Photographers attitide

I have a camera, you have a camera, why on earth does that mean I want to talk to you?

Nothing worse than windbags in hides either, I don`t go to hides to hear your life story or listen to you blather on about what gear you have and how good it is. Get a freaking life!


And breathe.............:)
 
I've generally found this forum friendly and helpful, but ive also gone out of my way to avoid some of the 'forum faux pas' i.e. using the search button before starting new threads :rules: Hopefully i've suceeded :D

I think some of the issue is that on a forum you can't interpret someones tone (you can take a guess and assume the worse). Certainly for newer members, myself included, you dont really know all the personalities so it's easy to read something in a manner that it wasn't actually meant :shrug:
 
i can only personally say ive had good dealings with members on here.... ive asked for criticism and got it and my photography has improved so im happy and grateful

sometimes criticism can be harsh but everyone has the right to there opinion and if im asking for there view on something i'd prefer them to be straight and honest
 
fracster said:
I have a camera, you have a camera, why on earth does that mean I want to talk to you?

And breathe.............:)
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you should set up a forum Ade

Welcome to "Dont Talk Photography... the unfreindliest place on the net " :lol:
 
big soft moose said:
you should set up a forum Ade

Welcome to "Dont Talk Photography... the unfreindliest place on the net " :lol:
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Seriously Pete, I don`t mind if people ask questions and if I can help them, I most certainly will. It is those people who think i`m interested in their in growing toenails that annoy me..............for example......:D
 
Nick_1981 said:
I've generally found this forum friendly and helpful, but ive also gone out of my way to avoid some of the 'forum faux pas' i.e. using the search button before starting new threads :rules: Hopefully i've suceeded :D

I think some of the issue is that on a forum you can't interpret someones tone (you can take a guess and assume the worse). Certainly for newer members, myself included, you dont really know all the personalities so it's easy to read something in a manner that it wasn't actually meant :shrug:
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Yes. This is definitely true. Then people wonder why you take things seriously and you end up as the subject of people's jokes. That's the attitude I'm talking about.
 
There's definitely a lot of gear snobbery in the photography community (although not quite as bad as musicians), but in terms of actual numpties, I don't think it's any higher than any other population demographic.

One of the tricky things with online communication in forums like this is that it's hard to accurately interpret tone, which leads to a lot of misunderstandings. Personally I rather detest smilies so don't generally use them, and as a result, people often misinterpret what I intended as jokes - but that's par for the course in any online community, and should always be kept in mind so as to avoid holding grudges or any other unnecessary, petty behaviour.

Funnily enough, I actually find parts of this forum a little too friendly - especially in the critique forums, it feels like people don't really want to post critiques, so instead most of the threads end up being full of flowery platitudes that don't really teach anyone anything. People need to learn that it's absolutely possible to be harsh in a critique without being rude! Outside of the critique forums, things can certainly get a little heated in gear discussions, but that's because everyone has their preferences for their own reasons and tend to assert them.

At the end of the day, just don't take things personally. It's just the interwebz.

I can't really comment much on the real life aspect of things as I rarely encounter other togs around.
 
Photography by its very nature is a solo hobby and interpersonal skills are not required, I have no inclination to seek out other photographers and go on a ramble with them taking photos, nor do I have any desire to join a camera club.

Its also very 'competitive', people always want to think they've taken the best shots so people tend to be secretive about what they've taken, very rarely with another photographer show you a shot they've just taken on the back of their camera.

The other thing is with the advent of the affordable digital SLR and the quality of the high end point and press cameras the average joe is turning out far better work than was possible 10 years ago with film and 1 hour processing and many pro-photographers are suffering because the perceived value of photography is going down.


Partly down to the number of people setting themselves up as "Joe Bloggs Photography" and partly down to people thinking we wont use a professional, our 'relation' has got a lovely camera, they'll take the pictures at so and so's christening / wedding / party.

As a result I think many pro guys are feeling threatened by up and coming amateurs and dont want to give away 'trade' secrets they've learned over years, which I can understand.

That said I know one photographer in Bedford who has been an absolute inspiration to me and when ever I see him we just chat photography the whole time and he's helped me no end with stuff

So I guess there is good and bad in all walks of life.

and yes the whole equipment thing does get on my wick at times, but you stand and fall on the pictures you take, regardless of equipment.
 
big soft moose said:
you should set up a forum Ade

Welcome to "Dont Talk Photography... the unfreindliest place on the net " :lol:
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Perhaps YOU could start one for the really bad spellers on the 'net (unfreindliest? UNFRIENDLIEST (i before e except after c))

:lol::lol::lol:
 
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I think i might deign to consult a deity about that rule,or maybe a sovereign, i wouldn't want a surfeit of misconception about the science of spelling to cause a seismic shock in my posting , it might make me forfeit a heifer to my neighbour, or cause me to make a cunning feint towards the dictionary, and either would be a heavy weight to bear.
 
