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