One of the down sides to night photography is the risk to personal safety. For most of us, there is a certain element of risk heading to an unfamiliar area after dark, often carrying significantly expensive camera equipment. This photo for me was a bit of a wake up call as to the nasty side of humanity.
I arrived on location during the late afternoon, happily capturing plenty of shots hoping for a spectacular sunset - which never eventuated. It was cold and wet and when the sun set, the light disappeared quickly into darkness. Having been on location for a couple of hours, I felt more than comfortable with my surroundings.
It was during this long exposure shot that I had a rude awakening. I was approached by an older gentleman who inquisitively asked what I was doing. No big deal, it happens regularly. He asked a couple of innocent questions about the subject matter for my photo. The conversation soon turned nasty when he began abusing me for my “boring” choice of subject matter. He told me I was wasting my time and that people are only interested in photos of people. He became highly aggressive, even urging other passers-by to join him in his argument. Fortunately, his rant caught the attention of a couple out walking their dog who came to render some me assistance and convinced him it was time to move on.
It’s sad that people like this can ruin your day and stop you from doing what you love.
The moral of my story, be aware of your surroundings, not just whatever you’re photographing, and preferably do it with a friend - particularly if you’re out after dark.
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