Photojournalist Harassed at Public Photo Shoot Amidst Fake Snow and “Secret" Adidas Shoes

We all know journalists are getting pushed around on the political beat these days, but during a commercial photo shoot on the streets of Chicago? That’s what happened to Chicago Tribune photographer Anthony Souffle yesterday as he came upon an Adidas advertising shoot in public.

According to an article in the Tribune, Souffle received an email from his assignment editor, asking him to check out the scene at Dearborn and Lake streets where fake snow was covering the crosswalk amidst perplexed passersby.

“Sure enough, as I rounded the corner near State and Lake, I could see the snow," Souffle wrote. "It was a bit of an odd sight, and clearly the countless pedestrians passing by had no idea what to make of it. ‘What’s going on?’ one woman asked. Others stopped to take photos with their phones. Even more just stood and gawked.”

The problem arose when Souffle crossed the street, framed up a shot and was immediately confronted by a member of the crew, explaining that since the new running shoes worn by the model had yet to be launched he could not take a photo.

“As I tried to take another photograph, a woman from the crew grabbed my camera and tried to block me from photographing the model wearing the Adidas shoes. As I tried to move away from her, a man with a fake snow machine on his back told me if he wasn’t working right now that he’d ‘take care’ of me, whatever that means, before pointing his fake snow gun at my camera and spraying me.”

As Souffle added, all he was attempting to do is what other folks around him were doing with their smartphones. So much for the advantages of pro gear.

But the way, if you’d like a secret lock box for your precious negatives or memory cards  like the one pictured above, they’re available online from a shop in the UK. Padlock not included.

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