A wedding photographer at the centre of a row with vicars that has sparked an intervention by a former archbishop has called for the two camps to put aside their differences and work in peaceful harmony.

Last week more than 900 wedding photographers signed a petition started by photographer Rachel Roberts, who urged vicars to “improve” their working conditions after complaints that some clergymen and women had been making it difficult to take photos inside church premises.

It stated that “problematic vicars” were more often than not “rude, humiliating, aggressive and abusive”. In a viral video on TikTok seen by more than 2m, one vicar is seen pausing a service to prevent a photographer from taking shots.

Former archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams waded into the debate, conceding that while vicars could be “irritating” that there are two sides to every story and it was not unreasonable to ask photographers to behave.

Roberts said tension between photographers and the clergy has been an ongoing issue in the industry for so long that she had to “light the flame under the community” and make sure people did something about it.

Roberts who is 37 and from Lincoln said: “Everyone’s just kind of sitting back and taking it lying down. And you know, from the perspective of the priests and vicars, they’re probably like, ‘oh, they just come in here and they do all this,’ and no one’s actually started a conversation about it.

“I think regardless of what vicars think we do, in terms of our behaviour, there’s never ever a reason to justify aggression and public humiliation, especially at someone’s wedding, like it is not the time and the place.

“Something needed to be started – it just took off because everyone felt so strongly about it, but also, because if it is anyone that you wouldn’t expect to be aggressive and publicly rude. It’s a vicar.”

Roberts also said that in her six years as a professional photographer she had had an experience working in a church where a vicar prohibited photography during a wedding ceremony and asked to set some up at the end, like two or three pose ones, but it meant missing key moments like the bride being walked down the aisle by her father.

She added: “They basically forget the fact that two people are getting married, and it’s the most important day of their lives. They put their own objectives and their own rules first and forget the reason why we’re all actually here.

“I don’t want to be seen as vicar bashing. I think people are relieved that I’m doing it in such a way so that we’re not falling out with priests and vicars. We’re actually trying to build bridges and move forward.”

Lambeth Palace has been approached for comment.

Famous actor and avid photographer Jason Lee, best known for his eponymous role in NBC’s hit sitcom My Name Is Earl, recently opened a photography shop and camera store in Los Angeles with fellow photographer Raymond Molinar.

The aptly named Eagle Rock Camera & Goods, located at 1754 Colorado Boulevard in LA’s Eagle Rock neighborhood, may not yet have a fully-realized website but the shop opened late last year and has played host to guest speakers like Jerry Hsu and Greg Hunt.

Jason Lee, 53, has quite an eclectic career. He dropped out of high school in southern California to pursue professional skateboarding, turning pro in 1988 before retiring in 1996.

He had a few minor acting roles in the early 1990s and made his film debut in Kevin Smith’s 1995 cult classic Mallrats. Lee then earned leading roles in Heartbreakers, Stealing Harvard, and more, alongside supporting roles in major motion pictures including Vanilla Sky and Dreamcatcher. Lee is perhaps best known for his award-winning spell as Earl Hickey in NBC’s My Name is Earl, which ran for four seasons from 2005 through 2009.

Beyond skating and acting, Lee also got bitten by the photography bug. He began shooting regularly in the early 2000s and has published multiple photography books, including A Plain View in 2018.

Last spring, Lee’s name crossed PetaPixel‘s radar when he and other celebrities joined a Magnum Photos Square Print Sale.

In a 2022 interview with Japan Camera Hunter, Lee says after a few years of filming skateboarding, he dove headfirst into photography starting in 2002 when he bought a Leica M6 and Mamiya RZ67 medium format camera. Lee has long stuck with film photography, and analog equipment is the primary focus of the new Eagle Rock Camera & Goods shop.

“It’s just all I’ve known,” Lee tells Japan Camera Hunter of his love affair with analog photography. “And it’s incomparable. You can really feel film when you see it, even when it’s been scanned and digitally printed. And it’s archival.”

Eagle Rock Camera & Goods sells film cameras, film, camera and photo accessories, and photography books. It looks like a must-visit location for any photography enthusiasts living in or visiting the Los Angeles area.

The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday, and its complete hours are available on Instagram.

Image credits: Header photo created with an image licensed via Depositphotos.

In a disturbing breach of privacy, a 27-year-old man, identified as Shai Christopher Melendez, was apprehended on Sunday in a Waco retail store for allegedly taking invasive photographs of a woman. The incident, which took place in the 5400 block of Bosque Boulevard, has sparked concerns over surveillance and personal safety in public spaces.

