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05/24/2005 02:27:31 PM · #1 |
Do you find that in encounters with other photographers in public they are unfriendly? Is there some competitive thing that makes them so? I went to the Zoo on Sunday and I have a tendency as all of you probably do to size up what kind of camera, etc. other people have, lol. The railing was pretty full by the gorilla pen but I found a spot next to a man with a pretty massive lens. (I tried not to stare, lol) I didn't see what it was but it looked like something you would use if you shoot a lot of wildlife. (and I don't mean hunting). Anyways, I looked at his camera, etc. and I'm a friendly sort of person and try to be polite so I asked to make sure I was not in his shot in any way as I was on his right and he was shooting towards the right. He barely even grunted at me, let alone looked at me, lol. Was he just a old grumpy guy or do photographers not like to chat other people up? He wasn't shooting when I was speaking to him, btw.
Are there some kind of unwritten photographers rules I should learn? Some etiquette I don't know about? Like no speaking while at the gorilla pen, etc.
Just curious, it got me thinking and wondering...........
Give me your thoughts ~
Laura
Message edited by author 2005-05-24 14:28:29. |
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05/24/2005 02:30:44 PM · #2 |
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05/24/2005 02:31:26 PM · #3 |
| Well, beings that anyone with some cash can get into photography and jerks are found everywhere, it figures that a fair portion of photographers will be jerks. Not me of course! |
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05/24/2005 02:32:14 PM · #4 |
I've found most encounters with other photographers to be a great experience. They're usually friendly, and we end up talking a lot about our respective cameras and what not.
You probably just got one of those rare grumpy types.. or maybe he was a newspaper stringer.. those tend to be (at least around here), very standoffish. We have one particular newspaper photographer here that is about as anti-social as one can get. Always a scowl on his face. He came to a gymnastics meet that I was shooting once, and was so gruff with the girls that I was ready to go over and smack him a good one. lol.
Anyway.. yah, occasionally you get a bad apple, but in my experience, it's mostly a pleasant, positive thing.
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05/24/2005 02:36:13 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Picture This:
Like no speaking while at the gorilla pen, etc.
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LOL OK this gave me the giggles at work. Honestly if you think about it there all sorts of absurd "potential rules" in every walk of life. Ever pull up beside someone at the light and just happen to glance over and catch their eye. I always smile, but I have gotten all sorts of reactions in return; Some people smile, some look frightened, others leer and some people are just so wrapped up in their own world they just grunt.
I wouldn't take it to heart, the guy was probably just in the zone and didn't realize his manners were on par with the gorillas. |
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05/24/2005 02:37:22 PM · #6 |
He was probably envious of your S3 Pro or maybe its a case of 'big lens small d*ck'!
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05/24/2005 02:40:37 PM · #7 |
I think that some people can be camera snob's and if you don't have equipment atleast as good as there's therefor you must be a
novice and a nuisanse, and certianly not worth there time.
And I have also came across those people that have money to spend on
camera equipment and yet have no talent, and think that they are better
than me because of it. Those are the ones that I consider a nuisanse.
edit: most people though are really cool and camera talk is usually appreciated!
Message edited by author 2005-05-24 14:41:17. |
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05/24/2005 02:40:38 PM · #8 |
Maybe I should have smacked this guy a good one, lol. I had to ask though because since I'm still at the amateur/learning stage I don't often encounter other photographers. I tend to take photos close to home. And honestly, around home my equipment is better than anyones I encounter, lol. Its a lot of school Moms! So I'm used to them admiring my equipment.
When i'm out though I jerk a knot in my neck whipping my head around as people walk by with fancy cameras. (My husband notices and says "you were looking at their camera weren't you?) I guess I just expected this man to feel some type of commonality with me, lol. Like we're members of the same club. Or maybe I'm just a bit too social and expect others to be.
There was however a nice man without a camera who said "What size is that lens, you must be able to get right up close". Thats the kind of people I like, now if he had just had a camera around his neck we could have chatted about. Instead I smiled and said "70-300mm, yes, pretty close!"
Well glad to hear he was just grumpy and that future encounters may be more pleasurable, lol. |
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05/24/2005 02:44:13 PM · #9 |
I was at the Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona, there next to me was a group of people with 2 Canon Cameras. One lady had either a 1st gen Digital Rebel, or some other canon eos digital ive never seen. I saw she had just a basic lens on there. And for it being a meteor crater a wide angle is a must. I said 'Hey, is that an EOS model?' and she replied 'yes'. I said would you like to borrow my Wide Angle lens for a couple of shots? And her husband looked puzzled, but she quickly said 'oh that'd be great'.
Not all photographers are mean :D
Message edited by author 2005-05-24 14:44:45. |
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05/24/2005 02:44:18 PM · #10 |
Everyone should share! :-)
Message edited by author 2005-05-24 14:44:39. |
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05/24/2005 02:46:14 PM · #11 |
just think you were able to walk away from him... he had to go home with himself... ;)
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05/24/2005 02:46:59 PM · #12 |
Ok, you guys are amusing me.
