Received Monday, June 2, 2008 I just snapped this pic of a man taking pics of kids in Central Park beside the Turtle Pond. It could be innocent, but it seemed creepy to me & I wouldn't want him photographing my charge.
70 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I never let people take photos of my daughter if I can help it but when you are in a public place anyone can take a pic and use. That is part of being out in public unfortunately. Still Creepy.
Creepy and inappropriate. The law may say people can take your pic if you are in a public place, but the appropriate thing to do--ESPECIALLY regarding children who aren't your own--is to ask first.
I would definitely have said something to the adult in charge of the kids--parent, nanny, whoever--so they could be aware and have the option of notifying police if appropriate.
Thanks for bringing this up. Hopefully others can formulate a plan of what they would do if someone was taking unauthorized photos of the children they are supervising.
The guy went away after I took this picture, but came back after about 15 minutes. At that point I did tell the mom/nanny what was going on and she went over and really gave the guy a piece of her mind. Hopefully he'll think twice next time!
There are many places where it is illegal to take pictures of other peoples children without parental consent.
I got into a situation once where somebody was taking pictures of my beautiful (but only 10 year old) cousin when I was watching her at the park. Being as hot tempered as I am, I snatched the camera from his hands and went to the park rangers (Or park security, whatever you want to call it.) There are no laws against it where I live, but most people don't take kindly to grown men doing this, and he was escorted away and told not to return to the park.
Most normal people know its wrong, and won't stand for it whether or not the law says its wrong.
1) There is no place where it illegal to take pictures of children. 2) There are places like museums where it is against the rules to take pictures. 3) Pictures sent to this website involve nannies who are abusing children. Children's identities are not revealed.
I was very careful not to include children, so I really don't think what I did can be described as sick . . . but leave it to the ISYN commentors to find a reason to brand me as such.
You know the ole gun control addage? If you have a gun in the house, it is twice as likely to kill someone in your house than you are to use it against someone. This is kind of like that. Photographing the photographer, that isn't sick. That is clever. Someone has a scab in her drawers over public photography. She should really get on some medication now before she views google earth and realizes how much information we have on every one and every building in America. Or before she goes on Flickr and sees all of the children and all of the many websites dedicated to catching pictures of people parking badly, picking their nose, showing whale tails, coffee drinkers, litter bugs, blondes, high heels, overbites, joggers, pony tail wearers.
I had that happen to me once with the little girl I nanny for (she's 2). We were on a tram ride and this man kept trying to take her picture. I would move her and block the view as much as possible until I finally had enough and told the guy to stop taking her picture or I was going to report him to the police. He put the camera down and didn't say a word.
It may just be an innocent man or it could be worse, op I wonder if you could have alerted the police? It may not be illegal but the guy was making people uncomfortable and the police might have had a way to intervene.
There are places where it is illegal to photograph other peoples children.
All you have to do is a little research. For example, try going to a California beach and snapping pictures of someones child. Many things came up after little Madiline (sp?) went missing, and you can get into trouble for it.
Just because you yourself haven't heard of it, does not mean it isn't true.
No where in california is it ilegal to photograph any child in public.
You may not like it, but it is perctly legal. Beaches, stores, parks..it is all legal, however if you are taking pictures of a child in some one's yard or home , that is ilegal.
You have no idea what he was taking photos of. It could have been ANYTHING in that general direction. It's clear that he is far away from the children, so you haven't a clue and are just assuming based on your own neurosis.
If this guy has feather brown hair that is not long but longish and close set shiny eyes, then I have seen him around. If you notice he is using a lense that is used for detail. If they were his children, he would have been over there not behing that fence on the path. This guy I have seen him. I see him around noon time. This is a people place where he is shooting. Yes it is called turtle park but from where he is shooting, he would never stand there to get any shot but of the kids who play in that area.
5:50, if I had only seen him from the vantage point of the picture, I would say that you are more than likely correct, but I did not jump to conclusions, he came right up to two children playing in front of me and aimed right at them. There was absolutely no mistaking what he was photographing. When the mother/nanny went up to him he admitted to taking pics of the kids.
I am a (female) photographer and I hate that people always assume the worst when they see a camera out. I have taken pictures of icicles on a building and had the building owner run out and yell at me. I took a panaramic of children ice skating at sunset. It was from a distance and you couldn't identify a single face. Just a beautiful scene. If your kids are properly clothed at the park what the heck are you so worried about? I do agree though if the same person is there all the time than something is up. But if it is a photographer passing by, deal. Oh and at weddings, my favorite shots are the little kids rolling on the pews and leaning over the edge peeking for the bride. Even parents at weddings look at me funny sometimes because I take a picture of their child, who is a GUEST at the wedding. crazy.
When I was about 8 a man came up to me at the playground that I went to nearly every day (a block from my home in SF) and he showed me an ENTIRE photo ALBUM of ME! I mean it was HUGE- maybe 50 pages? They were mostly of me jump roping. He told me he was a coach from the national jump roping team and thought I had a lot of skill and promise and that he wanted me to come to a national competition. At that very moment my father appeared behind me. I was usually at the park by myself with friends- the man had no choice but to try and continue his story as my father quietly listened and then sent me home. I found out later my father played along and walked out of the park with him and then beat the living crap out of him.
lol, never shared that one.
