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October 3, 2004

So there I was on the sunny weekend morning racing through Wolfe’s Pond Park on my inline skates. Something I do every weekend. Upon stopping at the step leading down to the beach, I noticed I was being videotaped. Not intentionally a woman was just scanning her camcorder around the whole park.

I stopped at my favorite bench and began to wonder how many people have caught be on video or clicked pictures of me. Whether I’m on my skates at the park. Or when I’m just strolling down Astor Place or elsewhere.

Obviously, I’m not the only one this has happened too and I’m sure I have clicked pictures of plenty of people I’ve never met and probably never will be at Disney World, on a snorkeling trip or wherever.

Most of the time, I like to take pictures of scenery to be it the trees, waves, crystal clear blue water or historic buildings, etc. I prefer my shots with no one. Of course, when with family I take plenty of shots and can be a picture hog.

But I often wonder when people aimlessly scan their cameras be it video or DSLR do they care if they are taking pix of people they nothing about? What will they think ten years from now when they rummage through their photo albums and show them to friends. Are they ever asked did they know that nut job on his skates with his Depeche Mode t-shirt? Or do they just not care? Not sure if I do or should.

But years from now do you think they’d recognize the person they shot if they were on the same line as them in McDonald’s or squished in the same crowded subway car? No.

But what if they did? Do you ever see people who stare at you strangely? Sort of like they are trying to place your face. Or those who say hey did I know you from somewhere. Maybe that person clicked your pix years ago and was rummaging through their photo album. And by some coincidence, you just happened to be on the same line in Banana Republic with that individual.

‘Ya never know.