do you feel awkward?

Alan_T

Alan_T

Messages
598
Name
Alan
Edit My Images
Yes
I took my 2yo bowling today and the camera came with us, but i felt really self consious using it, it didn't stop me or anything but just felt like everyone was looking as me lol.

is this something that will go with time? i don't particularly care what people think of me.
 
It goes with time, but there will always be some idiot at some point.

I've been shooting for 2 years, in all sorts of environments and all sorts of subjects. Yet my incident was late on a Friday night, around 9:30pm, in Newcastle-under-lyme city centre in -4'c temps.

2 drunk lads, one goes "why have you got such a big camera"

"to take photos with"

"****ing p****!"
 
Hi Alan,

Maybe they were looking at you and thinking 'look at that Dad taking photos of his child, isn't that nice'!

At the end of the day if you have a larger than pocket sized camera people are going to look. Some will be envious, some will think you are off your trolley, some will just be intrigued. Either way it does not matter, it is your hobby not theirs.

Oh and that self conscious feeling does go after time. Just keep taking photos!

Best regards

Chris
 
Cheers guys, glad to know it's not me, and I'm sure I'll get used to it!
 
Its all about blagging. If you act like you 'ought' to be taking pics, people assume you know what you're doing. Just don't fumble around with the camera. Get some cards made, then when people start looking at you, you can say 'would you like me to take pictures of you/your kid - here's my card'. Now you're a professional :cool:
 
Lol that's a great idea! Although I think I'd have to make them up without a phone number just incase the actually wanted some!
 
Taking photos anywhere in Stoke On Trent after dark is risky. The natives are not known for their artistic appreciation :)
 
In some ways it depends on the environment you're in at the time. Years ago I used to wander round a (then) local wildlife park with a big lens and tripod in hand. While I would get people looking and comments it wasn't anything to feel self-concious about. If I'd been doing the same thing in the town centre I'd have felt like there was a big red arrow pointing at me over my head.

Over the next couple of years you'll be less self-concious about things anyway as you do things to amuse your child in public that would previously have left you mortified in embarassment, or at least that's how it has been for me (with a 4 year old).
 
I sometimes feel a bit awkward when out and about taking shots. I do sometimes get funny looks but majority of times is doesnt bother me, i suppose the only times i get a bit nervy is when i try taking candid street shots as it involves taking pics of people who might not want to be photographed.

Taking shots of my kids out in public doesnt bother me 1 bit though.
 
It does make me laugh though, you're wandering around with a zonking great big camera/lens/tripod. possibly carrying a bag that would lend itself to more photography gear and people think you'd be that obvious if you were up to something you shouldn't be :lol:

Just defies logic and shows how FUBAR the World is right now!
 
Russ77 said:
It does make me laugh though, you're wandering around with a zonking great big camera/lens/tripod. possibly carrying a bag that would lend itself to more photography gear and people think you'd be that obvious if you were up to something you shouldn't be :lol:
Click to expand...

My son complained over Christmas, when I said I needed to get the camera bag in the car he didn't realise I meant a rucksack :lol: He was thinking more in line of those small shoulder bags you put a P&S into.

Photodiva has the right idea, just have the confidence to get the camera out and shoot. I don't care what others think, I know I'm getting the images I want.

Steve
 
Harvey_nikon said:
It goes with time, but there will always be some idiot at some point.

I've been shooting for 2 years, in all sorts of environments and all sorts of subjects. Yet my incident was late on a Friday night, around 9:30pm, in Newcastle-under-lyme city centre in -4'c temps.

2 drunk lads, one goes "why have you got such a big camera"

"to take photos with"

"****ing p****!"
Click to expand...
Your response should have been:
"To counter balance the weight of my ****."

:lol:
 
it happens alot around here to me, seem to allways have some little S***s stood about shouting ou p*** when im taking a picture of a road or river with no kids in sight, the world is full of idiots, the only way i found to get over the embarrasment of it was to just get on with it, i want the pictures so if i dont i wont get them...

there are however some peploe who are genuinly interested what your doing (the long exposures seem to draw the most attention from the public for me :)
 
I do feel a little uncomfortable in public, but I am getting to the point where I don't care what people think.

I am not comfortable however, using my tripod. Even if I am setting up a landscape shot, I hate using my tripod. Maybe it's because I dont' use it often enough?

but yes, you will eventually feel more comfortable :)
 
BandyQuill said:
there are however some peploe who are genuinly interested what your doing (the long exposures seem to draw the most attention from the public for me :)
Click to expand...

Problem with long exposures in public (apart from the cold:lol: ) is that people don't know you're shooting and walk right in front of you!!
 
OutLore said:
Problem with long exposures in public (apart from the cold:lol: ) is that people don't know you're shooting and walk right in front of you!!
Click to expand...

