Long Story ...... grab a coffee
Once before while photographing a sunrise on a range road (think in the country) I had the police called on me because someone was nervous there was a stranger taking pictures of their land with a tripod and a bigma. I remember a car driving by me going real slow so they must have took my license plate down and later that eveing the police called me and asked if I was taking pictues at the above location. After talking to police I understood why as there have been several break-ins in that area. Nothing was done and the police officer and I had a laugh and he just suggested I don't take pictures in that area again, and I haven't. That was my first run in with anyone being upset with my passion, but as I mentioned I understood their fear.
Now yesterday the wife and I stopped at Tim Horton’s (a Canadian Donut shot , think Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Creme) for a coffee. While standing in line I looked at the display case and decided to take a shot of the 1 million calories in front of me . When I got up to the counter , one of the employees handed me a cell phone and said someone wants to talk to you. I was like what ??? Me?? Are you sure ???
The manager comes on and asks me if I took a picture of her display case. I said yes I did. Then she asked why. Fair enough although I had no real reason , I said as much as told her I was not a professional, just a hobbyist who thought at that particular moment all those donuts looked great in the case. She then asked what I planned to do with the photo. Again I was honest, said I had no real plans. I would look at the shot , if it was sharp , in focus and I liked it I would probably keep it , if not I would delete it. She said she was not sure this was allowed and would have to check with her district manager about this. She asked me to leave my name and phone number, which I refused to actually.
So here I am in line at Tim Horton’s and now the line is getting bigger , talking to a manager on some employee's cell phone about my diabolic plans on what evil I was up to with the shot of the secret donut display case. I was stunned , almost speechless. I told her look if this picture was causing so much stress and grief I would delete it. This seemed to calm her down and I left the place.
I know others have had similar stories , this one threw me for a loop. I felt like I was doing something wrong and I was not. Does every place have to have a no pictures allowed sign in it ?
I have never worked in a retail store before. I just don't understand the paranoia ? It was a display case of donuts ??? There were no prices . Recipes, trade secrets , nothing that even indicated it was a Tim Horton’s' or what store it was from ?? ?
Can anyone offer an opinion as to why this was an issue ? Do retails stores send spies to the competition to see what's up ? And if they do , they surely are a little more subtle than someone 6"2' caring a K20D with a battery grip, a lowepro Computer treker backpack on I did have the DA 35LTD on but still , if my plan was infiltration of some sort , a small PS or cell phone would have been a tad more discrete.
Ohh and here is the secret shot , I was anoyed enough to not delete it , I can't think of any diabolic plan for this shot , nor how to profit from it,so how about if you like the shot PM me and I can send you my Pay Pal adress where you can donate $100 so I can startup Dave's Donuts and put Tim Hortons out of buinsess
In reality I kind of understand why they were nervous - just thought the reaction was over the top. If you actually read all this thanks for listening.
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Last edited by daacon; 05-17-2009 at 07:48 AM.