I decided I wanted to try leaving my house (for once...I don't get out a lot) to try and get a slightly more interesting backdrop. There's a parking lot relatively near with all kinds of neat textures, crumbling concrete, plants, fences, etc. Just to try something new, you know? Anywho, I put on my makeup, my outfit, grab my camera, tripod, and head off into the big wide world.
I'm setting up to shoot in a parking lot so I'm extra EXTRA aware of my surroundings, being sure to stay out of the way of any potential incoming or outgoing traffic. I hear a car's engine start, so I move myself and my camera to a place where I know there is no way I could be in the way. So I'm focusing on setting up a new shot, framing things, fiddling with my camera, all that nonsense. I no longer hear the car so I assume whoever was in it is long gone, doing whatever they set out to do. Turns out I was wrong. The guy driving the car apparently started his car, pulled out, saw me, then parked again, and was now walking in my direction...Super, I just love it when random strangers approach me while I'm in the middle of trying to do something.
I notice him, and say "Can I help you?" the most Canadian way of saying "What the hell do you want from me? Please go away." I'm polite, but I make no effort at being friendly or conversational. Apparently this is too subtle. He starts talking at me (not to me, that would imply I'm a willing participant in this conversation), and I do my upmost to make it clear that I'm in the middle of something and even if I did want converse with a complete stranger, now is NOT A GREAT TIME. Again, I guess I was too subtle.
I'm no expert photographer, videographer...whatever, but I do know that good lighting is absolutely key to getting a decent image, and this guy was wasting good daylight.
I get that I'm in a public space. I understand that I'm wearing somewhat over the top makeup and fashion. I'm a random girl with a camera, doing something slightly out of the ordinary. I get why someone might want to come over and investigate the situation. I have nothing against curiosity, but that didn't seem to be this person's driving force. The only curiosity he seemed to have was for my phone number, and seeing as he hadn't made the finest first impression (wasting time & good light) I wasn't super inclined to give it to him. In the end, he wouldn't leave till he gave me his business card.
Overall the interaction was uncomfortable, it left me anxious and annoyed. In the end, I decided to give up on shooting outside, and retreated back home. That negativity stuck with my for a while, and I really wasn't happy with any of the shots I got.
I'm an anxious person. I'm wary of strangers. That said, I don't want to let this interaction reinforce my anxieties, or villainies this random stranger. I simply wish that this stranger had been a bit more observant, aware of the situation, or the signals I was clearly (in my opinion) giving off: I'm busy, you're making me uncomfortable, please just move along. Maybe it's on me, maybe I should be more direct, more assertive, but that doesn't come easily, and honestly, there's a part of me that's scared that any perceived rudeness might will be met with violence.
I just wish things had gone differently.
End of rant, sorry about that.