I am a photo journalist for a large paper and I cover children and families at events. Some people are taken abake when I ask for pics, they act as though I asked for $500! A simple YES or NO would be fine, I can do without being made to feel like a jerk- thanks.
I just got back from Florida. Of course, I took a million pictures. I was on the hotel balcony snapping down at my son at the pool. Next thing I know hotel security is telling me some guests down at the pool claimed I was snapping pics of little children. I immediately started crying ... how dare they accuse me of such a thing. My husband comes out and then my son comes up, all trying to calm me down. The security guard obviously saw that I was harmless, but the damage was done.
We left that very night and went to a new hotel. I wasn't going to stay any longer at a hotel that treated me that way.
emily, I post quite often and you are just about the only person that has ever thought I was cool. I am usually ousted by the regulars who are often angry with me because I do not see things through the same rose colored glasses that they do, HOWEVER, when I am wrong, I am the first to admit it and your post made me think******** and after thinking, I realized I was wrong and you were right! Thank you for your veiw and for the kind words..happy posting!
804..your post was great!! I hope some of the witch hunting regulars on here read it and see that things are not always what they seem and that sometimes they go to far with accusations on this site..just as the people down at the pool did.
when I was 8 months pregnant with my son I went to the beach to relax..before I knew it a neighbor (we lived across the street from the beach in Santa Cruz California)came up to me and asked if I was aware that there was a man taking my picture? NO I was not ..nor did I recognize him.
I walked over and asked him to stop. he told me it was a free country and continued to snap my picture.
The neighbor walked me home and then went back to the beach and lets just say,when he came back ,he handed me the roll of film..I did not ask any questions. I will tell you ,I was creeped out. I had just been widowed 5 months previous and was very vulnerable as far as my emotions. The cops refused to do anything as what he was doing was not ilegal.
Unfortunatley, what this man was doing was not ilegal and he has every right to be there doing what he was doing..just as you do, all you can do is lv the park . Even if he was taking pics of kids..creepy..yes..ilegal? NO.
8:08 I really appreciate your sentiments, but I am a regular. I just knew there was no way I could post my name to that post. It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life.
what's with the bashing of regulars again? why pound all of them for just a select few that piss you off? you know there are a couple of really nice regulars here. some of you need to cut it out grouping them together. i'm so sick of even hearing the word. it's silly. if someone pisses you off, tell them so. just them!
I have a better story for you. My husband and I took our two children and nanny to a beach resort. We had two beach front rooms, one on top of the other. The resort was small, likely 80 rooms or so, all told. My husband is on the balcony drinking while I am reading. The children and the nanny are playing on the beach. I have periodically snapped pictures of them with my digital camera which is next to me. I am wearing a bikini drinking my third cocktail and hubby picks up the camera. After protesting a bit, I start vamping for the camera. The shots were seriously PG13, in very poor taste and just plain weird. He puts the camera down, I go back to reading. I look out at the children and they have created a picture in the sand. I look down at them and start snapping them and their creation in the sand. A sailboat is a bit off shore, I take a picture of it. More pictures of the children. Return to reading. 10 minutes later there is a banging on the door. I rush thinking something is wrong. It is the security/body guard of a certain entertainer. They are out on the boat and they claim I have been taking pictures of them. The man says he doesn't believe me. My husband has been drinking and threatens to kick the guy's ass. Security is called. Security arrives. The security guard is especially apologetic to the entertainer's security (which by now included one other male and a female). The security says, "if I owe you an apology, I'll apologize. Let'c clear this all up. Just let me see the camera". Long story short, they scrowled through our digital camera to make sure we weren't photographing "the entertainer". Just like someone above said, I do have what appears to be an extended lense, but it really is just a solar lense to offset the sun.
Ummm, do entertainers have special rights that the rest of us don't? That is a really offensive thing that happened to you 11:22. I would have been so mad. You should have pretended to not have even heard of, or cared about, whoever the narcissistic entertainer was who thought they owned the entire beach...and apparently much of the ocean too. I get so TIRED of people being so full of themselves!!
Now, when President Nixon was alive, they used to have secret service guys on surfboards who would casually paddle up to any surfer who happened to drift too close to the the cliff where his house was located and then give them not so friendly orders to skeedaddle...IMMEDIATELY. But for a president I can at least understand.
These self important movie actors and spoiled heiresses really are too much.
Oh Sprak darling, you couldn't possibly imagine how these things work. The "entertainer" was a guest of the same resort. The sort of guest that just by being at the resort makes the resort that much more desirable to the common man. And by common man in this text, I mean the common man that is able to afford a luxury vacation. All guests might be treated the same at Econo Lodge, but celebrity will buy you perks at all the hot venues, including resorts.
And this in our country of "equal rights"? Something is very wrong with being subjected to that kind of invasion of privacy for the sake of resolving some egomaniac asswipe's accusations and ensuring that the proper preferential treatment was given as well.
as far as grouping all regulars together..I am sorry that offends you..but seriously, many times you all act like a HS clique and soon are attacking anyone who feels you are wrong or who does not agree with you.. That is what I am so sick of!
so here it goes..1053..you piss me off..there like that?
now watch..true to form here come the regulars with the troll remarks and "oh just ignore so & so..comments! bye the bye..the comment was not refrencing weather the regulars are nice people or not but rather the fact that they dog pile any one person with a difference of opinion! Two different subjects all together there ...
