So I went to donate blood at work and got (sorta) harassed by security...

[VisualOddity]

Story/Pics:

www.VisualOddity.com

[Jeff_Green]

You are absolutely right. Everyone's out to get photographers

[VisualOddity]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

You are in the wrong and have no right to feel offended or harassed. You are INSIDE of a medical facility and whether it's just giving blood or getting Chemo, HIPAA is still in effect. It sounds like the first lady was probably just a fairly new technician and not a nurse who would know better.

I would agree if:
1.) There were a sign telling me I couldn't do that...
2.) If someone would have asked me not to take pictures. I wouldn't have ANY issue stopping at all, had someone asked/informed me. The second lady even told me it was ok (actually 2-3 times). The 3rd lady was rude, and there was NO need for how she acted at all...

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

You are in the wrong and have no right to feel offended or harassed.

What?? Of course he has every right to feel harassed.
According to the blog he went through 2 people that didn't have a problem with it, and one of them even encouraged it.
Then he was treated like a criminal for doing nothing (at least nothing that he was aware of) wrong.

I'd be ticked off also.

[Jeff_Green]

Nm

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Common sense should take over at some point... but I guess not.

Being a little rude today, huh?

[crackhead]

Instead of getting defensive about it, the OP should have responded initially with a grin and a business card! I found that this method disarms most people... Maybe even pick up some new clients this way.

People will always be a little leary of people aiming large cameras at them, for whatever reason.

[sandy_ruotolo]

I could see where other people if they were your co-workers and may not like their photo taken would get upset, even if they we not your co-workers, people tend to get a little nervous having their photos taken without knowing why. At this point I'm not sure what your were hoping to photograph, as medical people tend to protect the privacy of their patients, I guess in this case other blood donors, I can see the person you've identified as rude as trying to prevent photos taken. Even if you were photographing equipment, you never know what people will think and how they will react. The rude lady could have asked you in a nice way to stop taking photos, before calling the security guard, then if you persisted then ask for security to step in. Perhpas it was an extreme reaction, I'm not sure because I was not there and did not see the reactions of everyone involved. I think its nice you are into your phtography, it's a nice hobby, something when I get the time and opportunity to shoot and enjoy, however, I've been in public places with my camera, thought oh that would be an interesting photo, but because the shot would include people I do not know and they don't know me, I've passed. Sometimes I ask if it's okay, this gives them the opportunity to have some say in having a photograph taken, if they say no, well, if they say yes, well I think we both benefit. Perhaps if you had explained your intentions clearly to "rude lady" camly, and given her the opportunity to say yes or no, it would have made a differnce. You did a good thing giving blood. I think you can do good things with your camera. Sometimes, you have to just let "interesting shots" go by, there's always another opportunity.

[VisualOddity]

Let me just say, first, that I NEVER took a picture of anyone other than me. I never even pointed it at anyone.


...


I want to point out something. I am not someone who takes pictures where it is verbally or visually prohibited. This includes people saying they prefer me not too.

I was not only allowed to carry my camera in without so much as a mention of it, I was also helped in taking the pictures by the lady that told me it was fine to do so. If you look at the pressure gauge (I think that's what it is) in the pic where I say she is testing blood pressure, the gauge is pointing in between us. It was facing her completely, and when I picked up my camera, she looked at it, said, "here", and moved it so I could get a decent angle on my shot. How would this give the impression of anything other than me being allowed to do this?

Once out in the chair/bed/thing, the other lady walked up to do her thing, and she was the one asking me a bunch of questions. I explained very nicely that the pictures were for my own use and my own hobby. I made it very clear why I was taking them, in a very polite, respectful manner (as I always talk to people I don't know). Never once did she ask me not to take a picture, nor did she ask me to put down my camera. The girl helping her with the tourniquet (is that what it's called), even moved (happily) the gauze so I could take a picture of my arm w/ the needle. The only person that showed less than support of my picture taking, was the lady taking my blood. Naturally, I assumed that since everyone seemed fine with it but this girl, who never asked me to stop, she was just a little nervous to have a camera around. This happens in all sorts of situations, like taking pictures at my sons soccer games, pulling out the 30D around certain people at work, etc. I didn't know that she planned to call security, rather than just asking me to stop, or telling me it bothered her and she prefer I put it away. Had she said something, I would have respectfully put it away, problem solved...


I don't know how to be more clear than that...

[Jeff_Green]

Nm

[VisualOddity]

Originally Posted by Jeff_Green

Oh, you are right.

I hear that it's okay to take pictures of airplanes from the tarmac because there aren't signs posted stating not to take pictures from the tarmac without proper clearance. Give it a try sometime.

[PeteQ]

I'd say there is room for improvement on both sides of this discussion. As the person wanting to take photographs inside of a medical facility of your treatment you should have let them know and asked specifically about any restrictions PRIOR to shooting. As Jeff mentioned, HIPPA is in effect and the fact no one stopped you initially doesn't make it right. Where you were pointing the camera doesn't mean a thing. A person could hold a wide angle low and get plenty of shots that would violate a patient's privacy.

If you wanted to shoot your entire procedure you should have asked because you are in an area that is not public, and I would say that a person in a medical setting has a pretty reasonable expectation of privacy, and I know I wouldn't want someone snapping pictures, regardless of where they tell me the camera is aimed. In the one photo on your blog I can see another patient in the background, luckily their hand is up covering their face. Do you have one where it shows their face and you didn't post it or was the block just lucky?

Maybe the personnel could have handled it better but it sounds like all they did was ask to see what your shots and considering that they may have been opening themselves up to an issue with regard to patients' rights, I don't think it was all that bad. I had my run in with the Dallas police a while back for shooting on the street corner in downtown Dallas so I am well acquainted with the process of being harassed...

[crackhead]

I always assume I will be harassed/stopped/asked questions whenever shooting ANYWHERE outside of my backyard, and prepare myself mentally to respond.

[alamoshutterbug]

Originally Posted by crackhead

, and prepare myself mentally to respond.

With a grin and a business card, right?

[BSGp8ntball]

Maybe I read this differently but my feeling was the issue was not really being able to take pictures or not. Dylan let me know if I am on track here. It is more how the situation was handled. Unless I am wrong, he did nothing illegal. Now if the clinic/bus/medical facility has a rule or policy against it then that should have been presented to him in either writing or verbal. No need for 20 minutes of accusatory questioning and underhanded “go stand over” there BS while calling a security guard. If you have a problem speak up, if there is an issue say so. The way he was treated was the issue not the ability to take the picture. It is similar to being pulled over by a police officer. If he pulls you over and says “I pulled you over because your inspection sticker looked out of date. I can see its current but can I still see your license and registration, if everything checks out I’ll have you back on your way” The opposite is “I don’t have to tell you why I pulled you over, let me see your insurance. Do you have any warrants? If you have any warrants, I’m going to take you to jail. You have any drugs in the car? Why are you driving such a nice car? Drug dealer drive nice cars” How would you feel like you were treated. In both cases the accused did, NOTHING wrong but the situations was handled different. That’s my take on the situation anyways…