First, Lindsey. I do the same thing, I smile at strangers. I'm fairly friendly, but In the same respect not so nice. Because if they don't smile back, I'm thinking a$$hole :)
Mike, that sounds closer to the truth. It was a pretty big lens, lol.
and SuperDave, to be honest, my camera was better than his, but his lens was better than mine, lol. So I'd call it a draw! |
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05/24/2005 02:55:33 PM · #13 |
| Most photog's are happy to chat about equipment, to help a novice photog with exposure advice, to impart simple wisedoms, and even let you step in to shoot when they are done. There are always jerks in every field, you just met one. |
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05/24/2005 02:59:37 PM · #14 |
This reminds me of a game my 5 year old plays with her friend when we're in the car. They call it sweet and sour. With the windows down they shout "Hi" to any pedestrian we pass, if the person says "Hi" back, the girls giggle and say "oooh she's/he's sweet" and if the person doesn't say anything they say "oooh he's/she's sour", then I giggle.
Sounds like that photographer was sour. |
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05/24/2005 03:06:03 PM · #15 |
Maybe he was deaf or hard of hearing?
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05/24/2005 03:08:58 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by les0910:
This reminds me of a game my 5 year old plays with her friend when we're in the car. They call it sweet and sour. With the windows down they shout "Hi" to any pedestrian we pass, if the person says "Hi" back, the girls giggle and say "oooh she's/he's sweet" and if the person doesn't say anything they say "oooh he's/she's sour", then I giggle.
Sounds like that photographer was sour. |
Lol... that's cute. |
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05/24/2005 03:09:43 PM · #17 |
Since I normally shoot alone; I have a mp3 player plugged into my ears, but not too loud that I can't hear the outside world. Sometimes I people will ask to help them take a picture. No big deal.
I normally don't talk to folks unless they have the same equipment. It's good to get opinions. If someone starts talking to me I will usually chitchat a bit.
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05/24/2005 03:11:19 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by les0910:
This reminds me of a game my 5 year old plays with her friend when we're in the car. They call it sweet and sour. With the windows down they shout "Hi" to any pedestrian we pass, if the person says "Hi" back, the girls giggle and say "oooh she's/he's sweet" and if the person doesn't say anything they say "oooh he's/she's sour", then I giggle.
Sounds like that photographer was sour. |
I usually wave back and then take their pictures. Of course my DCPrints site is posted on my side window so If they want a print they can contact me :)
Message edited by author 2005-05-24 15:12:32. |
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05/24/2005 03:12:15 PM · #19 |
I have to agree with the others that you are bound to run into a certain amount of "jerks".
My husband and I had the most interesting experience, recently, of being at a "photographers only" shooting event. The photographers ranged from rank amateurs (we were two of that category!), to some that had several Canon 1Ds II's and lenses as long as I am tall. The majority were friendly, chatty and helpful, even lending/sharing equipment,advice, and stories. There were also a couple of "crabs" that would barely speak to the commoners! LOL!!
We had a great time and learned alot, and didn't let the crabs bother us. |
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05/24/2005 03:12:31 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by Picture This:
Maybe I should have smacked this guy a good one, |
Yes you should have!!!
I have met other photographers out there and it has always been a pleasure and enriching experience.
I agree some tend to be "stuck-up"s but after a couple of funny remarks they crack up and teach you all their secrets. lol
Once you see one of those snobs, just be more self-secured and make them feel you know you're better then them, regardless of your type of camera. The curiosity of what you do eventually will kill their attitude.
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05/24/2005 03:14:09 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by Picture This:
Ok, you guys are amusing me.
First, Lindsey. I do the same thing, I smile at strangers. I'm fairly friendly, but In the same respect not so nice. Because if they don't smile back, I'm thinking a$$hole :) |
We must be related. I do the exact same thing. The A word (edited for the younger viewers) is my favourite inner petty girl word. If someone doesn't use their blinker it's automatically "nice blinker A." If someone doesn't say thank you when I hold open the door, inside it's "you're welcome A."
Which makes me sound grumpy, which I'm not. I just have a sarcastic inner child.
BTW (and I never do this) I absolutely LOVE your Free Study picture. I just added it to my very sort list of favourites. A feature I almost never remember to use.
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05/24/2005 03:15:24 PM · #22 |
There's always a kind of understanding between serious amateur photographers - like a glance, a nod, or a smile - to acknowledge the addiction I guess. Many are quite happy to chat up with you to talk about shared experiences (like my wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend will kill me if he/she knew I've bought a new equipment).
A funny thing happened to us during last Sunday's small Chicago GTG at the Chicago Botanical Garden. A guy set up his gear in front of the waterfalls (right in front, obstructing the view and was taking pictures of something else... what a jerk, I thought to myself ... turned out he was actually a great guy). Upon seeing this, we set up ours too, near him. Sooner, three others lined up their tripods/monopods beside us, and others who didn't have, stopped by chatted. At one point, there were about 8 or so of us plus several who stopped for a moment and took pictures of what we were taking. It was hilarious. We chatted up with them, compared notes and later on pointed them out to dpc. One of them whipped out his web-enabled phone and registered right there and then (upon which he said my wife will kill me).
Here's a snapshot of the meeting of sorts (the tall guy is milo655321):
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05/24/2005 03:16:12 PM · #23 |
If I'm in the middle of taking a shot, you'll hardly ever get more than a grunt out of me. Just too much going on in my head.
The rest of the time I'm a nice guy.
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05/24/2005 03:16:14 PM · #24 |
| Even more weird about this situation is when a female photographer talks to you and if you were a guy wouldn't you chitchat. :P |
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05/24/2005 03:16:53 PM · #25 |
| Which side of the glass was the gorilla on? ;-) |
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