This is the dumbest post ever. You just took a picture of a man and posted it online because you think he took a picture of someone else. Both of you are weird, as someone else already pointed out. I also think you need a hobby.
12:33 I don't know how I could piss you off, I was only stating my opinion. Sorry if it offended you. I've never been one to engage in the flaming of others.
I didn't send the picture to Jane b/c I thought the guy was doing something illegal, I understand he has every right to stand there and take pictures. It just seemed to me that it was particularly of interest to this blog in light of all the posts/comments about children being nude in public. People have been talking about the possibility that there are men out in public taking pictures of their kids, and I was able to snap a picture of that very thing!
No one can stop people like this man, and I wasn't suggesting that we go on a witch hunt for all photographers. My point in sending in the picture was to say, "Hey, people who protect their kids in public from being photographed in compromising positions, you're not crazy. You're probably just good parents/caregivers".
Well done, OP! I got your point. Most people probably did. There just always has to be somebody who flames OP just for submitting a post. Some people are apparently really just that bored.
What cliff? I've been to that beach many times in front of Nixon's beach house in San Clemente and I don't remember a "cliff". Some (who don't know better) walk that way to get to the a very famous surf area, Trestles. They'd have to walk right in front of Nixon's house to do so.
My father is a photographer and he takes pictures of kids all the time at the park to have printed in the towns tourist guide. Ever think that this man may be doing the same thing. People come to conclusions way too much. But since I grew up around cameras then I usually find a more logical explanation for things. Rather than feel people are sickos. He actually looks like a standard photographer by the type of camera and lense he is using and look at how he faces away from the sun as to not catch much glare from the light. Seems to me he is a professinoal in training.
Some of you are really suggesting that OP taking this man's picture is the same as him taking pictures of children in a park? I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're being disagreeable just for the sake of being disagreeable...However, I wonder if any of you are really dim-witted enough to believe that it's an accurate comparison.
Considering all the problems surrounding pedophiles, I think OP did a good thing. To suggest that she is "SICK" or hypocritical is a bit far-fetched. The situation isn't black and white. There's a big grey area and certain variables that need to be considered.
The guy could have been completely innocent and shooting a day at the park...or he may not have been... His identity isn't nearly clear enough for him to be indetifiable to anyone who doesn't already know him, so it's not like he has to worry about some sort of neighborhood lynch-mob...if this man is in fact a photographer, then I'm sure he's aware of the risks involved when taking pictures of someone else's children without their permission. If not, he probably is now.
jxj..because what he is doing is legal, if a mom /nanny is uncomfortable and concerned for her children they should lv the park and while doing so ask an officer to verify what the man is doing there.or call 911 and ask them to investigate. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty not the other way around. Posting this mans picture says..shoot firts ask questions later,which, I agree with if he is taking pics through your living room window, but this is the USA and he should be free to take pics without a lynch mob of ISYN bloggers accusing him of being a pervert! I am not dim witted , just angry that someone posts a photo of a man all ovet the internet, implying that he might me a sicko without all the facts..that is not how this counrty is suppossed to work! That mentality is what got many women killed in the 1600's in Salem! protect your children but don't take a possibly innoccent man down doing it!
this is the stupidest posting ever. i can't believe you think that man-openly-taking-photos in central park = automatic pedophile. some of you all have pedophilia on the mind. if you're that paranoid, maybe you have some issues you need to address with a therapist or something. i really don't think it's a normal way of thinking.
You think reporting him to the police is less drastic than putting a warning out on a blog?
No one ever disputed whether or not it's legal.
I just know I wouldn't want anyone taking pictures of my charge..and I'm sure I'll feel the same way when I have children. It'd make me extremely uncomfortable...why? Because it seems everytime you read the paper, turn on the TV or talk to someone, there is news about yet another pedophile...or a new website aimed towards kiddie porn...or another kiddie porn sting for that matter. Call it hysteria, compare it to a witch hunt, but I think OP handled it well. She didn't reveal any identifying characteristics of this man other than a far away picture of his black pants and bald head....The way I understood it, OP's motive was basically a warning to keep on the lookout for potential perverts...cause we all know they're out there. I'd be willing to bet this guy was a photographer OR an aspiring one, but common sense dictates that people are very nervous when it comes to their children and lets say...strangers with cameras...I think reporting him to the police would have been a lot more demeaning and insulting to him, assuming his actions were innocent, than reporting it on this blog. As I mentioned before, anyone, especially a man, who takes pictures of children in a park is probably very aware that people may have their doubts concerning his intentions. As sad and indicative of a decaying society that may be, it's reality.
11:43 After what happened to me on my trip to Fla., I'm guessing a big fat NO. Everyone is paranoid nowadays, and that's probably a good thing - but we should always be careful NOT to jump to conclusions! Not everyone you see with a camera is a pedophile.
10:35 last time i went to trestles there was a looong sort of steep path leading to the ocean. If you are standing on the top of the cliff/bluff (whatever you want to call it...the high place rising above the sea on top of which his house is perched)the path will be to yo left. If you were to walk straigh out towards the ocean( which you are not allowed to) there would be Nixon's house at the edge, overlooking the ocean. The house itself was not visible from the entry gate, or anywhere along the path down to the beach. Once down on the sand, if you get into the water and paddle to the right until you are in front of the high hill/cliff, you are directly in the line of Nixon's house...which the secret service did not allow. I once saw Nixon going into his property in a limousine...and I saw my surfer friends, on a couple of occasions, confronted by the secret service. You were allowd to surf there..as long as you didn't drif too far north. Anyway....my point...which seems to have been lost.... is that it's one thing if you want to ruffle people up because it concerns the president of the united states, who has actual reason to be concerned about threats to his safety every minute of every day...but it's completely ridiculous and out of hand when people are accosted in their hotel rooms because some self-important, narcissistic jerk of a movie star thinks they own the beach. Find another line of work if you don't like being photographed.
