A family photographer who was in the middle of photographing young children in a public park was verbally harassed by a woman who was upset that the photographer was using the park for photo sessions earlier this week.
In the NSFW video, the woman, after a profanity-laced rant toward Nickolette Mottola, the photographer, can be heard screaming, “This is not your studio! This is a park for kids and children and people; this is not a place for you to conduct your business!” She was extremely upset by the benign family photo session taking place. The children — whom Mottola was photographing — can be heard crying in the background, presumably upset by the tantrum-throwing woman.
This incident certainly isn’t the first time a photographer has had a run-in with an angry person over photos being taken in a public space and highlights a disturbing mindset by some that photography is somehow a public nuisance.
Reportedly, the woman seen in the video owns a home located against the park in question and has complained publicly regarding the activities that are allowed to take place in the park by the local parks department. After Mottola posted the video of the incident on Facebook, another photographer came forward in the video’s comments explaining that the week before, she and her clients had been sprayed by the same woman with a pressure washer from the woman’s backyard. The photographer said she’d obtained a permit from the parks department, which cost $12, and that the woman called the police on the photographer. The woman was angered when the police refused to do anything because the photographer had obtained the proper permitting to conduct professional business within the park. Mottola was taking photos of a friend’s children, and not conducting professional business.
Should Photographers Be Considered a Public Nuisance?
Far too often photography is lumped into park or public space rules along with other seemingly nefarious activities like skateboarding, graffiti, and drug use. Visit enough parks, and you’ll run across a “park rules” sign stating “no photography” along with the activities listed above.
Obviously, the reaction of the woman in the video above is an overreaction, but does the public really have reason to view photographers in such a negative light in regards to conducting photo sessions in public spaces, particularly if the photographer has obtained proper permission and permitting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
That women must be mentally sick and must have had a difficult life.
Bah c'mon mentally sick? People sometimes just hit a breaking point. If someone looked at you the last time and said "felix is sick and mentally unstable because of a bad childhood" from a 10 second interaction that might be a bit much. Or perhaps you're projecting your own bad relationships and bad childhood on to this woman? :)
Do you yell out loud in front of children? Do you water spray people in the park? If you do I suggest you call help because there’s definitely something sick about this behaviour.
It is pertinent to note that norms of behavior on the internet are bleeding through to real life.
I don't think this is true at all. People have always been this way.
We just see more of it now when everyone carries around a photo/video device.
Possibly; however, the normative frame is shifting.
Maybe she's doing something illegal in the park and is afraid that it will be captured on camera.
wow...just...wow.
I' upset that skateboarding is lumped in with drug use. lol
I was just going to comment on this. WTH?
Serious?! What's up with that?
The NIMBY woman is annoyed because the public park has become a photographer's destination of an outdoor studio for more than the odd photoshoot. The NIMBY neighbor is perturbed because the park is no longer simply a place for recreation but for photographers to conduct their business in.
Now if someone was taking photos with a smartphone, its okay, because it isnt a "camera".
Best to do the photoshoot discreetly so as not to trigger the snowflake NIMBY neighbor.
I don't think people need to be recreating in this park. If she was this upset about someone taking pictures, imagine if they were recreating? HOLY HELL! =P
Ok ok i should proofread before posting.
“You don’t care about anyone but your own godd*mned self”, she said completely unironically in a park full of children.
I’ll never understand why so many people get annoyed at photographers who aren’t being intrusive. Would she have responded the same if it was a yoga class? A painting workshop? A Sunday afternoon improv class in the park?
I hope she’s able to get whatever’s up her butt surgically removed.
...then again, a fresh set of batteries might have her enjoying what's up her butt and put her in a better mood...
Damn... bro... you's a savage. Stop it, its offensive to the other females man. LOL.
