View Full Version : do you feel geeky
When i take my camera out in my lowepro bag , i feel quite geeky, at times i hang my head in shame, i normaly feel like this when im in a normal place where no one else has a big bulky camera, not when im at an event.
Does anyone else feel the same?
Nope, not even my girlfriend hanging her head in shame at being seen with me & my camera can make me feel like that :lol:
Why should you feel like that at all though, if you have trouble at all, just act like you're with the local paper or something & have every right to be there (which you do)
Looking & feeling confident about having your camera & an ability that not everyone will have to capture great images should be a good thing, not something to be embarrassed about!
Just have fun taking pics & don't worry about what anyone thinks would be my advice :thumbs:
Take out a big camera and people assume you are a professional, you only give them a clue that you arnt when you act embarassed/nervous. :)
blinkerz
06-09-2007, 03:01
having a camera is great and its not something to i would ever hide, i love it..never hide and people will think your professional and doing something important...
PaulDCocker
06-09-2007, 06:16
We spend hours on an internet forum, obsess over new CCD's, lenses, megapixels, and despair when the light is poor or we have dust spots...
... what's geeky about that? :geek: :lol:
When i take my camera out in my lowepro bag , i feel quite geeky, at times i hang my head in shame, i normaly feel like this when im in a normal place where no one else has a big bulky camera, not when im at an event.
Does anyone else feel the same?
Only when I turn up with my lowepro bag, open it up and carfully lift out my Fuji A345 :) (seriously though dsb, I do understand where you're coming from).
the only thing that bothers me about taking my camera out in a public place is attracting the wrong kind of attention, i.e thieves etc.
davidbridges
06-09-2007, 07:22
the only thing that bothers me about taking my camera out in a public place is attracting the wrong kind of attention, i.e thieves etc.
Totally agree, especially at my age aswell.
I love it, gladly go out with my kit and bag, people look and smile, and some even talk to you, so much of a buzz.
sambonebs
06-09-2007, 07:40
I'm proud to whip mine out whenever I get the chance, and the camera!
Seriously though, I never feel funny taking my 400D out when I'm not at an event, I know I'll have a decent photographic record of whatever is going on. Even when I've got say, my 28-135 and my 430EX mounted and the camera is looking pretty huge, it's all good!
Actually, on POTN there's a long thread about all the comments people have received with a big lens on - and there's some corkers on there. They're mainly related for the larger zooms, but there's even some for the kit lens!
I used to feel a bit self conscious but nowadays it's just a case of ignoring what's going on around and concentrating on what needs to be done.
richmond
06-09-2007, 08:50
I'm still reluctant to take out and use my 'big' camera anywhere other than a tourist spot.
The 'pretend you are the press' idea sounds good, I'll give it a try.
Messiah Khan
06-09-2007, 08:51
Im a geek and im proud of it!:geek::D But what is geekyness though? Being passionate about something that might not be seen as trendy or cool? I don't care what people are passionate about as long as they have a passion (And a passion for drinking cider and beating people up doesn't count). Plenty of people have hobbies that even I might think of as 'geeky', but if it brings them pleasure and it doesn't hurt anyone them who am I to complain. So embrace your geekyness and be proud! :thumbs:
Raymond Lin
06-09-2007, 08:57
Not geeky but self aware when i have the camera out, its more of a security thing than what other's are thinking of me thou. As for the bag, I have a crumpler geekstar, it looks nothing like a typical camera bag so no one knows until i open it.
CScottMcQueen
06-09-2007, 09:01
Revel in your geekiness, praise it, be at ease with it. I work in IT i am used to it http://img99.exs.cx/img99/8577/yupi3ti.gif
Most of all 'just don't give a damn', ignore it. your out to enjoy yourself !!!!