This is what we do. We look out for each other. OP had her eyes peeled at that park which is great for all of the children that were there. We all need to be more aware of the situations around us.
I live in NY and many people take pictures of other people. It is just photography. If a parent is that concerned about their child's picture being taken, they can make them wear a cap or go to a more private play area. Or they can do what Michael Jackson does with his kids, make them wearing a mask.
I just hope that's all Michael Jackson does to his kids. My heart breaks every time I see them...wondering what kind of a freakish existence they must endure.
Now, the OP had every right to post this picture with concern. I accompany my daughter on school field trips to Central Park. There are many tourists who come through and occassionally one will take a picture. I understand that the kids look so cute playing and laughing in their uniforms. HOWEVER, it is not alright for a stranger to take a picture. One of the adults always goes over to the person and says that picture taking is not allowed. The person always apologizes and puts the camera down. No drama, no objections. Listen, this is the world we live in. There are sick individuals out there and there is the internet and Photoshop. You have to take precautions. This is not paranoia, this is reality.
While horseback riding in Jamaica, we passed by a local school house. The children were out in the uniforms. The guide told us not to take photographs of the children.
I say take pictures of whoever you want, but children- no! And pictures of celebrities children snapped without consent? Stop buying those magazines!
Ok, well if your bil says sooo. Wait, what? If I was going to stalk and prey on children, no if I was going to go to the park to photograph children with a camera -tee-hee-hee-i would most certainly dress in what might make look like a photographer. what are the real options here? I could dress as a pirate, I could dress as a king, I could even dress like a donkey, but hmmm... what would be clever? Want to get near children. Want to take picture. Photographer.
I mean, you're funny. I'll give you that. What you in all likely have here in this picture is a predator that dresses like your bil. Or perhaps your brother dresses like a photographer. Photographers are usually dressed... not in snakeskins or purple stuffed suits and not in clown costume...nope in casual attire.
Funny you should bring this up. Not too long ago, a man was at a park, snapping all sorts of photos of the kids playing there. Mothers and nannies practically chased him up the street, threatening physical violence.
Turns out, he was just one of the dads there trying to get some shots of his kids. :/
Punk Rock Nanny, I know that story and that father. Not personally, but I have seen him. There is something off about him. Was he taking pitcures with his camera of his own child? Answer-yes. Was he acting strange and shifty and leering at the young girls on the playground? Answer: yes. I know a bunch of mommies and poppies got their shorts in a stew and rushed to defend this guy, but in my experience, when 8 mommies, two nannies, a Philipino Grandmother and half an au pair decide someone is acting predatory- he probably is. As if there are not pedophiles who are suburban dads. Please. Where do you think all the pedophiles live? In a van down by the river? No, they live in my town and your town and we may have even had cause to meet the guy. We might even think he's a nice guy.
Thats true. The BTK serial killer was well respected and highly placed in his church...even teaching Sunday school. Everybody was FLOORED when he turned out not to be citizen of the year. (Except ONE mom, who quit letting her son go to Sunday school because he creeped her out. I'll bet she woul dhave been criticized and ostricized had she voiced her fears at the time. Something to remember.....
Maybe half an au pair looks like the picture Marissa has with her posts! Every so often I used to hear the same joke at the park about the beautiful, young, nubile girls some of the neighborhood women would recieve when they "sent away" for their au pairs. Somebody would inevitably say, "Wow. I wonder if so and so is concerned about having such a gorgeous young thing parading around her house 24/7? And somebody else would always say, "Now we know why they call them 'au pairs.'"
Not giving you giref Marissa. Use whatever photo you like.
OP did right by posting this whether or not it is a photographer. Now, parents/nannies are aware of someone taking pictures of the kids. For awhile Southern California (LA County) was visited by the ousted-from-WA admitted pedophile Jack McClellan (google him). He hung around public places where kids would frequent taking pictures. These pictures would then be posted on his pedophile-enabling site. He was outed from CA and relocated to OR because he was arrested and received a very needed unwelcome to CA.
I just snapped this pic of a man taking pics of kids in Central Park beside the Turtle Pond. It could be innocent, but it seemed creepy to me & I wouldn't want him photographing my charge.
70 comments:
I never let people take photos of my daughter if I can help it but when you are in a public place anyone can take a pic and use. That is part of being out in public unfortunately. Still Creepy.
Creepy and inappropriate. The law may say people can take your pic if you are in a public place, but the appropriate thing to do--ESPECIALLY regarding children who aren't your own--is to ask first.
I would definitely have said something to the adult in charge of the kids--parent, nanny, whoever--so they could be aware and have the option of notifying police if appropriate.
Thanks for bringing this up. Hopefully others can formulate a plan of what they would do if someone was taking unauthorized photos of the children they are supervising.
just out of curiousity..do you(above posters) feel the same way about the pics that are sent to this site by strangers?