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Hi Bradley, after looking through you threads and posts on TP I am struggling to see where the problem is. To me it looks like everyone has treated you with courtesy and respect, or are your opinions based on what you have read in other threads? As mentioned most if not all on here are helpfull. Yesterday I ( Mr Amature ) was at a local Marathon stood at the end of the street where it was starting, there was also another guy who stood next to me with a Nikon :gag: After saying good morning to him I just broke the ice by asking if he had family running in the Marathon. Chatting even further to him I discovered he spent a lot of time in Africa as that is where his company was based, and Big Cats was his main interest, then another young lad came up by us with a Fuji Finepix. With no disrespect the younger guy did not look the brightest but was not afraid to start asking questions about what settings we were using, before long all three of us were chatting away happily :thumbs:
 
fracster said:
Seriously Pete, I don`t mind if people ask questions and if I can help them, I most certainly will. It is those people who think i`m interested in their in growing toenails that annoy me..............for example......:D
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You can string a sentance together now then :thumbs:
 
@NeilMc Your post was an intriguing read & I think your perception is spot on :} Photography is & always will be a highly personal thing to do.
 
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I guess when I am out with my camera,I can seem in a world of my own,and do perfer to shoot alone,but I wouldn't say I was rude, just absorb in what I am doing :)
 
Lifes far too short to be grumpy with others. I just try to enjoy what I do and am willing to help others if I can. I've helped quite a few at airbases when shooting. Always have a bit of banter.
If I am likely to be 'off' with anyone, it is usually the ones that think that they are something and are being rude to others. I don't have a problem telling them to get some manners.

Kev.
 
simonblue said:
I guess when I am out with my camera,I can seem in a world of my own,and do perfer to shoot alone,but I wouldn't say I was rude, just absorb in what I am doing :)
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I'm exactly the same, I end up in my own world whilst out shooting & it can be hard to distract me!
 
Jarrrp said:
I was photographing a carnival here in the East Midlands and found a lovely low short wall to stand on facing length ways to the subject which allowed me to get reasonably high views. Suddenly, this reasonably old women with a DSLR gets up onto the wall and stands right in front of me entirely blocking my view. Then when she decided she wanted a new view, she got her husband to keep the spot warm! I got so annoyed.
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Why did you not just kick both of them off the wall with a reasonably well aimed boot :shrug:
 
I do think photography is fairly solitary pursuit. A little bit of anti-socilal behaviour is probably inevitable. That said I've had some nice chats with fellow DSLR wielding nerds when I've been out and about. I have had the odd blank faced snub as well but that's life.

I like this forum for its wealth of knowledge but I have noticed some regular posters who constantly seem intent on starting an argument (mentioning no names!). This happens on all forums but I maybe notice it more on here for some reason.
 
You get insecure types in all walks of life, some have cars,some have golf clubs, some have cameras.
It's not the item, it's the person that comes with it. :)
 
NeilMc said:
Photography by its very nature is a solo hobby and interpersonal skills are not required...
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Not being rude, but you've got to be joking haven't you?

I appreciate that there are multiple genres of photography, but interpersonal skills is one of the most important aspects of my job (believe it or not).
 
I've talked to a few people who have asked about what I'm doing, what settings or camera I'm using etc. I let a guy who had a tripod set up use the Nikon 24-70 for a few shots as he was looking to buy one, and recently let a guy take some photos with the M9 because he hadn't tried one. I always found folk pretty friendly when discussing cameras on here or offline. There are some of the weirdy beardy brigade out there who are best off left alone, but you'll always get that.
 
big soft moose said:
I think i might deign to consult a deity about that rule,or maybe a sovereign, i wouldn't want a surfeit of misconception about the science of spelling to cause a seismic shock in my posting , it might make me forfeit a heifer to my neighbour, or cause me to make a cunning feint towards the dictionary, and either would be a heavy weight to bear.
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Excellent!

So how many hours did it take you to find the exceptions to the rule?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

.
 
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petersmart said:
Excellent!

So how many hours did it take you to find the exceptions to the rule?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

.
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I reckon that the 'rule' is the exception! ;)

As far as photographers' sociability goes, I think context can't be ignored. There are some situations where people are a lot more aware of their 'personal space' and where some folk are not so comfortable in getting chatty (especially if they've got all ther gear and others expect them to be experts, lol).

