victim."

[jdepould]

I really don't understand how, in a large destination city like D.C., the cops can even be bothered to give someone with a camera a second glance.

I've shot in London and D.C. without ever getting acknowledged, let alone stopped. It just blows my mind.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by jdepould

I really don't understand how, in a large destination city like D.C., the cops can even be bothered to give someone with a camera a second glance.

I've shot in London and D.C. without ever getting acknowledged, let alone stopped. It just blows my mind.

Same. I just get glanced over, and I'm a fairly big guy too.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Men can be more agressive and therefore more threatening (to some people).

You never met my ex-wife did you?

Take me and you (the OP) for example, you have a foot in height and 200 pounds on me. Who is the bigger (perceived) threat? I am not saying that it is fair or that is should be this way, but the fact of the matter is that people for the most part make assumptions based on what they can see with their eyes. I've done it. We all have.
Having said all of that, I would be curious to know the gender of the officials who have been hassling you? I bet they are all or mostly all men. That could have something to do with why they weren't hassling the women. Were the women physically attractive?

BTW, I have never been hassled about taking photos. But then again, I don't really do much street photography.

What you also neglected to mention is the terrorist threat that the US has recently become aware of (I say "The US" because in the UK, Spain and a few other European countries, terrorism is something we've been living with on a daily basis with the IRA and ETA etc.)

It's a very sad world indeed where men and women cannot pursue their innocent hobby in peace. Granted there are some predators out there, and some people scoping for their next planned attack, but one would expect the police, at most, to ask to see the photographs that were being taken and make a judgement based on that (And if you refuse, ask you to move on) and in sensitive areas, put signs like you find in airports "No Photography"... You cannot apply one rule to one group and another for another without good cause.