Yes I do actually. Photos are sneeky and should not be posted on a public site.
The guy went away after I took this picture, but came back after about 15 minutes. At that point I did tell the mom/nanny what was going on and she went over and really gave the guy a piece of her mind. Hopefully he'll think twice next time!
OP..what this man did was perfectly legal and what you did was exactly what he did. take a picture of strangers at the park. Both of you are sick!
There are many places where it is illegal to take pictures of other peoples children without parental consent.
I got into a situation once where somebody was taking pictures of my beautiful (but only 10 year old) cousin when I was watching her at the park. Being as hot tempered as I am, I snatched the camera from his hands and went to the park rangers (Or park security, whatever you want to call it.) There are no laws against it where I live, but most people don't take kindly to grown men doing this, and he was escorted away and told not to return to the park.
Most normal people know its wrong, and won't stand for it whether or not the law says its wrong.
1) There is no place where it illegal to take pictures of children.
2) There are places like museums where it is against the rules to take pictures.
3) Pictures sent to this website involve nannies who are abusing children. Children's identities are not revealed.
I was very careful not to include children, so I really don't think what I did can be described as sick . . . but leave it to the ISYN commentors to find a reason to brand me as such.
You know the ole gun control addage? If you have a gun in the house, it is twice as likely to kill someone in your house than you are to use it against someone. This is kind of like that. Photographing the photographer, that isn't sick. That is clever. Someone has a scab in her drawers over public photography. She should really get on some medication now before she views google earth and realizes how much information we have on every one and every building in America. Or before she goes on Flickr and sees all of the children and all of the many websites dedicated to catching pictures of people parking badly, picking their nose, showing whale tails, coffee drinkers, litter bugs, blondes, high heels, overbites, joggers, pony tail wearers.
Its all there.
OP rocks! Thanks for alerting the mother as to what was going on and thank you for taking the picture.
both photographers invaded someones privacy..that is that!!
I had that happen to me once with the little girl I nanny for (she's 2). We were on a tram ride and this man kept trying to take her picture. I would move her and block the view as much as possible until I finally had enough and told the guy to stop taking her picture or I was going to report him to the police. He put the camera down and didn't say a word.
It may just be an innocent man or it could be worse, op I wonder if you could have alerted the police? It may not be illegal but the guy was making people uncomfortable and the police might have had a way to intervene.
There are places where it is illegal to photograph other peoples children.
All you have to do is a little research. For example, try going to a California beach and snapping pictures of someones child. Many things came up after little Madiline (sp?) went missing, and you can get into trouble for it.
Just because you yourself haven't heard of it, does not mean it isn't true.
anon 415 you do not have your facts straight.
No where in california is it ilegal to photograph any child in public.
You may not like it, but it is perctly legal. Beaches, stores, parks..it is all legal, however if you are taking pictures of a child in some one's yard or home , that is ilegal.
415 poster please follow up by sighting the law as I live in Ca and have NEVER heard of such a law.
I think you may be misguided.
Neither photographer invaded anyone's privacy, 3:58, as everyone involved was in Central Park, a place where you are afforded zero privacy.
emily, I am 358..point well taken!
You have no idea what he was taking photos of. It could have been ANYTHING in that general direction. It's clear that he is far away from the children, so you haven't a clue and are just assuming based on your own neurosis.
If this guy has feather brown hair that is not long but longish and close set shiny eyes, then I have seen him around. If you notice he is using a lense that is used for detail. If they were his children, he would have been over there not behing that fence on the path. This guy I have seen him. I see him around noon time. This is a people place where he is shooting. Yes it is called turtle park but from where he is shooting, he would never stand there to get any shot but of the kids who play in that area.
5:50, if I had only seen him from the vantage point of the picture, I would say that you are more than likely correct, but I did not jump to conclusions, he came right up to two children playing in front of me and aimed right at them. There was absolutely no mistaking what he was photographing. When the mother/nanny went up to him he admitted to taking pics of the kids.
I am a (female) photographer and I hate that people always assume the worst when they see a camera out. I have taken pictures of icicles on a building and had the building owner run out and yell at me. I took a panaramic of children ice skating at sunset. It was from a distance and you couldn't identify a single face. Just a beautiful scene. If your kids are properly clothed at the park what the heck are you so worried about? I do agree though if the same person is there all the time than something is up. But if it is a photographer passing by, deal. Oh and at weddings, my favorite shots are the little kids rolling on the pews and leaning over the edge peeking for the bride. Even parents at weddings look at me funny sometimes because I take a picture of their child, who is a GUEST at the wedding. crazy.
3:58--I think you must be cool, people very rarely concede points on this site.
When I was about 8 a man came up to me at the playground that I went to nearly every day (a block from my home in SF) and he showed me an ENTIRE photo ALBUM of ME! I mean it was HUGE- maybe 50 pages? They were mostly of me jump roping. He told me he was a coach from the national jump roping team and thought I had a lot of skill and promise and that he wanted me to come to a national competition. At that very moment my father appeared behind me. I was usually at the park by myself with friends- the man had no choice but to try and continue his story as my father quietly listened and then sent me home. I found out later my father played along and walked out of the park with him and then beat the living crap out of him.
lol, never shared that one.
I am a photo journalist for a large paper and I cover children and families at events. Some people are taken abake when I ask for pics, they act as though I asked for $500! A simple YES or NO would be fine, I can do without being made to feel like a jerk- thanks.
