Photographers Shooting in West Virginia Reportedly Damn Near Get Shot
A Twilight Zone Moment brought to you by ordinary people in an ordinary place who choose to fear an ordinary couple out taking ordinary photographs. With an extraordinarily dangerous result.
Photographer Marisha Camp and her brother Jessie were recently passing through West Virginia on a nationwide tour for a documentary series when they were reportedly confronted by “a hostile mob.” The residents were suspicious of the photo taking and allegedly harassed and detained the duo until a trooper arrived and escorted the photographers from the scene.
Above is a news report about the incident that aired on local NBC station WVVA, which reports that it received phone calls, emails, and Facebook messages from parents concerned about their children’s safety.
The messages accused the photographers of taking pictures as they traveled through each town — images that included “pictures of some children” that were captured without permission.
More: Photographers Shooting in West Virginia Reportedly Harassed and Detained by ‘Mob’
Out in public, photography is not a crime. Nor a threat. Nor an invasion of privacy. Lay a hand on or trap a photographer and it could be a crime. Like unlawful detainment, or perhaps assault depending on how far out of control events show. It’s in fact a protected activity. Much to celebrities discomfort when followed by the worst of the paparazzi. BTW video at the link, can’t embed flash.