One thing I love about being a place-blogger in an urban area like Boston or Cambridge is the way no one seems to care if you stop, snoop, and snap photos: there’s nothing you’re doing, after all, that’s any weirder than anything anyone else is doing.
Although I know folks who have been asked not to take photos in particular public places, I’ve never been confronted for my shutter-buggery. Either I look boring enough that I don’t arouse suspicion, or I look weird enough that folks aren’t surprise when I do something quirky with a camera.
Usually when I snap photos in public places, I try to be discreet: not only do I not want people to think I’m taking photos of them, I don’t want to call attention to myself. One of the benefits of using a purse-sized digicam is the fact I can pull out my camera quickly, snap a few surreptitious shots, and then sneak it back into my pocket or purse before anyone’s noticed what I’m doing. If there are people milling around something I want to photograph, I’ll typically wait until they disperse, or I’ll refrain entirely from taking pictures. The last thing I want to do is make myself an object of attention while focusing my attention on some interesting object.
As I was composing the above photo of the graffiti along Modica Way, for instance, I heard the crack and static of a police officer’s two-way radio as a faceless person passed behind me. “Holy crap,” I thought as I froze mid-shot. “All I need is for Mr. Cop to ask me what I’m doing in a graffiti-covered alley taking pictures.” After I’d snapped my shot, I looked down Modica Way to see Mr. Cop walking away unconcerned, a McDonald’s bag in one hand. I don’t know how Cambridge cops feel about street artists, but apparently hungry officers won’t interrupt their takeout breakfasts to harass place-bloggers who like to snoop and snap.
Click here for a photo-set of images from today’s and yesterday’s posts. Enjoy!
Hoarded Ordinaries 
Apr 29, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Lorianne — this is one of the reasons I carry a tiny sketchbook, too, in my pocket. (Though as summer approaches it gets harder and harder to dress with adequate pockets.) I do like being able to whip it out, fling down a few cursory lines, and whip it back in again.
Great photos, by the way, and entirely unsketchable material!!
LikeLike
Apr 29, 2008 at 8:51 pm
“Shutter-buggery” sounds *so* dirty!
LikeLike
Apr 30, 2008 at 5:29 am
And you know, Dave, that I fully intended that when I wrote it! 🙂
Pica, I carry a blank (non-lined) notebook in my purse for the same reason, although I’m a slow “draw” in all senses. It takes me forever to root out my notebook and pencil, and I sketch much more slowly than you do. That’s why I rely on the camera for quick, stealthy captures and make drawings when I have time to stay and look a while.
LikeLike
May 15, 2008 at 10:01 am
Great photos. A couple of weeks ago, I was doing some urban photography and a man walked up to me and told me if I took any more pictures of him he’d kill me. I actually hadn’t taken any pictures of him; he was just paranoid but it sure freaked me out. I do try to avoid pointing my camera in the general direction of people for this reason.
LikeLike