Today’s NaBloPoMo Prompt: Do you ever secretly snap pictures without the subject knowing? Tell us about a secret shot you’ve taken.
No. Or yes if I’m someplace where lots of photo-taking is expected. Weddings and other social gatherings. But out in public, with strangers? Never.
Almost never. One time I was out at a street fair, you know, one those things where booths are lined up selling arts and crafts and small jars of home-made jelly. I was taking pictures of dogs, since it was a nice day and every other person seemed to have a corgi. This one lady had a nice-looking husky, so I snapped off a few.
Then this guy next to me says “Come on, creep, taking her picture without asking?”
I looked at him, and said “I was just getting the dog.”
Guy wouldn’t even make eye contact. He goes, “While she was licking an ice-cream cone, real nice.”
Let’s be clear here: I had a longish lens on the camera, and it had obviously been pointing downward. Even if I had been taking her picture, not the dog’s, I would have been shooting her knees. She was wearing a long skirt, as well, so I can’t even be accused of having gotten a picture of her legs.
So I repeated myself, adding a little edge and volume to my voice, “I was just getting the dog.”
And he walked away. That’s when it occurred to me: I hadn’t even known she was eating ice-cream. HE was the one scoping her out, not me; HE was the perv.
The thing is, I was sort of doubly offended by his accusation, since, as I said, I don’t take candid street snaps of people.
Today’s NaBloPoMo Photo Prompt: Close