Earlier this month, photographer Nickolette Mottola visited a public park to take photos of her friend’s children. Despite being at a public property, an angry woman showed up and began screaming at everyone involved in the photoshoot. Her meltdown got everyone distressed, and apparently – this wasn’t the first time she did something like this.
Before you watch the video, I gotta warn you: there’s some strong language in it. The woman threw a tantrum, screaming profanities at Mottola, as well as things like: “This is not your professional studio!” and “This is a park for kids and children and people!” Her explosive rage terrified the poor kids, and you can hear them crying in the video.
According to Coral Springs Talk, the woman lives next to the park. Before she showed up and made the scene, her husband appeared first. Reportedly, he showed up behind the fence and accused Mottola that what she was doing was illegal. His tantrum-throwing wife appeared when they were already packing up.
Mottola’s boyfriend Angel Ruiz filmed the video, and he says that there were six other people at the park taking photos at the same time. When he posted the video on Facebook, he was informed that this woman recently sprayed another photographer with a pressure washer through the fence.
Coral Springs Talk contacted Louis Goldstein, Assistant Director Parks and Recreation for the City of Coral Springs regarding this incident. He said that “if a family wants to utilize a public park, they have every right to be there.” But if a professional photographer is involved, then they need a permit. Mottola was taking photos of her friend’s children, and she was not conducting a professional business at that moment.
As far as I know, the rule is more or less the same in all public parks. If you don’t set up a tripod, a light stand, and other bulky photo gear, you can shoot all you want. Some exceptions emerge from time to time, though. If you organize a professional photo shoot, you will usually need a permit.
I’m sure many of you have been through unpleasant situations when shooting in public. If nothing else, people will just stare at you and make you feel unpleasant. There were a couple of occasions when I was chased away, too. But nobody ever was this furious when I was shooting on a public land. this woman apparently lives near the park, but as Ruiz said to Coral Springs Talk: “It’s like living behind a train station and being upset about trains.”
Have you had any similar experiences? What’s the most unpleasant experience you had while shooting in public?
[via FStoppers, Coral Springs Talk]
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