How gutsy are you?

[ddt0725]

Good Morning All,


I have a general question for everyone. Were you camera shy behind the camera when you first started out?

Personal Scenario:

Every dayI pass a very nice waterfall with the water cascading down some large boulders. A local landscape company has it set it up off the shoulder of a state highway I take to & from work. I would love to getphotos of it and practice my shutter speed to get the right affect. Only problem is, I don't have the nerve to pull off onto the shoulder&put my emergency flashers on to take the photos!

Another scenerio: Every day I also pass a family's farm that has about7 horses out every day when I head home that I would like to photograph. I have pulled off to the side of the road once and took a few out my car window. They would turn out MUCH better if I got out and walked up to the fence. If someone stood at my fence & took photos of my dogs, I think I'd get a tad perturbed! I thought of going up to the door and saying, Hi, I'm new at photography and I'd love to take photos of your horses but I think that comes off as even more odd!


Also, a few guys at work call me "the creeper" jokingly because they think my neighbors are going to start thinking I'm taking photos of them thru their windows when I'm in my backyard photographing birds in their trees! [:O]

Does it take some time to feel less uncomfortable being out and about with your camera?

Denise

[Sheiky]

Haha Denise! Beautifull post!

Every dayI pass a very nice waterfall with the water cascading down some large boulders. A local landscape company has it set it up off the shoulder of a state highway I take to & from work. I would love to getphotos of it and practice my shutter speed to get the right affect. Only problem is, I don't have the nerve to pull off onto the shoulder&put my emergency flashers on to take the photos!

Just do it! Or if you're really uncomfortable ask one of the landscapers. But since you don't have an economical interest and it isn't bothering any privacy I don't think it's a problem. It's not that you take advantage of somebodies work by photographing for private goals. I don't see any problems here.


Scenario 2 made me laugh hihi [:P]

I have pulled off to the side of the road once and took a few out my car window.

You really think that is less odd than:

I thought of going up to the door and saying, Hi, I'm new at photography and I'd love to take photos of your horses

haha to be honest, when someone pulls over in front of my house and "secretly" police stakeout style begins taking photos from a car window, I wouldn't really like it. Asking might seem a big step, but I think it's a way better start and perhaps they will give you even more opportunities. Most people are nicer then you think and not at all offended when you think their work is so beautifull that you had to ask to takes photos. At least I would be honored and perhaps a bit flattered as well [A]

Also, a few guys at work call me "the creeper" jokingly because they think my neighbors are going to start thinking I'm taking photos of them thru their windows when I'm in my backyard photographing birds in their trees! [img]/emoticons/emotion-3.gif[/img]

Haha that's hilarious! Once you show your neighbours what you do and explain, they probably will ask how your pictures came out and maybe even call you up when theres something cool going on in their backyards []

Does it take some time to feel less uncomfortable being out and about with your camera?

To be honest, in my case it does and I still feel uncomfortable at times. Yesterday I rented the enormous 100-400 and I was really thinking about what people might think of me with such a cannon [:P]


To answer your question, I think it all depends on your personality. I'm not a real outgoing type, so I probably need more time to get comfortable with certain elements than others do. I wouldn't pose for a camera when other people would watch, that's for sure! But I'll get over it eventually [] Oh ps: when I see the selfportraits of say...Sean Setters...I wouldn't have the guts to do that for myself [A]


Jan

[Sean Setters]

[img]/emoticons/emotion-5.gif[/img] Oh ps: when I see the selfportraits of say...Sean Setters...I wouldn't have the guts to do that for myself [img]/emoticons/emotion-13.gif[/img]

Many times I take self-portraits out of necessity--like if I want to try out a particular technique, when I don't have a willing subject. Considering I do most of the self-portraits in the middle of the street in front of my home, I'm sure all the neighbors believe I'm quite vain.


The only way to get over your fears is to face them head-on. Start small by striking up conversations with complete strangers. Once you're comfortable with that, then you'll be able to knock on someone's door and say, "Hi, may name is ______, and I've noticed you have some absolutely beautiful horses. I'm new at photography, and as I pass your home everyday, I think to myself what a wonderful picture those horses would make. Would you mind if I took some pictures of them from your fence? I'd be more than happy to give you a CD of the pictures I get!"


As long as you're direct, and purposeful, and confident, most people will be glad you stopped and asked rather than trying to take pictures like a CIA operative (or careless trespasser).

[ddt0725]

To be honest, in my case it does and I still feel uncomfortable at times. Yesterday I rented the enormous 100-400 and I was really thinking about what people might think of me with such a cannon [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]

Exactly!Last week I went down by the lake on our first nice spring day to take photos after work. There was about 6-7 other people already there with their cameras doing the same thing. Only problem is, I walked up with my 100-400mm and they were all there with there point and shoots ...one on a tripod! I walked up and said, "Wow, looks like everyone had the same idea!" One lady turned to me and said, " Ya know, your camera is alittle intimidating!" So, I guess that response has only added to my uncomfortableness!

