I can relate to that feeling/experience of being eyed suspiciously, and sometimes confronted, while out photographing. I’ve also wondered if my sightings ever feel this way about me and all my attention on them – what is her problem, stop staring at me! (-: As for the other people, maybe inaturalist should make an app for them – “unaturalist”! They can post sightings of us in all our strange contortions, excited over creatures or plants…the idea makes me laugh and cringe at the same time (mostly cringe!). Thanks for the post. It’s nice to learn other tactics for defusing/avoiding, and somehow it’s comforting to know it’s not just me this happens to.
15 Likes
i would, but i cant afford a camera like that, especially since i do not have full autonomy for a while more 
, so i have to stick to my dinky little nikon coolpix S6000 and my phone camera
i’m just more annoyed that i was kicked out in the first place, as there was some Hemileccinum species nearby that i hadn’t seen before
2 Likes
I feel you, i really do. Because that sucks, i too would be mad about having to miss out on neat boletes XD
If you dont mind having used stuff though, you can get older DSLR equipment for really good prices if you look. This is my backup lens, my good telephoto lens is in the shop, but i got it from a thrift store for like thirty five bucks. Its not perfect, its a manual focus, but for what it is i’ve pulled some okay pics out of it.
For example (not that I’m the best nature photog or anything)
All on a manual lens from the 1970s. And if you look at used bodies you can find modern (if used and slightly older) bodies for less than 200. Its not CHEAP cheap but thankfully you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get in to DSLR cameras, especially if you’re willing to put some work in to find deals.
Not that there is anything wrong with your coolpix of all, just I guess putting the thought in your head if you do want to explore it in the future!
5 Likes
I also get stares and questions sometimes. The worst misunderstanding I got was once when I was squatting and shooting bugs in the field. Some kid from far away yelled “Daddy look. He is pooping”. Doh.
24 Likes
In coastal California all I have experienced is support! People are often interested and excited to hear about the fungi that my husband and I photograph. I am happy to say that, as we are both Latino and have never experienced any negativity about crouching down and photographing things. Only interest!
9 Likes
This is my main go-to tactic. I don’t usually use long-winded scientific terminology except as a defensive weapon when I need to get rid of someone!
If that’s not working, I move on to the more advanced method - the dreaded “You Should Volunteer” talk. That makes people disappear in a hurry.
A few months ago I was iNatting around a pullout for a public trailhead, and a cop pulled a u-turn to come back demanding to know what I was doing and “what I had just put in my pocket” (my empty snack bag I was using as a collection bag).
He was not friendly, and it took quite a while to be rid of him. I actually haven’t done very much inatting since that incident - I feel paranoid I’m going to be confronted again, and the fear saps the enjoyment out of it.
19 Likes
I think our neighbors in Mexico-City thought we were spies, although I was just occasionally taking pictures of birds and bugs in our little garden and on the roof garden.
4 Likes
Can’t say carrying a net is a good idea anymore. I have had encounters where people judge you for being a “collector” or asking if you are “killing butterflies”. Most of the time they have been people I had assumed were allies and naturalists (a.k.a. NABA), but they absolutely look at you like you are the devil if you dare to carry a net. Even if you are catching/releasing or collecting something that isn’t a butterfly, you are already labeled as the enemy. One instance I even explained I was affiliated with a museum and they still scoffed at me. I do wish this attitude would stop as most collectors I know do it ethically and for a scientific purpose. Please assume the best, be nice, and I’ll be nice back. If you approach me attacking me verbally, you’ll get that sent back at you.
As for other situations I am far more worried about my car while out in the woods. I often park on roadsides and the last thing I want is the attention of cops. I have had an “abandoned car” notice stuck to my sideview mirror while MV lighting in a state forest. That sticker was very hard to remove! I have had cops drive up while out at night. They have usually asked me to leave nicely, but it’s scary when they have their flashlight on you and you know they have a gun.
6 Likes
I had my back to the street, down on one knee, and leaning my shoulder against the house to steady myself and the neighbor across the street came running over. Thought I was having a heart attack.
10 Likes
I have noticed this increased suspicion since 9-11 and even more recently where I live in central Maryland. Most of the time it is not the property owner who is bothered by my actions. At some fields where I used to look at butterflies with no issues, I was accosted by a man on a riding mower who assumed I was spying.
