Its probably safer to avoid people, the way things are today, you don't have any idea what or who you are dealing with, which is kind of a shame, whats the harm in asking to take a photo or inquiring about something that is sitting and might be available for sale, you don't know until you ask. Of course, there is nothing wrong with doing that, if that is all you are asking, but as to how receptive the person is that is behind that door is a gamble.
The problem is, too many others out there with less than desirable intentions or motives, you can't blame a person being wary, on edge or defensive when approached.
If were me, I'd want to think of a way to approach someone with highly visible credible intentions, ask if you can take a photo, show em an I.D. business card ( all which could be fake I suppose, but whats a person to do ?) talk about your interest in old things, farms or what have you and be very grateful for someone allowing you to do that and for their time, you don't want to bother someone that is busy working. Even then, you don't know when or where you may run into someone with a loaded shotgun LOL !
I'm apprehensive of any strangers, I tend to make sure I know my surroundings, and look up, around and keep some kind of mental inventory of same, knowing the potential exists for a person or a situation to turn volatile, I've seen it too many times, and in one case lost a good friend who was shot point blank in the face by a stranger who approached him asking for direction, with the real intention of robbery/murder. Make no mistake about it, when approached by anyone, the wheels are already spinning long beforehand, the slightest sense of something awry or off, my thought process and actions change immediately.
I like the more rural areas around here, as people still wave to you, the last time I did a tractor trailer run across over into Vermont, all along my route people near the roads, wave and smile, that's how it should be, most of those would be happy allow a photo or meet, have a brief conversation, the way it should be. Within those, you will still find those whom you may ask about that long idled machine, tractor, equipment sitting, that will tell you its not for sale and I will die with it as it rusts into the earth LOL!
I know others who are so regimented, that any interruption or extended conversation, beyond business or whatever you may be dealing with them on, is cut off or kept to a minimum, some people are very friendly, will talk your ear off, others are busy, focused and have no time to waste in their day, owner of the diesel shop across the road is like that, always very polite but to the point, brief and on to the next thing, not sure if he's even capable of what many consider a BS session LOL !! Might just be at work too, a lot of people are cut and dry like that, always pays to be polite and brief.
