File this one under scary and unnecessary. A California photographer had an intense encounter with a stranger who went so far as to threaten him and his client with a vehicle multiple times.
Beware that there's a heavy dose of NSFW language in the above video. Alex Stone, a Los Angeles-based fashion, portrait, and automotive photographer, was on a shoot in a remote stretch of Ramona, CA when he and his client were accosted by an extremely aggressive man who claimed they were on his driveway (they were in fact clearly on a public road). The man became increasingly agitated and proceeded to drive his vehicle at them and their equipment multiple times, causing Stone to have to jump out of the way as he continued recording the altercation and trying to deescalate the situation.
For his part, Stone was exemplary in his handling of the situation, staying remarkably respectful and levelheaded in the face of the continuing verbal and physical onslaught and recording the above video as evidence. He notes that he specifically avoided provoking the man in case he was carrying a gun and that "it's important to keep your cool when confronted with difficult situations during any photoshoot." It's an unfortunate reminder that there are dangerous people out there, and the nature of our profession will sometimes put us in contact with them. Be safe.
Sadly, it's this type of ignorant attitude that gives working professionals a bad name. When anyone with a camera thinks they can do whatever they want, anywhere they please, because "I'm just taking pictures".
I agree with you as far as safety of the setup goes. Legality is questionable as well. Nothing however excuses behavior of the driver. He probably has some personal issues like cheating wife, disrespectful boss, etc., and he is trying to feel like a "man". If they are blocking his driveway, he should call police. I doubt that was the case.
A permit to shoot on ANY public road is a must. You cannot park multiple vehicles on a public road, setup lights and play around without fully understanding the risk you pose to other drivers. I've shot a few concept car shoots in upstate NY, and had to pay for two on-duty police officers to close the road and manage traffic, in addition to obtaining a permit from NY state parks. I'm not defending the driver's aggressive behavior, but the story - as presented - is very one sided.
even if he is wrong( the photographer ) the big guy in the car has no right to threaten them the way he did.
As I wrote in another comment in Miami I know two fellow photographers who always carry a gun( whit permit and one was an gun instructor a long time ago ) They for sure would have shot that guy .
Florida is stand your ground and these photographer are very aware of that
I want to see that asshole "redneck" in Jail
Wow I would have beaten that man into an inch of his life. Cudos for the calm photographer.
That has to be your typical Trump supporter, on the extreme end of course...
Murica..
<the following is firmly tongue in cheek>
All he had to say was...
"Dude, I think you have me confused with Jason Lanier"
The guy would have just apologized and driven away :)
A very difficult situation well handled by the photographer
This story needs closure. I don't need a lesson telling me to be careful around nut jobs, I need to know that assholes like this are suffering the repercussions of their actions. This is assault and he needs to be charged, plain and simple. And the lesson should be to people like him on how to conduct themselves in the community.
He was arrested. I saw him in handcuffs being taken in
I live near Ramona and am familiar with the area. The driver of the truck is clearly in the wrong and was endangering the people on the shoot. I commend the photographer and his team for the way they handled themselves! I presume they likely didn't have a permit however that is completely a different matter altogether. I too hope that he took this footage to the authorities as he was threatened.
However... The references to the individual as being a "stupid redneck" and all the other derogatory remarks are frankly uncalled for. This kind of name calling and generalization is really inappropriate and unnecessary. It's essentially a racist remark when you really get down to it. It never fails to amaze me that so many people will shun these types of remarks for certain groups of people but then turn around and use them themselves when it suits their particular point of view. I mean really??!? Am in the only one who sees it this way?
I would just ask that we don't stoop to the level of those that use these types of terms. We don't know who this guy is, assuming anything about him and name calling only takes away from his wrongdoing. His actions are what they are and if he has broken a law, I sure hope he is prosecuted for it and pays the price.
Ramona is a small town where people actually still care. I sent this to the Ramona Sentinel asking for them address his behavior in the paper. I'm sure some public humiliation will help along with a call to the ramona sheriff.
Please take this to the police RIGHT AWAY.
I am also a photographer and I live in Ramona. I'm quite familiar with this street. It's a public road - not private property. I saw the photographer in the road on Saturday, but left before the idiot in the Excursion showed up. Stopping in the middle of the road wasn't wise, but the driver of the excursion was way out of line. The suspect is now in San Diego Jail and is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, battery, and vandalism.
Hey Alex, Alex just posted an update with a link to an interview he did with a local news organization and this quote is from the interview "Sheriff's deputies reported Sunday night that a Ramona resident was arrested in connection with the incident. He was arrested on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor battery and vandalism." He also posted this photo, showing that he is on $30K bail.
It's good news, I'd love to see how this plays out. I know most will probably want to see this guy thrown away forever however I hope cooler heads prevail in the courtroom and I'm happy to know at this exact moment the guy is already paying the price for his foolish and dangerous behavior. Bottom line, nobody was hurt and depending on his prior run ins with the law, I hope the punishment fits the crime.
Just my two cents but I'd be fine with 60 days in jail and maybe 80 hours of some kind of community service along with some anger management courses. I'd think that would be sufficient deterant for any future offenses.. I'd hope... ;)
I would have left the scene, driven to the sheriffs office and showed the video. At which point I would have asked for charges to be brought against this jerk in the truck. He intentionally tried to run the photographer down with his vehicle which I would construe as simple assault or worse intent to harm with a vehicle. Failure of that to take to the DA for his review of the situation. I have shot on back roads for model and car shoots and never had an issue. I should be more aware next time I have an assignment.
congrats to the photographer to keep its cool like he did, when somebody is threatening you in such a way, its very hard not to be responsive about it, even you know is not gonna get things better.
I hope to never cross dudes like that one.
But seriously dude... you should've whacked him on his head with a bat or something similar! Didn't have to call him "sir" all the time and be a pussy!! :-( smh...
i dont post much but this i have to say i would have laid that fuckin guy out, i would have took my mono pod and cracked him with it, fuck that, those kids were young and i guess he felt he could fuck with them, let him try that shit with someone his own size, i totally would have went at it with him, fuckin asshole. Give that photographer cred for keeping as cool as he did , i would never have made it
jaja Only in america. But the photographer did not have any permit otherwise a trooper should be with them .
By the way I know photographers down in Miami who always carry agun with them and for something like this would have put a bullet in the head of that moron. Since florida is a stand your ground state even the protographer did not have a permit , the attempt to run over him was enough to put that guy to sleep
Tasers and pepper spray require permits in many jurisdictions in the US. Hornet and wasp spray does not - the kind that will spray a stream 30 feet or more. You are out photographing and having a can in your vehicle or bag is 'safety' in case of bug attacks. Works very well against idiots like this and you can nail them before they get close.
File a police report so you are on record with the authorities.
I didn't see anything mentioning this follow up.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/32411922/caught-on-camera-heated-confrontation...
I would've made him eat his teeth.
When did this become a EuroTrash bash Amercan site? Seems like every post there is some dipshit foreigner extolling the virtues of his or her shithole country by denegrating the US.
Feel sorry for his wife. Not only is this embarrassing, I hope she doesn't have to put up with this kind of abuse herself. What a shitty person.