Denise

[Pieter]

I agree that the 100-400 might seem intimidating, but have a look at this one, talking about rocket-launchers:


http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Pictures/Picture.aspx?Picture=2009-03-31_17-06-04

[Sean Setters]

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Pictures/Picture.aspx?Picture=2009-03-31_17-06-04

I think that guy's on a terrorist watch-list now....

[Colin]

[quote=Sean Setters]

[url="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Pictures/Picture.aspx?Picture=2009-03-31_17-06-04]http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Pictures/Picture.aspx?Picture=2009-03-31_17-06-04[/url][/quote]


I think that guy's on a terrorist watch-list now....
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

At least he's on the snappy dresser section.


As a woman, She has more freedom, I think. I was taking pictures of my own kids in the park, and a lady approached me thinking I was taking pictures of her son. I'm like, "Uh, no, who's your son?" Her child was convinced I was "aiming it right at him.", but with a telephoto, it's really difficult to tell. I should have said, "No. Would you like me to?"


I take pictures of other people's kids during field trips, but then I'm a known parent, and I give the pictures to the teacher to use in the yearbook, though sadly, they rarely have enough space to do much but cut out the heads and paste them in a big mess.


It's nice to shoot with permission, but if I can get a shot of somebody interesting without them knowing, I'll usually take it. Not many people are good at getting their picture taken when they know they're being shot. What I should do is step that up and, if I think it's any good, ask them if they'd like a copy, but I should carry some 'photographer' business cards in that case, to look like I'm not just some creepy dude. "Look, I'm more than just a creepy dude, I'm a creepy dude with a card that implies I do this regularly!"


As for the horses, I think it'd be funny if you said, "Hi, I'm a photographer, and your horses are beautiful. If you wouldn't mind signing a release, I'd like to shoot them." If they said, okay, just take the pictures. If they say no, say, "How about if I give you half the meat and the head to mount?"

[Dan Fleming]

I am pretty much not scared of looking like a fool. But in your situation I probably would be. What I am scared of is striking up conversations. I could probably pull off the highway and get the waterfall picture, but the horses scenario would have me running the other way. I am in several japanese tourists's foto albums as "that crazy american who was lying on the ground in the dirt aiming his camera at something" Seriously, more than one has walked up to me and showed me the picture they took of whatever contorted position I got into....I guess I should be used to it, my family does that as well.

[Sheiky]

I read a few different things now. I forget my own safety as well. I was shooting at a autocross which turned out into some sort of derby and a car crashed into the ditch like 2m in front of me. I didn't even notice untill my friend pulled me away just a sec before impact. When looking trough your viewfinder you might notice a lot less of your surroundings which may be a safety-issue. Therefor I wouldn't stop my car at an emergency stop along the side of the highway.


But when people are watching I get pretty shy and it takes me some time to addapt. I had shot quite a few sportevents, but mostly it takes me like 15-30mins to get comfortable shooting.


By the way Sean, I read that you dare to talk to random persons, but if I recall correctly I remember you telling (like last week) you could't find people other than Amber and yourself to pose for you...[A]


Oh and for everybody that have had issues with people thinking you took pictures of them or their kids. Sadly there are a lot of crazy and dirty photographers out there.


If you look at pages where amateur girl models sign themselves up for a free photoshoot (by a "professional" photographer) in trade of a portfolio-picture....let me tell it this way: some guys are really dirty and some girls are very much used... I've seen shots of a photographer who shot his models in normal clothes except for the top, they were in bra or bikini. Really the pictures sucked! And there was no reason whatsoever to undress his models in the shots that he made...truly.....


Funny thing is that an old girlfriend of mine also put herself up this sort of site and like every month she puts new photoshoot pictures on her online profilepage. And to be honest, I really enjoy it since it gives me a good laugh [:P] Really some poses and composures are the most stupd you've ever seen! Last year me and a few friends tried to copy one of her "newest" shots and believe me I had to do the posing and it was really hard! Anatomically impossible [:P] And sorry...no I won't post that image []It's really bad, but it was a lot of fun.


By the way only my best friends know that I even take photos. But they hadn't seen a shot from me untill my birthday this year when my girlfriend showed them my yearcomilationalbum. It made me feel very small, although comments were very positive. Yup I guess I'm a shy guy when it concerns photography...I also hate it when my girlfriend tells her entire family that I bought a new camera or that I made some needo pictures, but I get a little bit more used to it every time.


Learning curve is slow and sometimes very uncomfortable I guess []Sorry for the long story


Jan

[neuroanatomist]

Hi Denise,


I think it gets easier with time, certainly. My 'learning' curve has been rather quick this time, such that I now have no problem walking around even in urban areas holding a big, gripped camera and a long white lens... [] I say quick this time, because many years ago, I shot for my high school newspaper/yearbooks (using a Pentax film SLR - that was around the time when the latest and greatest innovation - autofocus - was way out of my budget).


One thing to have handy in your bag is a printout of the card from THIS SITE, just in case.


In the cases you mention, the real concern is not you or the camera, it's your car - but as long as it's safely and legally parked, you should be fine there.


Just go out and have fun shooting!


--John