I just got back from Florida. Of course, I took a million pictures. I was on the hotel balcony snapping down at my son at the pool. Next thing I know hotel security is telling me some guests down at the pool claimed I was snapping pics of little children. I immediately started crying ... how dare they accuse me of such a thing. My husband comes out and then my son comes up, all trying to calm me down. The security guard obviously saw that I was harmless, but the damage was done.
We left that very night and went to a new hotel. I wasn't going to stay any longer at a hotel that treated me that way.
emily, I post quite often and you are just about the only person that has ever thought I was cool. I am usually ousted by the regulars who are often angry with me because I do not see things through the same rose colored glasses that they do, HOWEVER, when I am wrong, I am the first to admit it and your post made me think******** and after thinking, I realized I was wrong and you were right! Thank you for your veiw and for the kind words..happy posting!
804..your post was great!! I hope some of the witch hunting regulars on here read it and see that things are not always what they seem and that sometimes they go to far with accusations on this site..just as the people down at the pool did.
Can I just ask what a "whale tail" is? I would google it but am kind of afraid of what I would find:)
when I was 8 months pregnant with my son I went to the beach to relax..before I knew it a neighbor (we lived across the street from the beach in Santa Cruz California)came up to me and asked if I was aware that there was a man taking my picture?
NO I was not ..nor did I recognize him.
I walked over and asked him to stop. he told me it was a free country and continued to snap my picture.
The neighbor walked me home and then went back to the beach and lets just say,when he came back ,he handed me the roll of film..I did not ask any questions.
I will tell you ,I was creeped out. I had just been widowed 5 months previous and was very vulnerable as far as my emotions. The cops refused to do anything as what he was doing was not ilegal.
Unfortunatley, what this man was doing was not ilegal and he has every right to be there doing what he was doing..just as you do, all you can do is lv the park . Even if he was taking pics of kids..creepy..yes..ilegal? NO.
A whale tail is a girls string thong sticking out of her pants. The strings resemble a whale's tail.
8:08
I really appreciate your sentiments, but I am a regular. I just knew there was no way I could post my name to that post.
It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life.
what's with the bashing of regulars again? why pound all of them for just a select few that piss you off? you know there are a couple of really nice regulars here. some of you need to cut it out grouping them together. i'm so sick of even hearing the word. it's silly. if someone pisses you off, tell them so. just them!
damn, 8:58
learn something new everyday! how funny!
I have a better story for you. My husband and I took our two children and nanny to a beach resort. We had two beach front rooms, one on top of the other. The resort was small, likely 80 rooms or so, all told. My husband is on the balcony drinking while I am reading. The children and the nanny are playing on the beach. I have periodically snapped pictures of them with my digital camera which is next to me. I am wearing a bikini drinking my third cocktail and hubby picks up the camera. After protesting a bit, I start vamping for the camera. The shots were seriously PG13, in very poor taste and just plain weird. He puts the camera down, I go back to reading. I look out at the children and they have created a picture in the sand. I look down at them and start snapping them and their creation in the sand. A sailboat is a bit off shore, I take a picture of it. More pictures of the children. Return to reading. 10 minutes later there is a banging on the door. I rush thinking something is wrong. It is the security/body guard of a certain entertainer. They are out on the boat and they claim I have been taking pictures of them. The man says he doesn't believe me. My husband has been drinking and threatens to kick the guy's ass. Security is called. Security arrives. The security guard is especially apologetic to the entertainer's security (which by now included one other male and a female). The security says, "if I owe you an apology, I'll apologize. Let'c clear this all up. Just let me see the camera". Long story short, they scrowled through our digital camera to make sure we weren't photographing "the entertainer". Just like someone above said, I do have what appears to be an extended lense, but it really is just a solar lense to offset the sun.
Ummm, do entertainers have special rights that the rest of us don't? That is a really offensive thing that happened to you 11:22. I would have been so mad. You should have pretended to not have even heard of, or cared about, whoever the narcissistic entertainer was who thought they owned the entire beach...and apparently much of the ocean too. I get so TIRED of people being so full of themselves!!
Now, when President Nixon was alive, they used to have secret service guys on surfboards who would casually paddle up to any surfer who happened to drift too close to the the cliff where his house was located and then give them not so friendly orders to skeedaddle...IMMEDIATELY. But for a president I can at least understand.
These self important movie actors and spoiled heiresses really are too much.
11:22-But their security felt it was ok to peruse the pictures of you and your children? That's BS and hogwash.
Oh Sprak darling, you couldn't possibly imagine how these things work. The "entertainer" was a guest of the same resort. The sort of guest that just by being at the resort makes the resort that much more desirable to the common man. And by common man in this text, I mean the common man that is able to afford a luxury vacation. All guests might be treated the same at Econo Lodge, but celebrity will buy you perks at all the hot venues, including resorts.
And this in our country of "equal rights"? Something is very wrong with being subjected to that kind of invasion of privacy for the sake of resolving some egomaniac asswipe's accusations and ensuring that the proper preferential treatment was given as well.
as far as grouping all regulars together..I am sorry that offends you..but seriously, many times you all act like a HS clique and soon are attacking anyone who feels you are wrong or who does not agree with you.. That is what I am so sick of!
so here it goes..1053..you piss me off..there like that?
now watch..true to form here come the regulars with the troll remarks and "oh just ignore so & so..comments!
bye the bye..the comment was not refrencing weather the regulars are nice people or not but rather the fact that they dog pile any one person with a difference of opinion! Two different subjects all together there ...
