Taking camera out with you

M

MTdigital

Messages
16
Edit My Images
No
Hello all,

I'm on way to dog track for the night..thought it would be a good chance try out a few action shots.

I'm suddenly aware that I might look really odd and annoy people.

Have you guys ever felt silly trying to get a **** of something, or do you just not give a damn.

Just curious .....

My
 
MTdigital said:
Hello all,

I'm on way to dog track for the night..thought it would be a good chance try out a few action shots.

I'm suddenly aware that I might look really odd and annoy people.

Have you guys ever felt silly trying to get a **** of something, or do you just not give a damn.

Just curious .....

My
Click to expand...

If '1' is total embarrassment and '10' is 'I don't give a damn', I started off at a 2....now I've moved slowly to a 5.

I suspect some people may think you look like an idiot/geek/weirdo, etc, but most people really don't give you a second look.

Fear will limit you as a photographer, rather than taking your time to compose a good shot you'll just point and snap, then whip your camera away.

It can be quite liberating and exhilarating when you say to yourself, 'You know, I don't give a damn what people think!".

I try to keep a quote by Alfred Eisenstaedt in mind when I have my camera, "When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear."

Enjoy your camera.
 
Hello,

Yep and sometimes still do as still new to photography scene..

Then I just think sod it.. not doing nowt wrong..
Just go out and enjoy your camera and don't worry what other people think.

:)
 
twitch said:
Hello,

Yep and sometimes still do as still new to photography scene..

Then I just think sod it.. not doing nowt wrong..
Just go out and enjoy your camera and don't worry what other people think.

:)
Click to expand...

what he said ..

people call me all the names lol

but the way i see it .. i'm a 21 year old lad .. i don't look like your typical "geek" in fact quite the opposite and i just figure you know what sod it .. i enjoy taking photos and i couldn't give 2 hoots what anybody else thinks!

snap snap snap away!
 
Ok, would never have got any good shots anyways.

Wanna hear something funny - I was out walking, looking for a shot and I found myself trying to capture falling leaves from an tree in mid air, which was practically impossible.

Anyway, I was so engrossed in the viewfinder I didn't notice a fella who'd crept up and said "want me to shake it for you!".

[meaning the tree]

Well it was an oak tree so he was being a joker, by I felt a bi silly, crouching down and all sorts!

Then I noticed he had an slr round is neck and felt a bit better.....

Funny though
 
Everyone enjoys viewing beautiful, interesting and clever photography so they should know that someone has to press the shutter release!
 
MTdigital said:
Ok, would never have got any good shots anyways.

Wanna hear something funny - I was out walking, looking for a shot and I found myself trying to capture falling leaves from an tree in mid air, which was practically impossible.

Anyway, I was so engrossed in the viewfinder I didn't notice a fella who'd crept up and said "want me to shake it for you!".

[meaning the tree]

Well it was an oak tree so he was being a joker, by I felt a bi silly, crouching down and all sorts!

Then I noticed he had an slr round is neck and felt a bit better.....

Funny though
Click to expand...

Great story. One of them DSLR user bonding moments...:D
 
The last time I worried about taking the camera out, I turned up and about 5 other people had DSLRs. :)

Just do it.
 
I still feel very uncomfortable at times but as other posters have said it does get easier, there are some shots I really want to have a go at but I dont have the bottle at the moment as they are quite public places, but Ill get over it.
 
I feel the embarrasment sometimes, but whereas it used to be with taking the camera out in public, it's mostly with taking street shots of strangers in full view of other people.

If you're the kind of person who is aware and bothered by other people thinking you're wierd for taking pictures then that will never go away in my opinion. You'll just be able to push the limits further before that slightly embarrassed/self conscious feeling returns.
 
MTdigital said:
Ok, would never have got any good shots anyways.

Wanna hear something funny - I was out walking, looking for a shot and I found myself trying to capture falling leaves from an tree in mid air, which was practically impossible.

Anyway, I was so engrossed in the viewfinder I didn't notice a fella who'd crept up and said "want me to shake it for you!".

[meaning the tree]

Well it was an oak tree so he was being a joker, by I felt a bi silly, crouching down and all sorts!

Then I noticed he had an slr round is neck and felt a bit better.....

Funny though
Click to expand...

coffee meets laptop time again :lol::lol::lol:

one thing to be aware of is that you may not be permiited to tke pictures at a dog track, check it our first
 
I am of the opinion that I don't care what people think. If they want to judge/mock/ make fun of me whilst togging.....so what!

Things always look odd to people who don't engage in that particular subject but it certainly doesn't give them a right to pass judgement etc therefore why should you worry.

As long as you make sure your not breaking any rules/laws and your not inadvertently getting in someone's way/invading their personal space then I wouldn't give a damn.
 
mine normally goes everywhere with me you just never know.

couldnt care what people think if im honest.
 
I have found that if I am down at the Steam Railway or in a historic town or if there is a special event on then I feel fine but if at a normal station or just looking to get some street shots in a non descript town then I do feel eyes boring into me.Strangely it always feels ok out in the country
 
CaptainPenguin said:
I have found that if I am down at the Steam Railway or in a historic town or if there is a special event on then I feel fine but if at a normal station or just looking to get some street shots in a non descript town then I do feel eyes boring into me.Strangely it always feels ok out in the country
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, if I was in say, cambridge then I would feel perfectly comfortable.

