Photo essay wild card

This week I completed my first photo essay. It was quite a lesson in dealing with the public.

The photo essay consisted of photographs from the H1N1 immunization clinic at Robert Usher Collegiate in Regina. My task was to take photographs in and around the clinic. In preparation for the task I made calls to the health region, got permission, checked in with the nurse on site when I arrived and ensured everyone in charge knew who I was, what I was doing and that I had permission to be there. Everything was in place and I started snapping.

What I didn't think about was the human factor.

I arrived at the clinic moments before it opened for the day. There were approximately 50 people waiting to get their shot. I snapped photographs of people in line, the registration desk, the room; very general shots, no close ups.

One woman was not impressed with my camera. She threatened to call security, demanded I stop shooting, yelled at me to stop what I was doing immediately.

I explained that I had permission to do what I was doing, assured her she was not in my shots, in fact no one really was at that point. I suggested she remain calm but to feel free to call security if she wanted verification.

She did not call security.

As I continued and eventually moved to close-ups, I asked permission and was greeted with very eager and willing people. I left with some photographs that I feel capture the mood and environment of the clinic.

In the end I was reminded about the wild-card that public places throw at us. I have worked filming video in public places before but was never treated as I was in this instance. There is something very personal and almost intimate about a camera and I respect that not all people are comfortable being on film.

This experience was a good reminder to do research, get permission and be ready for adverse reactions.