This is the dumbest post ever. You just took a picture of a man and posted it online because you think he took a picture of someone else. Both of you are weird, as someone else already pointed out. I also think you need a hobby.
1240 you rock!
12:33
I don't know how I could piss you off, I was only stating my opinion.
Sorry if it offended you. I've never been one to engage in the flaming of others.
12:33 I don't think it takes much to piss someone off who's obviously hankering for a fight.
I didn't send the picture to Jane b/c I thought the guy was doing something illegal, I understand he has every right to stand there and take pictures. It just seemed to me that it was particularly of interest to this blog in light of all the posts/comments about children being nude in public. People have been talking about the possibility that there are men out in public taking pictures of their kids, and I was able to snap a picture of that very thing!
No one can stop people like this man, and I wasn't suggesting that we go on a witch hunt for all photographers. My point in sending in the picture was to say, "Hey, people who protect their kids in public from being photographed in compromising positions, you're not crazy. You're probably just good parents/caregivers".
Well done, OP!
I got your point. Most people probably did. There just always has to be somebody who flames OP just for submitting a post. Some people are apparently really just that bored.
What cliff? I've been to that beach many times in front of Nixon's beach house in San Clemente and I don't remember a "cliff". Some (who don't know better) walk that way to get to the a very famous surf area, Trestles. They'd have to walk right in front of Nixon's house to do so.
My father is a photographer and he takes pictures of kids all the time at the park to have printed in the towns tourist guide. Ever think that this man may be doing the same thing. People come to conclusions way too much. But since I grew up around cameras then I usually find a more logical explanation for things. Rather than feel people are sickos. He actually looks like a standard photographer by the type of camera and lense he is using and look at how he faces away from the sun as to not catch much glare from the light. Seems to me he is a professinoal in training.
would you all feel the same way if this was a woman taking the photo?
Some of you are really suggesting that OP taking this man's picture is the same as him taking pictures of children in a park?
I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're being disagreeable just for the sake of being disagreeable...However, I wonder if any of you are really dim-witted enough to believe that it's an accurate comparison.
Considering all the problems surrounding pedophiles, I think OP did a good thing. To suggest that she is "SICK" or hypocritical is a bit far-fetched. The situation isn't black and white. There's a big grey area and certain variables that need to be considered.
The guy could have been completely innocent and shooting a day at the park...or he may not have been...
His identity isn't nearly clear enough for him to be indetifiable to anyone who doesn't already know him, so it's not like he has to worry about some sort of neighborhood lynch-mob...if this man is in fact a photographer, then I'm sure he's aware of the risks involved when taking pictures of someone else's children without their permission. If not, he probably is now.
jxj..because what he is doing is legal, if a mom /nanny is uncomfortable and concerned for her children they should lv the park and while doing so ask an officer to verify what the man is doing there.or call 911 and ask them to investigate.
In this country you are innocent until proven guilty not the other way around. Posting this mans picture says..shoot firts ask questions later,which, I agree with if he is taking pics through your living room window, but this is the USA and he should be free to take pics without a lynch mob of ISYN bloggers accusing him of being a pervert!
I am not dim witted , just angry that someone posts a photo of a man all ovet the internet, implying that he might me a sicko without all the facts..that is not how this counrty is suppossed to work! That mentality is what got many women killed in the 1600's in Salem!
protect your children but don't take a possibly innoccent man down doing it!
this is the stupidest posting ever. i can't believe you think that man-openly-taking-photos in central park = automatic pedophile. some of you all have pedophilia on the mind. if you're that paranoid, maybe you have some issues you need to address with a therapist or something. i really don't think it's a normal way of thinking.
lindalou
Agreed!!!
You think reporting him to the police is less drastic than putting a warning out on a blog?
No one ever disputed whether or not it's legal.
I just know I wouldn't want anyone taking pictures of my charge..and I'm sure I'll feel the same way when I have children. It'd make me extremely uncomfortable...why? Because it seems everytime you read the paper, turn on the TV or talk to someone, there is news about yet another pedophile...or a new website aimed towards kiddie porn...or another kiddie porn sting for that matter. Call it hysteria, compare it to a witch hunt, but I think OP handled it well. She didn't reveal any identifying characteristics of this man other than a far away picture of his black pants and bald head....The way I understood it, OP's motive was basically a warning to keep on the lookout for potential perverts...cause we all know they're out there. I'd be willing to bet this guy was a photographer OR an aspiring one, but common sense dictates that people are very nervous when it comes to their children and lets say...strangers with cameras...I think reporting him to the police would have been a lot more demeaning and insulting to him, assuming his actions were innocent, than reporting it on this blog. As I mentioned before, anyone, especially a man, who takes pictures of children in a park is probably very aware that people may have their doubts concerning his intentions. As sad and indicative of a decaying society that may be, it's reality.
11:43
After what happened to me on my trip to Fla., I'm guessing a big fat NO.
Everyone is paranoid nowadays, and that's probably a good thing - but we should always be careful NOT to jump to conclusions!
Not everyone you see with a camera is a pedophile.
