Monomad photography challenge entry
Right after i shot this a young guy with bandages on both arms from his hands to his elbows asked me "what are you taking pictures of"
This is getting to be a constantly occurring thing.
I told him i was shooting the trees and plants, birds, oil wells, clouds, and wildflowers. I was as calm and friendly as i could possibly be. He told me his girlfriend was in a tent in the bushes somewhere out there. He wanted to know if i was taking pictures of his girlfriend. I didn't see a tent or a girl and told him so. This area of oil wells and wetlands is fenced and is a no trespassing area. We ended up talking for a while.
I'm sick of this shit.
Homeowners and homeless all suspicious of the old guy with a camera.
Gracias!
Seriously? I wouldn't put you down as suspicious. You really should migrate north. We're nice up here.
I should!
Maybe if i just stick to wide open landscapes or forests or mountains and touristy location shots i'll be ok.
Well the "pain" in this picture goes with the pain-in-the-ass experience I suppose. There isn't a lot of things creepier than being approached by a homeless person outside of town.
It's really the "what are you taking pictures of" part that really pisses me off. I really have to keep myself calm because part of me wants to say "none of your effing business! it's a marsh with oil wells, what the hell dude?"
It's always young white guys who are or have been in some trouble with drugs and cops, most likely tweakers. I do meet lots of nice people but i have had to develop strategies of conversations and behaviors to keep things light and easy. It pretty much sucks that i have to justify taking photos as not some crime or future crime. Sometimes i worry i will just tell people to go ---- themselves which would be a really really bad choice for me ; )