I haven't noticed a significant level of rudeness on this forum - lower than the usual 'background' levels. The forum is a place where you expect people to express opinions and wherever folk express opinions, you're going to get some that get passionate, some that think their opinion is paramount and others who get upset. I've certainly been guilty of all those things - but it's a forum - learn to live with it and put it in perspective.
 
Is it just generally how people are here in the UK, camping in the UK people walk past each other without batting an eyelid and appear more ignorant, I noticed it to be completely different camping in France where the majority of French, Dutch and Germans go out of there way to say Hello when your just passing by each other and if they sence your english they even speak in english
 
DemiLion said:
Not being rude, but you've got to be joking haven't you?

I appreciate that there are multiple genres of photography, but interpersonal skills is one of the most important aspects of my job (believe it or not).
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Who exactly do you talk to when out doing wildlife or landscape photography ????

I can appreciate if you do weddings, family portraits etc, but the original poster isnt talking about doing that kind of thing

He is also talking about other photographers.

NOT subjects.
 
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you'd probably not get a response from me, i've usually got my music on
 
NeilMc said:
Who exactly do you talk to when out doing wildlife or landscape photography ????

I can appreciate if you do weddings, family portraits etc, but the original poster isnt talking about doing that kind of thing

He is also talking about other photographers.

NOT subjects.
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I'm press photographer. If I didn't talk to others whilst out on a job it would make my life a lot harder.

My point is that photography is multifaceted and there is no one, or correct, way of doing things.

If you choose to be isolationist, that's fine, but not everyone works like that.
 
I don’t think I can add anything more than what people have already said it’s the same in all walks of life, I suppose it’s a bit like watching TV or listening to music, you watch or listen to those bit’s that you like or are informative and pass over the rest, but I did agree with this,

IamAshlyRose said:
I don't understand the snobbery in photography. It's not what you have, or what you use, it's what you can create no matter how much it cost. I've found this forum amazing for advice & guidance but I've come across many rude photographers outside of Talk Photography.
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I’ve still got some of my old film stuff and in fact my fist digital camera D100, and I will occasionally shot on them and in the right circumstances will do just as good a job as the D2s/D3s

Take out of it what you want and put into what you can!
 
brad28 said:
Hi,


Even on these forums theres allot of snobby rude people who are probably brilliant photographers but they talk so rudely on the forums.
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I agree with this. It's one of the main reasons I took so long to register on here, despite reading it for years. Only part I disagree with is the brilliant photographers part. In my experience, the worse people are on here, the worse their work is.

I've been here a few weeks and have already run into a lot of backbiting, snobbery and general bitterness. For the most part, the people on here are great, which is why the less wholesome people really stand out.

Bear in mind that if you notice it, it means you aren't doing it, which means you're doing it right. That's all that counts.
 
London Headshots said:
I agree with this. It's one of the main reasons I took so long to register on here, despite reading it for years. Only part I disagree with is the brilliant photographers part. In my experience, the worse people are on here, the worse their work is.

I've been here a few weeks and have already run into a lot of backbiting, snobbery and general bitterness. For the most part, the people on here are great, which is why the less wholesome people really stand out.

Bear in mind that if you notice it, it means you aren't doing it, which means you're doing it right. That's all that counts.
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Welcome!

2 important features of the forum, the Report Post function to report posts you find rude or abrupt, and the Ignore function to stop seeing the rude people!
 
matty said:
Welcome!

2 important features of the forum, the Report Post function to report posts you find rude or abrupt, and the Ignore function to stop seeing the rude people!
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Thanks for the welcome. This place isn't half bad enough to use either of those features, the majority of the folk here are awesome, it's just a few bad eggs. :)
 
A lot of the rudeness stems from certain types of snobbery, and as has been beaten to death in here already, it comes from all walks of life. Photography is particularly bad for it purely because it attracts such a variation of people. The types of people who will look down on you will always find a reason, whether it's your age, job, sex, the way you look, etc.

Just ignore them, move on and find someone else to talk to.
 
I shoot week in week out in the same venue, it is interesting the different types of people you get and the difference with how the work. Some will get in with the crowd, others try to get a bit further away and will camp out in one spot.

Only one of them has ever managed to annoy me, he's a nice chap but is a bit too keen on slow telephoto lenses so has to use a lot of flash. He's also about 8 feet tall and has no concept of personal space. (I have once had him lean over the top of me while I'm taking a shot).
 
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