Lady Pitstop
06-09-2007, 09:04
:D I don't feel geeky about the camera or bag (although I do tend to sling the camera in my big leather handbag!!! very girly I know :lol::lol:) It's when the tripod comes out that I feel a bit 'self conscious' - it makes people think that you know what you're doing, when I don't usually have a clue, looks good though:lol:
Do they make camera bags in pink?? Just a thought ;)
Ajophotog
06-09-2007, 09:13
There you are leaning on a fence trying to get the shot of the leopard thinking I crop a little when I get home. But do you feel slight inadequate when standing next to someone taking the same shot pulls out a bigger lens then you've got :lol::lol:
theMusicMan
06-09-2007, 09:17
Nope - don't feel geeky at all, in fact, I love it. As Mole2K suggests, if you act nervously when you take your camera out of your bag - then you may look somewhat daft and amateurish.
One mantra I always stick to and that is... "perception IS reality"!!
It's not necessarily the way you are that matters, but often more importantly it's the way you are perceived that counts. Act as a pro, and you'll be treated like a pro... :)
EDIT: Just remembered something that happened to me when I was just a naive 17yr old, and somewhat down on my luck. I don't actually know who sent me this, but I have a feeling that it was my Dad, who I adored and was my hero. I have a birthday card, no message written within it, just a slip of paper cut from a length of A4, about 2" high, with the words typed on it;
"Walk long, walk tall... and look the world right in the eye..."
... this has been with me through and through from that point forward, and I have shared the phrase with my now 17yr old son. I hope those words may help someone else who reads them - in the same manner as they have helped me through my life.
Im a geek and im proud of it!:geek::D But what is geekyness though? Being passionate about something that might not be seen as trendy or cool? I don't care what people are passionate about as long as they have a passion (And a passion for drinking cider and beating people up doesn't count). Plenty of people have hobbies that even I might think of as 'geeky', but if it brings them pleasure and it doesn't hurt anyone them who am I to complain. So embrace your geekyness and be proud! :thumbs:
Just what I was going to say!
Yep..immensely geeky, and proud of it! :D
EDIT: Just remembered something that happened to me when I was just a naive 17yr old, and somewhat down on my luck. I don't actually know who sent me this, but I have a feeling that it was my Dad, who I adored and was my hero. I have a birthday card, no message written within it, just a slip of paper cut from a length of A4, about 2" high, with the words typed on it;
"Walk long, walk tall... and look the world right in the eye..."
... this has been with me through and through from that point forward, and I have shared the phrase with my now 17yr old son. I hope those words may help someone else who reads them - in the same manner as they have helped me through my life.
:'( :thumbs:
Thats ace! I like that. Great mantra to live by.
Mine at the moment is from Geoff Thompson...."I'll handle it"
"What's the worst that can happen?"....."Whatever it is...I'll handle it"
Works a treat :)
I like it when I go to Manchester Airport viewing park and there are some people with P&S cameras taking piccies of planes.
I then whip out the D200 with the 120-300 + TC attached and I get some 'what the bloody hell is that' looks.
Makes it all worthwhile.
Miss McT
06-09-2007, 10:03
ditto Ewan and MK :D
J Gordon
06-09-2007, 10:05
I like that MusicMan, particularly the 'look the world square in the eye'. Which I guess most of us do anyway through a viewfinder :)
As for the original question, yes I used to when first starting out, self conscious anyway, because people would often stop to talk as if I knew what I was doing back then. It's all part of a learning process and one day soon you'll wonder what you used to worry about.
geeky and proud of it!! :D:D
Mind you there have been occasions, at events, where we have got chatting to other togs with similar equipment and they have assumed the cameras are HIS!! Even though I am carrying both of them!! :bang:
theMusicMan
06-09-2007, 10:20
geeky and proud of it!! :D:D
Mind you there have been occasions, at events, where we have got chatting to other togs with similar equipment and they have assumed the cameras are HIS!! Even though I am carrying both of them!! :bang:
Hmmmm... I see a T-Shirt order for "The Cameras are mine... not HIS" printed on it :):)
Talking about geeky.... Wasn't it someone like Val Doonigan or Jim Reeves that sang a song something like... "Walk long, walk tall... and look the world right in the eye..."