And then ask "Are you taking pictures?"
 
on the whole i've had positive comments when i've been out and about with my camera. people asking questions about what i'm shooting or the camera itself, but maybe i've been lucky just.

carrying a fairly big camera makes people think you know what you're doing, so maybe the business card idea would be workable. it might even drum up a bit of business for you lol
 
Glad it's not just me ! I'm ok just using the camera but still fell strange using the monopod but getting better.Not ventured out with the tri-pod yet but have seen others using them so guess I'll just have ignore strange looks & crack on :-)
 
I don't really feel awkward because of my camera. I.e. When out taking shots I am not embarrassed by it. However I do feel VERY awkward taking photos of my kids in places where there are other kids. It doesn't matter what kind of camera i an using. I am worried people might just use it as an excuse to kick off. I have seen it happen - bored or frustrated parent at their wits end because of their terrible child or just someone with nothing better to do. The worst thing is that in the example i saw other seemingly normal right minded people all joined in like some kind of self righteous mob. What made it doubly bad in the example I saw was that it was a grandparent with their grandchild. Poor guy looked really scared until i waded in and told them all to b****r off :(
 
No I don't feel awkward and you shouldn't either.
Don't underestimate the power of looking confident (like you're supposed to be doing what you're doing) and a charming smile if somebody does happen to catch your eye.

In fact the biggest problem I have when I'm out with my camera is people wanting to stop and have a little chat about what I'm doing. "Well I was actually trying to have a quiet bit of "me time" with my camera, but I'm failing miserably because random strangers like you keep interrupting and sparking up conversations with me! :bang:"

I thought I was going to have a problem last Summer when I was taking some shots along the canal. A woman came over to her garden wall overlooking the canal and shouted over to me. I was expecting her to ask me why I was lurking around behind her house with a camera, but in fact she was offering to throw some bird food out onto the water because she'd seen a pair of moorhens earlier and she thought it might entice them over :lol:

Most people are nicer than you'd expect if you just give them a chance :D
 
Last edited:
i've never felt uncomfortable, i never really think about it. photography is just what i enjoy doing.

however, i had a single instance of a strange man muttering "paedophile" type comments in my direction (despite the fact i was actually photographing 2 17 year old girls in a public place!) - i did have my 70-200 2.8 on, which i suppose does look quite big i comparison to your average p&s camera, but still.

you just have to learn to ignore it. you'll always get the odd wonker.

@sarah - agree absolutely - i've had a fair few people approach me too and ask me about my camera and *why* the lens is big.... i even had an old man ask me for 'a go'! it's quite flattering really.
 
Last edited:
SarahLee said:
No I don't feel awkward and you shouldn't either.
Don't underestimate the power of looking confident (like you're supposed to be doing what you're doing) and a charming smile if somebody does happen to catch your eye.

In fact the biggest problem I have when I'm out with my camera is people wanting to stop and have a little chat about what I'm doing. "Well I was actually trying to have a quiet bit of "me time" with my camera, but I'm failing miserably because random strangers like you keep interrupting and sparking up conversations with me! :bang:"

I thought I was going to have a problem last Summer when I was taking some shots along the canal. A woman came over to her garden wall overlooking the canal and shouted over to me. I was expecting her to ask me why I was lurking around behind her house with a camera, but in fact she was offering to throw some bird food out onto the water because she'd seen a pair of moorhens earlier and she thought it might entice them over :lol:

Most people are nicer than you'd expect if you just give them a chance :D
Click to expand...

good advice about looking confident, and that last line sums things for me. people for the most part are actually nice
 
thanks guys, i think sarah's comment about looking confident and smiling is great advice, i can see myself now looking out the corner of y eye to see who was watching, i must have looked dodgy as hell lol

but a nice smile and a bit of confidence, great advice, cheers.
 
Funny thing... I go out with my camera, I feel like a photographer. I go out with my camcorder, I feel like a tourist :shrug:

I tend to use my D40 with 35mm F1.8 when I'm not specifically going out to take pics, as given that I have huge, shovel-like hands, and this combo is fairly small, it just looks like I'm using a bridge camera.

The "big lens" thing is always going to be a problem, trying to explain to normal people why a nice lens needs to be that large/heavy is impossible...

Gripped D90 + 70-300mm with lens hood does make me feel slightly self conscious tho, and leads to paparazzo accusations from the missus :help:
 
just smile, and don't be creepy...


I only ever feel awkward when taking photos of pointless rubbish... if street shooting, I do tend to make myself look more, uh... 'art student' than usual, means people don't look twice :)
 
I've always had the idea that having a bigass camera out in public nets you stares from everyone, so I tend to avoid busy areas when going out for a shoot.

Then I realized that whenever I myself spot other togs with a tripod + camera in the middle of a busy street, it doesn't strike me as awkward at all! Just another day in Manchester... move a long move along.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
just smile, and don't be creepy...


I only ever feel awkward when taking photos of pointless rubbish... if street shooting, I do tend to make myself look more, uh... 'art student' than usual, means people don't look twice :)
Click to expand...

LOL - I took some pictures of some strange rubbish (empty designer bags piled up by a council litter bin ...). I did get some odd looks from passing motorists as I crouched on the pavement. Pointless rubbish, indeed :)
 
I'm yet to really take my camera out in the wild as I'm too nervous people will give funny looks it question what I'm doing
 
I have felt the stares on the few occasions i have ventured out and felt that im being frowned upon but only since ive had my dslr, when i had my compact it didnt bother me one bit, having said that iam living in Oldham :lol:.
 
same here, jamin...
but have a thought of a long exposure across the busy road from a local landmark, kind of... get the moving cars and maybe people in front of it, but the landmark still...
or is that a bit...
cliché?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top