Another time my wife and I were looking at birds in farm fields, again where I had done so many times with no problems, when a pickup with several young men drove by, all occupants spewing obscenities. The whole idea of “see something, say something” has given some folks permission to become paranoid busybodies. As a kid, I could walk around with no problems.
On the other hand, my experience with police at my local birding spots has been positive. They seem OK when I tell them what I am doing if they ask me.
4 Likes
Я писала об этом в посте, который вам скидывали раньше, но я повторю и здесь, несколько раз меня заподазривали в похожем, один раз вечером, когда я искала бабочек, ко мне откуда-то издалека пристала пьяная компания, мужчина был уверен, что я ищу закладки, и всё смеялся, что я их не нахожу, ему вторили женщина и другие отдыхающие, в другой раз какая-то сумасшедшая бабка кричала на меня из окна, чтобы я “забирала всё своё и проваливала” (ну, что-то вроде того, не помню уже), я упорно игнорировала кричащих в обоих случаях, вроде как нужно быть выше этого, но если бы ко мне близко кто-то подошёл, то я бы конечно объяснила, что происходит. Но мне лично довольно смешно, что можно считать, что я целый час ищу наркоту в стволах деревьев, видимо, для удовольствия снимая их со вспышкой. хех
7 Likes
I’m a university student in Trinidad. I sometimes take observations on campus. I think because I have a camera (with a flash, for macro shots) the security are suspicious of me and they’ve stopped me 3 times, asking what I’m doing. I explained what I do and even showed my photos but they said I’m not allowed to take photos on university campus. However, I see other students all the time taking photos and videos (selfies and photos of their friends) on their phones and cameras as well. It seems unfair to me that I always get stopped and told I can’t take photographs on campus but everyone else gets to do it.
7 Likes
Google translate of Marina_Gorbunova’s comment:
I wrote about this in a post that was sent to you earlier, but I will repeat here, several times I was suspected of something similar, once in the evening, when I was looking for butterflies, a drunken company stuck to me from somewhere far away, the man was sure that I I’m looking for bookmarks [edit: drug stashes], and kept laughing that I didn’t find them, a woman and other vacationers echoed him, another time some crazy old woman yelled at me from the window so that I “take everything that’s mine and get out” (well, something like I don’t remember already), I stubbornly ignored the screaming in both cases, it seems like you need to be above this, but if someone came close to me, then of course I would explain what was happening. But personally, I find it quite funny that you can consider that I spend an hour looking for drugs in tree trunks.
4 Likes
My method to any inquiries is to supply the simplest answer and throw the ball in their court. “I am looking for any nightshade (goldenrod, milkweed). Do you have any around here?” Sometimes I dazzle them with scientific name (euphorbia, hyoscyamus, etc.) The end of inquiry.
Never had any problems.
8 Likes
It does seem unfair. can you talk to administration at your university and get some sort of formal permission or permit you could carry and present to security?
6 Likes
Creating a student society/club and getting some faculty on your side sounds like the best option to me. Institutions are always much more wary of individuals than of other institutions and that’d mostly take the semi-random and arbitrary nature of individual permissions out of the equation.
3 Likes
You know he was the one that threw those milk jugs there.
3 Likes
Good point.
@brystrange , are there are nature clubs on campus, or could you get a faculty sponsor?
1 Like
Funny how people can self-appoint themselves to imaginary positions of authority.
For all the sloganeering (“These colors don’t run!”), I have to agree with you. All the hawkish talk at that time was rather reminiscent of the proverbial ferocious Chihuahua.
8 Likes
I was an art student back in the 1980s here in the US, and this was a common topic of conversation among those of us doing photography. The art photographers I knew all had stories about getting hassled or even threatened. Pretty much like naturalists, the photographers I knew had a range of strategies for taking photos without getting in trouble, including: getting permission from subjects/land owners; dressing/acting to fit in; staying away from places where you knew you’d get in trouble; learning how to take photos so no one knew you were taking a photo. And we knew that there were some places we just weren’t going to be able to photograph.
Anyway, just like those art photographers I used to hang out with, it’s not a bad idea for us naturalists to exchange information about being hassled, partly to trade strategies, but also so we all remain aware of our surroundings at all times – even when pursuing some really cool organism.
12 Likes