David.
A quick google reveals it was Val Doonican and it was "Walk tall, walk straight..."
Still a very fitting line, irrespective of its origin I think :D
I know I act geeky lots of times, no question about it.
I feel geeky on these forums, not out there shooting. Out there I'm trying to express myself and let out my creativity. Hell, at times the camera has even been a social tool. The amount of people that I've cracked jokes with and the attention I get from my camera leaves me doubting I really look that geeky when I pull it out. And if I do look geeky, it seems to work!
Even if I do look geeky as hell, my girlfriend's definitely hot enough to make my looks not matter.
minky_monkey
06-09-2007, 12:35
Dunno about geeky, but I definitely feel selfconcious. Especially if I`m in town. Once I get into it, I`m fine.
digitalfailure
06-09-2007, 12:40
Yup, geeky to the point of leaving the bag at home......or is that lazy to the point of leaving it at home, I can never work it out, so i leave the bag at home to be safe.
Frankly, most people who see me with the D50 and the Sigma with a lens hood attached, they give me odd looks... as if I was a pervert trying to make them look nude even though they're fully dressed :p
Must be the glasses ;)
unclerichy
06-09-2007, 16:05
Geeky? Hell no. The girls dig an overweight guy in glasses with what looks like a handbag over his shoulder (I use a Lowepro 170AW). :naughty:
I'm sex on legs when I get my big zoom out.
I work in IT as well
I work in IT as well
It's likely I'll be working in IT next year, too.
unclerichy
06-09-2007, 16:29
It's likely I'll be working in IT next year, too.
sssh I don't think we've been spotted...
BUSTED!! I see the pair of you
I work in IT as well :)
antihero
06-09-2007, 16:37
I used to worry what people would think when they saw me lurking around in long grass and thistle beds...now I couldn't care less, if anything I think rambling is even more geeky! :)
I'd love to get some shots from the town, but am very wary of people eyeing up my gear, even though i'm a big guy and could look after myself.
I got all sorts of looks when I walked through town the other way with my 20d and 300mm f4 hanging from my hand. You get some comments from chavs generally speaking people avoid you if you are trying to take a picture as they assume you are a pro doing a job or you get people come up specifically to talk to you. I find it quite a social thing.
I'm proud to whip mine out whenever I get the chance, and the camera!
Seriously though, I never feel funny taking my 400D out when I'm not at an event, I know I'll have a decent photographic record of whatever is going on. Even when I've got say, my 28-135 and my 430EX mounted and the camera is looking pretty huge, it's all good!
Actually, on POTN there's a long thread about all the comments people have received with a big lens on - and there's some corkers on there. They're mainly related for the larger zooms, but there's even some for the kit lens!
POTN?
I went out for the first time yesterday with the 400D+28-135+lens hood. It certainly felt like I was a "proper" photographer with that combination, and it's light enough to not be an encumberance as a tourist. One of the defining moments in me wanting to get a back to having a proper SLR was thinking "I can't ask strangers to pose for photos when I've got this silly little thing...."
Andy
Jimmy_Lemon
06-09-2007, 17:48
I never really feel selfconcious or geeky when out with my camera. I was kinda brought up being use to it though, helping my dad do wedding etc or out as his assistant make videos etc. Have noticed we seem to get more comments/attention when out with big video camera rather than when out with stills camera, not sure why though.
Sherlock_Holmes
06-09-2007, 18:06
I whip it out any where watts the problem, i love the big wight thingy on the end of my 5d
http://img116.exs.cx/img116/1231/z7shysterical.gif
...only when I'm at Chester Zoo with the Talk Photography members....:lol::lol::lol:
shiato storm
06-09-2007, 18:24
i get used to the stares when the 1d comes out...its funnier when other photographers are about too, they tend to shuffle away quietly. not sure why, its not liek I'm asking them to naff off, funny how its quite a presence...
also I'm safe in the knowledge that if I get any trouble I could club anyone with it and make my get away...
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