Today after work I took the newly aquired 400mm over to Casey Key to try out the TC-301. I was in a small fishing park on the intercoastal snapping away at a pelican when I heard some lady say "hey, he's taking pictures". I glanced back and saw a well dressed lady, late forties - early fifties. I didn't give it a second thought and kept on shooting.
Soon all of the birds flew off so I hopped in the car and drove about an eighth of a mile down to another fishing spot. I was down on the sand next to the water taking pictures of a group of egrets when I heard someone say "hey, are you a photojournalist?".
I looked back and there about thirty feet back was the same lady.No, I replied, I'm just testing out a new lens.
"What's you name" she says. I tell her.
"You can't take pictures like that" she says. This is a public park, I said.
"No, you can't take pictures of people without asking them" she says. I'm not taking pictures of people, I'm taking pictures of birds, I said and turned back to continue shooting the egrets.
"I'm not finished talking to you" she said. Talk, I said without turning around.
"You need to face me when I'm speaking" she yells. No, you need to piss off lady, I'm busy, I said without turning around.
"You can't talk to me like that" she yells. I turn around and she's behind my car looking at my tag. She looked up and caught my glare (steam was probably coming out of my ears by this time). I've had just about enough of this shit, I said and started folding up my monopod.
Before I could even take one step towards my car the lady turns around and runs away screaming her lungs out.
That Sux I've only had the who do you work for? question from strangers when I'm out on the street or parks with the camera. Some people can be annoying I guess but I've never had to deal with anything like that though
BTW what 400 is that you were testing, is it the MF f/3.5? I just got one of those 3 weeks ago and was wondering if you expirience any CA on the highlights? I get some color fringing under very sunny conditions damn D2X I guess I can live with it till I aquire the Nikkor 500mm f/4D ED-IF II
Where there even any people in the direction that you were aming? It sounded like that lady was trying a little to hard to to make a big deal out of nothing. Luckily I have not had any experiences like yours. I tend to be not so reserved with my words when someone is acting like that!
At the first stop there was a cafe across the water from the pelican that I was shooting but the patrons were certainly not my focal point. Even if they were, though, I would have been completely within my rights.
I guess I can live with it till I aquire the Nikkor 500mm f/4D ED-IF II