It’s probably happened to all of you.
You zero in on a photo you’d like to take and then others stand in front of you or somewhere close to where you’re trying to get that memorable picture.
In essence you’ve been photo cock blocked.
Now some of you might be wondering WTF am I talking about!
For those of you unsure of the term:
“Cockblock is a slang term for an action, intentional or not, that serves to prevent someone from having sex. Such behavior is often motivated by jealousy, or competitiveness, although it is sometimes accidental, or inadvertent. A cockblock or cockblocker is a person who engages in such obstruction or intervention,” according to Wikipedia.
So no sex was involved while trying to get that memorable photo and it could very well have been done accidentally, but like I’ve mentioned above this is what it looks like to get photo cock blocked.
The best example I have of this happening was during a visit to Florence, Italy.
We wanted to take a photo of/ with the David replica in the Piazza della Signoria. I was hoping to get a decent jumping photo and then this happened.
Rather than get mad, I figured it would be better to have some fun.
I may have even gotten them back.
Then I finally got my jumping photo!
Next it was Kim’s turn to try to get in a photo. While I got ready to take the shot, some other visitors decided to get a closer look at David.
I guess they couldn’t wait and didn’t see Kim standing there trying to have a picture taken.
Then another photo cock blocking tourist decided to stand close by.
Kim waited it out and finally got a photo with David all to herself!
Have you ever been photo cock blocked? I’m willing to bet that you have!
(While talking about this problem with Kim, she came up with what might be a more appropriate name for what took place: shot- blocked.)
Danny- Nobody does own the sidewalk but it’s called courtesy and manners to wait a moment if somebody is trying to take a photo. Of course there are also instances where a photo being taken might block traffic and that would be a different story…
I just walk on my merry way. I think it is best for people taking pictures to wait for the people to clear first. If there is room to go around the back of them I will surely do that.
No one owns the sidewalk / pavement.
Rich- I totally agree!
Erica- When kids are involved I think people understand and its a bit different. If you look at my photos above, you’ll see that people just walk right in front, behind or next to us while we tried taking pictures! (BTW- Middle of walkways/ very busy places are tricky!)
Karen- Those sound like ideal situations when someone accidentally gets in the way of your picture!
If I was already in position for taking a photo of something/one and someone stands too close, I’ll say smile and get ready to shoot their picture and most people “opps” their way out of the shoot.
I know I have unintentionally done it to other people. It’s tricky when someone has stopped right in the middle of a walkway to take a photo. Usually I’m more focused on making sure my kids don’t run into anyone than making sure we don’t get in someone’s photo.
I call it totally rude and lacking in any sense of courtesy! As to your question: Yup, many times —