10:35
last time i went to trestles there was a looong sort of steep path leading to the ocean. If you are standing on the top of the cliff/bluff (whatever you want to call it...the high place rising above the sea on top of which his house is perched)the path will be to yo left. If you were to walk straigh out towards the ocean( which you are not allowed to) there would be Nixon's house at the edge, overlooking the ocean. The house itself was not visible from the entry gate, or anywhere along the path down to the beach. Once down on the sand, if you get into the water and paddle to the right until you are in front of the high hill/cliff, you are directly in the line of Nixon's house...which the secret service did not allow. I once saw Nixon going into his property in a limousine...and I saw my surfer friends, on a couple of occasions, confronted by the secret service. You were allowd to surf there..as long as you didn't drif too far north. Anyway....my point...which seems to have been lost.... is that it's one thing if you want to ruffle people up because it concerns the president of the united states, who has actual reason to be concerned about threats to his safety every minute of every day...but it's completely ridiculous and out of hand when people are accosted in their hotel rooms because some self-important, narcissistic jerk of a movie star thinks they own the beach. Find another line of work if you don't like being photographed.
This is what we do. We look out for each other. OP had her eyes peeled at that park which is great for all of the children that were there. We all need to be more aware of the situations around us.
I live in NY and many people take pictures of other people. It is just photography. If a parent is that concerned about their child's picture being taken, they can make them wear a cap or go to a more private play area. Or they can do what Michael Jackson does with his kids, make them wearing a mask.
I just hope that's all Michael Jackson does to his kids. My heart breaks every time I see them...wondering what kind of a freakish existence they must endure.
Hart...hilarious! Your dad rocks!
Now, the OP had every right to post this picture with concern. I accompany my daughter on school field trips to Central Park. There are many tourists who come through and occassionally one will take a picture. I understand that the kids look so cute playing and laughing in their uniforms. HOWEVER, it is not alright for a stranger to take a picture. One of the adults always goes over to the person and says that picture taking is not allowed. The person always apologizes and puts the camera down. No drama, no objections. Listen, this is the world we live in. There are sick individuals out there and there is the internet and Photoshop. You have to take precautions. This is not paranoia, this is reality.
While horseback riding in Jamaica, we passed by a local school house. The children were out in the uniforms. The guide told us not to take photographs of the children.
I say take pictures of whoever you want, but children- no! And pictures of celebrities children snapped without consent? Stop buying those magazines!
wow what a creeper!
Looks like a real photographer to me. See his stance? Exactly how my BIL stands when photographing. The camera is obviously very high end as well.
Honestly the one that would concern me the most is the lone man with a digital camera, not someone who looks like a photographer.
Ok, well if your bil says sooo.
Wait, what? If I was going to stalk and prey on children, no if I was going to go to the park to photograph children with a camera -tee-hee-hee-i would most certainly dress in what might make look like a photographer. what are the real options here? I could dress as a pirate, I could dress as a king, I could even dress like a donkey, but hmmm... what would be clever? Want to get near children. Want to take picture. Photographer.
I mean, you're funny. I'll give you that. What you in all likely have here in this picture is a predator that dresses like your bil. Or perhaps your brother dresses like a photographer. Photographers are usually dressed... not in snakeskins or purple stuffed suits and not in clown costume...nope in casual attire.
Funny you should bring this up. Not too long ago, a man was at a park, snapping all sorts of photos of the kids playing there. Mothers and nannies practically chased him up the street, threatening physical violence.
Turns out, he was just one of the dads there trying to get some shots of his kids. :/
Punk Rock Nanny,
I know that story and that father. Not personally, but I have seen him. There is something off about him. Was he taking pitcures with his camera of his own child? Answer-yes. Was he acting strange and shifty and leering at the young girls on the playground? Answer: yes. I know a bunch of mommies and poppies got their shorts in a stew and rushed to defend this guy, but in my experience, when 8 mommies, two nannies, a Philipino Grandmother and half an au pair decide someone is acting predatory- he probably is. As if there are not pedophiles who are suburban dads. Please. Where do you think all the pedophiles live? In a van down by the river? No, they live in my town and your town and we may have even had cause to meet the guy. We might even think he's a nice guy.
Thats true. The BTK serial killer was well respected and highly placed in his church...even teaching Sunday school. Everybody was FLOORED when he turned out not to be citizen of the year. (Except ONE mom, who quit letting her son go to Sunday school because he creeped her out. I'll bet she woul dhave been criticized and ostricized had she voiced her fears at the time. Something to remember.....
sadie, i want to know what *half an au pair* looks like. hee.
Maybe half an au pair looks like the picture Marissa has with her posts!
Every so often I used to hear the same joke at the park about the beautiful, young, nubile girls some of the neighborhood women would recieve when they "sent away" for their au pairs. Somebody would inevitably say, "Wow. I wonder if so and so is concerned about having such a gorgeous young thing parading around her house 24/7? And somebody else would always say, "Now we know why they call them 'au pairs.'"
Not giving you giref Marissa. Use whatever photo you like.
OP did right by posting this whether or not it is a photographer. Now, parents/nannies are aware of someone taking pictures of the kids. For awhile Southern California (LA County) was visited by the ousted-from-WA admitted pedophile Jack McClellan (google him). He hung around public places where kids would frequent taking pictures. These pictures would then be posted on his pedophile-enabling site. He was outed from CA and relocated to OR because he was arrested and received a very needed unwelcome to CA.
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