Soon I'll pluck up the courage to get the tripod out in public for one of those long exposure urban photos.
 
Come down to Trafalgar Square on any good weather weekend. I passed through this morning and there were about 6-7 guys with big cameras and 70-200mm lenses and tripods; not to mention the 500 point-and-shooters.

Great place to practice equipment shyness in public places because no one cares or even notice you.

Remember; worrying about what others might think of you makes little sense, because it's just their opinion and it has little to do with you.
 
Digital_Clarity said:
If you're the kind of person who is aware and bothered by other people thinking you're wierd for taking pictures then that will never go away in my opinion. You'll just be able to push the limits further before that slightly embarrassed/self conscious feeling returns.
Click to expand...

i dont think this is true, a few months ago i took my camera out in public for the first time although it was only down the taff trail i had to keep it in my camera bag because i felt too embaresed and shy to take it out, then i did take it out and i started to feel comfortable and started to take longer to take a photo even when there where people walking past looking and wondering what i was doing. by the end of the day i was at an outside skate park taking photos of the bmxers! i dont quite feel comfortable enough going into town with my camera yet but one day! :D dan.
 
You might find you are asked how much you charge for a photo of someones dog running. This has happened to me at an Afghan race meets. Don't know about at a GRA track ,might be a bit different but be prepared for questions about photography in general.


Except Afghan hounds don't usually bother about using the track and can get a little confused

racingatellsmereport235.jpg

racingatellsmereport220.jpg

DSC_0222.jpg


Still who cares anyway
racingatellsmereport156.jpg


how it should be done

racingatellsmereport141.jpg

racingatellsmereport045.jpg


Realspeed
 
Last edited:
Well my first DSLR is on it's way, but i think as you get into a hobby you worry less and less about others opinions.
I have always been a cyclist and at 39 some people do look at me a bit funny playing about on my mountain bike practicing tricks that i'll never master, but i really don't care about them.
 
Danny133 said:
what he said ..

people call me all the names lol

but the way i see it .. i'm a 21 year old lad .. i don't look like your typical "geek" in fact quite the opposite and i just figure you know what sod it .. i enjoy taking photos and i couldn't give 2 hoots what anybody else thinks!

snap snap snap away!
Click to expand...

I'm 55 and some folks think I'm a right weirdo :lol:
 
At my age of nearly 66 I don't give a stuff what people think about me and my camera in a public place. As long as I am happy, but I do take care of what I take photos of.

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
I feel the embarrasment sometimes, but whereas it used to be with taking the camera out in public, it's mostly with taking street shots of strangers in full view of other people.

If you're the kind of person who is aware and bothered by other people thinking you're wierd for taking pictures then that will never go away in my opinion. You'll just be able to push the limits further before that slightly embarrassed/self conscious feeling returns.
Click to expand...

dan00001 said:
i dont think this is true, a few months ago i took my camera out in public for the first time although it was only down the taff trail i had to keep it in my camera bag because i felt too embaresed and shy to take it out, then i did take it out and i started to feel comfortable and started to take longer to take a photo even when there where people walking past looking and wondering what i was doing. by the end of the day i was at an outside skate park taking photos of the bmxers! i dont quite feel comfortable enough going into town with my camera yet but one day! :D dan.
Click to expand...
Unless I've misunderstood, isn't that exactly what I was saying? It's a process of facing your fears to make the next 'umconfortable camera situation' comfortable. Eventually you'll feel fine about taking your camera into town and the next one to tackle will be photographing strangers maybe.
Just my .02 anyhow :)
 
At my age of nearly 66 I don't give a stuff what people think about me and my camera in a public place. As long as I am happy

Realspeed
Click to expand...
I truly wish I could have a bit of that at my age. Is there something about experience/wisdom/age alone that allows us to do that? How can I accelerate this process?!
 
DC
Its self confidence in yourself when meeting others. All my working life I have had to talk to complete strangers in the course of my jobs. One way is to remember if everyone was stark naked, when you looked at them you couldn't tell the rich and well educated from those less fortunate. You soon realise everyone is the same as yourself and you have as much right to live as they do. That way you will soon see everyone is equal so just be yourself.
You are unique -a one off, no one else is exactly like you. If you treat people on the level your comfortable with then more than likely they will meet you on the same level, big mistake is trying to be something your not.

And thats the secret

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
DC
Its self confidence in yourself when meeting others. All my working life I have had to talk to complete strangers in the course of my jobs. One way is to remember if everyone was stark naked, when you looked at them you couldn't tell the rich and well educated from those less fortunate. You soon realise everyone is the same as yourself and you have as much right to live as they do. That way you will soon see everyone is equal so just be yourself.
You are unique -a one off, no one else is exactly like you. If you treat people on the level your comfortable with then more than likely they will meet you on the same level, big mistake is trying to be something your not.

And thats the secret

Realspeed
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking the time to write that, it's given me something to think about as I sit in work on this Saturday afternoon.

I'll certainly be imagining all future photography subjects naked (bar family do's) :)
 
When out in public i noticed people staring at me so next time in the same place i wore a hi vis yellow jacket and was totally ignored, must be an "official" looking thing
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top