Attitudes here on RFF

[Lemures-Ex]

I have noticed that everyone here seems much nicer then the people on other forums. You folks are all very helpful and polite and just generally pleasant. I didn't really put much thought into this at first but a thread from a few days ago mentioned something about some bad experiences on Photo.net (not to knock said site) and it got me thinking what the reason for everyone here being so nice is. Then it hit me: it's the rangefinders.

Not the cameras themselves but the attitude that goes along with using one. It's a more laid back approach to photography (I personally try to mix the Zen/Taoist philosophies of observing and moving with the flow of life rather then trying to influence my subjects). Rangefinder use takes a bit more patience. It isn't based on capturing as many frames as possible and picking the best, there is no autofocus, no zoom lenses, no 8 fps motor drives. I find using a rangefinder to be more intuitive then any other camera. It feels more like an extension of my eyes and brain rather then a tool.

All of this aside I think the largest influence on our collective attitudes is our primary subject matter: Humanity. I would venture to guess that there are not many RF photographers who shoot strictly landscape or sports photos. Most of us are in htis because we feel some sort of connection to life and we want to capture that to the best of our abilities. Rangefinders are the best chioce for this style.

In other words, we are chosen by the camera, not the other way around.

Just some thoughts that have been going through my head. Pardon me for not being as eloquent as I generally am. I have had too much coffee and too many birthday (mine) cupcakes 🙂

Any thoughts?

 

[d30gaijin]

I'd have to agree with that. When I go into a camera store, if there's a nice rangefinder there it chooses me. Funny too how the camera always seems to know my credit limit.

 

[kbg32]

On humanity? Feh.

On mankind? Give'em time. They'll figure it out sooner or later.

 

[kbg32]

Oh, BTW - Happy Birthday.

 

[cp_ste.croix]

first off...Happy Birthday.

I know that thereason I chose to switch to rf's is because I wanted more discretion, which translates to a shooting attitute for me, not getting into people's faces and generally trying to capture something without taking it...even words like capture and take seem too violent for what I strive for.

The camera definitely helps this. My SLR looks like a weapon, my RF looks like a toy. I'm not sure how others feel, but this place does have something special, whether that's unique or a condition of being an RF photographer, I don't know.

 

[yossarian]

Having pondered this very topic myself and drawn a similar conclusion, now that
you've mentioned it publicly I find myself more inclined to give weight to it than when I thought it was just one of my off-kilter musings. You even mentioned the
Zen aspects, so I have to believe there's something to it.
I'll not waste space recapping what you said, but I do thank you for bringing it up.
Well said.

Fred

 

[Honu-Hugger]

(snip)...Any thoughts?

Nothing profound...I'm mentally loafing through the afternoon 🙂 but wholeheartedly agree with what you have so succinctly captured about the RFF members and attitude. I was looking through my own group of photos the other day and was left thinking there was no real direction to any of them, but I like how you describe that we connect to life -- that makes sense. Thank you for posting your thoughts on this.

 

[sf]

Thanks for the nice comment on RFF. You've captured alot of the message there.

Take off your hat and coat and hang out for a bit.

Welcome.

 

[amateriat]

The camera chooses us...given how many people here have their cats as avatars, the concept sort of makes sense. 🙂

Since the rangefinder is rather closely related to what we generally call street photography, it would seem to follow that you can't be terribly antisocial to persue such a thing. As opposed to the SLR thing, part of the RF experience is to make the camera as physically insignificant in the photographic moment as possible, and less of a barrier between photographer and subject than would be the case with a typical loaded-for-bear pro SLR and requisite big, fast zoom.

A lot of people here seem rather off the beaten path (that's a compliment, folks, and I include myself here), with some interesting passions which obviously include but in no way limited to just photography (one search of OT threads here should be proof enough of this). Even most of the regular shop-talk stuff is a bit more interesting than ususal. This is what keeps me coming back here.


- Barrett

 

[kmack]

Ah cut out the touchy feely crap...
If I wanted Dr. Phil I'd watch the Lifetime channel.
Time to fill up the gallery with snapshots of my cat.

(Sorry, could not resist 😀 )

 

[back alley]

kevin i keep wanting to tell you that i love your avatar.
that pic cracks me up every time i see it!!

 

[robert blu]

Buon Compleanno ! Happy Birthday ! I agree with your comments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. grazie

 

[kmack]

kevin i keep wanting to tell you that i love your avatar.
that pic cracks me up every time i see it!!

Thanks, It's about 1/8 of full frame of APX I shot around my home town here. Unfortunately I was not able to frame it correctly and the sun was setting, reflecting off the beige siding of the house so the highlights are totally blown.

 

[John Camp]

Other reasons why things seem nicer here:

1. It's an older mix; a lot of us just don't feel like pointless fighting anymore, being long out of high school.
2. Many of us actually own the cameras we're talking about.

JC

 

[John Camp]

And (I forgot this one above),

3. If you use a rangefinder, you probably have a sense of humor. It cracks me up that somebody complimented Kevin on his avatar, and Kevin came back as comploained that he'd blown the highlights.

 

[lushd]

The camera chooses us? That explains it!

Lá breithe shona duit (That's Irish for Happy Birthday).

Thanks for some food for thought.

 

[Michiel Fokkema]

Same thing on the Leica users group.
Very realaxed bunch of people and we talk about Leica's, whiskey, whisky, beer, hats, bags, porshe's etc.
On the other hand, the general Dutch photo news group is a nightmare. No respect at all.

Cheers,

Michiel

 

[Socke]

No, can't be the camera, seen any Zeiss Ikon threads on photo.net?
It's the people!

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I do believe we have a better group of people here.

But the bottom line is here at RFF, the MODERATOR does his job !!! At Pnet Leica forum, the same cannot be said.

No community can serve without good people and good policing. In our case, we are lucky Joe has been diligent in giving out gentle and not so gentle reminders to those who are tempted to stray or corrupt.

I surmise that if our Moderators were put in charge of Pnet's Leica forum, that would be a cleaner, more civil and better house.

 

[dadsm3]

I always thought it was our demographic.....a little more relaxed than the mercenary snap, snap, snap, delete, delete, delete of the younger, high-powered DSLR crowd.
Politeness, patience, helpfulness, tolerance, thoughtfulness and a social conscience are all traits that are conducive to RF photography, and this attitude filters into this forum.
Maybe the fact that people on the street instinctively sense this general attitude are the reason RF users are so much less intimidating and can capture such great streetshots, rather than just the size of the camera.