Alert Employee Thwarts Privacy Invasion

An observant store employee was the first to notice Melendez’s suspicious behavior, as he appeared to be following a specific customer while clandestinely taking pictures up her skirt with his cell phone. Alarmed by his actions, the employee promptly alerted the unsuspecting customer and contacted the police. The swift response led to Melendez’s arrest, with officers seizing his cell phone and securing store security footage on a flash drive as evidence. A witness statement from the store employee further bolstered the case against Melendez.

Legal Ramifications and Public Reaction

Following his arrest, Melendez was charged with improper photography or visual recording, a state jail felony, underscoring the seriousness of his actions. As he remained in McLennan County Jail awaiting bond determination, the incident has ignited a broader discussion on the rights to privacy and the need for vigilance in public spaces. Community members and privacy advocates are calling for stricter penalties and more robust protections to deter such invasive behavior and safeguard individuals’ dignity.

Enhancing Security Measures in Public Spaces

In response to the incident, retail stores in the area are re-evaluating their security protocols, with some considering increased surveillance and employee training on how to handle similar situations. The goal is to create a safer environment for customers and prevent future privacy violations. Legal experts also emphasize the importance of awareness and education in combatting such offenses, encouraging individuals to remain alert and report suspicious activities to authorities.

This unsettling event serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in maintaining personal privacy in the digital age. As technology continues to evolve, so too must the measures to protect against its misuse. Community members, retailers, and law enforcement agencies are urged to collaborate in fostering a culture of respect and safety, ensuring that public spaces remain welcoming and secure for everyone.

Kate Bakhuyzen

Kate and some of her friends at Unity jujitsu.

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When junior Kate Bakhuyzen took her boyfriend to one of her jujitsu classes, it resulted in a bloody nose and a funny memory for both of them.

Jujitsu is a form of martial art and fighting; it does not use weapons, instead, it utilizes the enemy’s energy against them and involves moves like holds and takedowns. 

Kate has been practicing the art of jujitsu for around two years at Unity (a Martial Arts School) in Grand Rapids. She enjoys doing jujitsu because of the surplus of skills she gains both physically and mentally. 

“[Jujitsu is] oddly calming,” Kate said. “not a lot of people get the opportunity to let their anger out, so I feel very fortunate that I have that outlet; I have really bad ADHD so it calms me down the next day.”

Kate is a fourth-degree white belt, which is one step below a blue belt—which is two belts below a black belt. Throughout her time participating in jujitsu, she has gained an abundance of traits and attributes that improve her everyday life. She has not always won in jujitsu, and because of jujitsu, she has become better at accepting her losses.

“I’ve learned a lot about patience and a lot about losing,” Kate said. “It takes a lot of determination because you will fail and never stop failing, even when you’re a black belt.”

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One of the aspects of her sport Kate loves is the community she has found. She enjoys spending her time at lessons with all of the friends she has made. 

With her experience of jujitsu, she would recommend it to others. It provides knowledge in many skills regarding self-defense.

“I would encourage people to do jujitsu, especially girls,” Kate said. “I think all girls should know at least a little bit of jujitsu because it’s all ground fighting. For women, it is very important self-defense that we all [should] know. ”

Another hobby Kate enjoys spending her time with is photography. She does Macro photography—a type of close-up photography that involves photographing small objects to make them appear life-sized or larger in the picture than they are in reality. 

Kate has taken photos of many different subjects including flowers, trees, plants, and animals. She has also taken photographs at places like Fredrick Meijer Gardens where they have an abundance of plant life. One of her favorite photos features a bonsai tree.

“I took a photo of a bonsai tree and I like it because it makes you feel like you’re inside of the tree,” Kate said. “I follow the natural curve line of the tree, and it just looks cool.”

Taking photos allows Kate to express herself. She is very creative and loves the outlet to display her creativity. One skill she excels at is playing with sunlight and capturing it in many different ways.

“I really love that I’m able to capture small moments in life and just show it to other people,” Kate said. “[Photography makes me] really proud because I’m not good at drawing, but I’m an artist. It’s a way for me to convey my creativity in a skillful way.”

Though her two hobbies seem to be different from in each other most ways, they do have their similarities. Traits she has learned from photography have carried over into jujitsu and vice versa. Kate has applied valuable aspects of both photography and jujitsu into her life and they allow her to express herself in different ways. 

“Noticing small details in photography helps with jujitsu because you need to notice every little thing the person is doing,” Kate said. “Then, the patience that I learned in jujitsu helps with photography and getting the right shot.”