Eventually people do get annoyed. A couple years ago in Santa Monica there were so many Tai Chi, Yoga, Boot Camp, Stair climbing, clown college, etc classes going on the parks were full of instructors using public facilities for their classes running classes all day long.The city cracked down to limit the biz in the park . To be honest Improv classes should be banned everywhere. And Mimes.
Mentally troubled?
Maybe she is, maybe she isn't, who knows? #BeBest
No, photographers should not be considered a nuisance in public locations where photography is allowed. They were not doing anything illegal, and had the proper permits needed to shoot there. She doesn't own the park, and has no right to shoo them away from there. If she wanted peace and quite near nature she should move into the mountains.
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STOP RIGHT THERE:
"... where photography is allowed ..."
Photography is never "allowed"
No one has to ask "permission" to photograph anything anywhere anytime. *
Like all other First Amendment protected free speech rights, photography is NOT "allowed", photography is free speech, it is NOT a "permissioned" activity.
We the people prohibit our self-governance from prohibiting free speech.
Period.
No one needs "permission" to photograph anything anywhere anytime. *
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PERMIT:
The park "permit" is for "exclusive use" of whatever otherwise publicly accessible facilities the person with the permit wants to use for a prescribed time, such as when setting up a tripod and background screen, or when a movie studio cordons off a field to keep their background clear while filming.
The "permit" is NOT to "permit" photography, because photography is NOT a "permit"-required activity.
This whole "allowed" presumption is part of the problem.
We can ask people if they'd like to participate in our photography, but we do not need their permission to photography them or to photograph anyone else. *
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PUBLIC PHOTOGRAPHY:
Considering how they caught the Boston Marathon bomber -- reviewing public citizen's photographs -- it's time for folks to say THANK YOU whenever they see a photographer in public:
"... THANK YOU for expressing and preserving our First Amendment protected free speech rights ...".
Yeah, I look forward to hearing that one day.
Join me?
Can we in-public photographers say that to each other, out loud, in public, and set an example?
All together now:
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"... THANK YOU for expressing and preserving our First Amendment protected free speech rights ...".
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* PERMISSION:
Note, according to specific federal statute ( section 18 ? ), there are 3 situations and only 3 situations where photographing itself is prohibited:
( 1 ) photographing anyone's privates in private without their permission ( in public is fine, no permission needed );
( 2 ) photographing under-age people's privates in private at all ( in public is fine, explain it to a judge if the FBI breaks down your door, Sally Mann );
( 3 ) photographing within ( not from outside ) a national security military facility that has clear signage as identified by the superior officer of that facility ( so get permission from the commanding general's office, in writing, and carry it with you ).
That's it.
See you in court to challenge those 3 if you are well prepared, go for it.
Otherwise, photograph everything everywhere all the time.
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Head on down to your local national park, setup shop without a permit, and see how far that 1st Amendment nonsense gets you.
She's got some seriously coarse sand in her vjj ;) ;) lol
I once had a woman threaten to call the police when I was shooting some landscapes in a park. She thought that since I was shooting in the general direction of a group of kids, I must be shooting them. Why do some people assume if you're a photographer shooting in a public, you're up to something nefarious?
Well, the government DID add photography as a suspicious activity that good citizens ought to watch out for...
It is not fair to group photographers with bad things. With proper permits or credentials, people should back off. The woman ranting was a piece of work.
She is so unhappy with her being and life. I feel nothing but pity and sorrow.
In a town I lived in just north of New Orleans, there was a seafood festival held every year along the lakefront. A guy that was a customer of mine bought a home on the lakefront. He was an attorney and decided to sue the town to stop the festival because it disrupted the neighborhood. He took it upon himself to claim the lakefront which is owned by the city to be his own playground and not allow others to enjoy it.
Sounds very similar to this 'lady'. She has apparently decided that the park is her playground and that it shouldn't be used for anything that doesn't agree with her. Human nature is a tough thing to figure at times.
Undoubtedly a do-nothing nobody fraught with miasma over it. Should just drink more. Works for the rest of us.
Call the police Karen, I'll wait for them.
Unfortunately this is a very good example of territorial-ism gone mad, individuals who see photography as a threat, an intrusion into their private space.
"This is a place for children..." like a place to scare them with screaming and cursing. Was just playing Red Dead Redemption 2 and had the instinct to hogtie her and drop her with the alligators in the swamp.
My medallion's vibrating
I once took a photo of my youngest sister at an Olive Garden as she was our waitress and we were having a family meal so she could wait on a large group and get done experience. At any rate, I took her photo and the woman sitting at the table behind my sister/waitress jumped up and screamed at me, “ ARE YOU TAKING A PHOTO OF MY HUSBAND!!??” The woman was as ridiculous as this lady. If you’re in public, or if you buy a house near a public park, you’re going to experience the PUBLIC! If you don’t like that then buy a home out in the woods.
People have suggested mentally ill, maybe, but I think it may have to do with association. She lives next to the park and has subconsciously associated it with belonging to herself. I think we should all be aware of personal space and people’s relationship with it. I once parked my car on a street by the train station, totally legally, a nice street but mostly of retired professionals. In the evening my car had been key scratched all the way down the side. I told the police and he said becuause they feel the street belongs to them, they even do it on the police cars parked on the street behind the police station. Be aware of being on someone’s territory, they can be over protective and aggressive. Caveman behaviour. Legal, permit or no permit isn’t on their mind.
I think you may in fact be more right than wrong with your comment. It would make sense what you say by the manner in which she reacted to the photographer. As you said, she acted as if it was her park not a public park. Her actions suggest to me she has serious psychological issues going on here, a bit unhinged if you ask me.
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... and what would one do with such heightened awareness that other people think they are superior and want to control others?
Ask her permission first, even though you don't need it?
If they say "no", just move on, go to another part of the park where they can't see you, just go elsewhere to enjoy your photography without spoiling it with an argument?
You are suggesting preemptive courtesy.
Great suggestion.
Though postemptive ( is that a word ? ) arrest and incarceration would help this person recognize cause-and-effect of their own actions.
Maybe someone who knows the address can print and deliver this thread to them to consider?
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I am just saying that calling her mental is not very helpful. I am in no way suggesting that she is correct or has an superiority, she may think that. I am just suggesting that if you know why someone is mad at you then that will help you resolve it. It is not a nice thing to happen but if you have your client with you, you should be prepared to tackle the situation for them.
Remember kids, say NO to drugs.
I'm curious why the woman was not arrested for assault for turning a pressure washer on the photographer the park the week prior to this event.
Ya, just crazy...
This woman has a definite point. These days everyone is a photographer and there is a range of behaviour.
She is in the right. Bombarded by annoying exhortations of photographers who know no bounds of decency.
Once she acts like that she has no point to make. She is way outside of the norm. Keep quiet and speak rationally gets you way more than this wack job. She needs serious help and should get it.
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I LOVE sarcasm and facetiousness.
More, please.
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In my part of the world, the camera is the devil, especially if you are of darker complexions. The security guards always pounce at me for taking out my camera in public or tourist locations, I have been threatened by a person that they will break my camera if I take their photos,and then proceed to block every frame. And all of this is considered normal here.
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Yes, I took a picture of a license plate on a car blocking the entrance to our apartment building so could report it to the front desk to find the owner and make them aware that they might be towed, and the apparent driver came out of nowhere and said "... in my country, I could have you killed ...".
Every culture considers photography differently, it's hard for me to imagine photography as "stealing" something from anyone, considering that they are also broadcasting their image to that tree over there, and more of it ... are they going to kill the tree, too?
Perhaps I should carry and have handed the person a burka and said "... here, put this on, it protects your image from being stolen ..."
Civilization is a lot of baby steps, with a lot of falling backwards.
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That woman is a public nuisance. The photographer had a permit to be there.
See? This is why I don't go outside. There's crazy people out there!