Ever get mistaken for...

farlymac

farlymac

PF McFarland
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Jan 1, 2009
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I was up on the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday with my Nikon P7700, when a couple came off one of the side trails, and engaged me in some friendly chatter. Somewhere along the line, the comment was made that "...you must be a professional", after the husband glanced at my camera. Granted, it looks somewhat spiffed up with it's hood attached, and we had been talking about some of the film cameras I use.

Not bad, after someone on the "Advanced Compacts" forum pooh-poohed it as a P&S. But then, I remember 40 years ago, running around with a Kodak Instamatic X-35 that I had added one of those auxiliary hot shoes to that made it look like it had a pentaprism. Got the same kind of comment, based somewhat on the way I was moving around, framing my shots.

I always let them know that, no, I'm just another camera nut with nothing better to do. But it's nice to think that I can at least look the part when I'm out practicing the craft.

So, does your rig ever elicit the "...you must be..." comment?

PF
 
Sometimes a professional at a function will think I might be one too, but only because of having a Leica, which no sensible amateur would have. Or maybe it's my lens hood. A grown man in the lift the other day asked what the contraption on the front of my lens was. He was older than me, and had no idea about lens hoods.

I am most often mistaken for someone from the municipal council, on my walks carrying my camera around the inner city suburb at lunchtime near work.
 
not so much with my rangefinders

not so much with my rangefinders

Most questions come when I carry my eos1 v or 1ds and no I tell them I am not a pro:)
 
Nope. I was next to a photographer who did though recently. :)

I shooting a few portraits at the Solstice Parade with a Rolleiflex. I've posted the photos here a few times already and don't want to spam them anymore but I was very happy with the results.

Anyway, after photographing one of the subjects another photographer approached her. He was carrying a large SLR with a 80-200 lens on it, strobe, etc. Big kit. Anyway, he started photographing her, 8+ shots per burst. Probably 80-100 shots in 2 minutes or so. The subjects immediate reaction was 'you must be a professional, who do you work for?'. Must have been a strange transition to go from the single shot I took with a minute of setup to all those photos.
 
No, not really but I get asked quite a bit to take pictures of people with their own cameras (or cell phones)...
 
Using two professional looking cameras at the same time seems to be a sure fire way of getting asked 'who are you taking taking these for ?'.
A lot of people seem to recognize a pair of Leicas even with blackened red dots.
 
I used to get the occasional "You work for the paper" Now, especially when I'm waiting for trains while standing on the Center St. bridge sidewalk. "Ummm might be a terrorist":D Got stopped by police 3 weeks ago.


BTW your package is being wrapped (by wife) & hopefully sent out Monday.:)
 
On Thursday, I took my F3 out to a bridge and set it up on a tripod hoping to get a few long exposures of the fireworks. There was a lady who asked me if I were a professional – I replied that I was simply working on an assignment for my film photography class. She quickly lost interest. I suppose any time someone pulls out something bigger than a smart phone, people assume they're up to something important.
 
With the DSLR and a white Tele, yeah. I usually will reply with "no, that's work" or something equally witty. With one of the rangefinders I will get a lot of "Oh, you use an antique" comments.
 
PKR said:
As a working professional, I can tell you that I go out of my way to NOT look like a professional photographer when working in public on my own projects. When working professionally with a lot of gear and assistants it's difficult to hide.
Click to expand...

YMMV - obscurity often works the wrong way. I found that you can at the same time still attract comments and stares from every idiot in town while security drones, concierges or other wannabe policemen will strictly refuse to accept your business card, written credentials and (already paid) photo permission as "you don't look like a photographer"...
 
Actually interestingly I get more comments and interested folk with my xpro1 and x100 than my 5d III. Leicas attract heaps too.
 
What about the people who WANT to be taken for pros?

I saw a guy with a D600, battery pack and flash-on-bracket, walking about in Prague, on the Charles bridge, in full, intense daylight, actually taking photographs with that rig. It must have weighed half a ton.

Me? I had my own Fuji X100 around the neck. Never got mistaken for a pro with it. :)
 
My purpose is more often mistaken by others. "Did you just take a photograph of me?" "No. This is film. It's expensive. I don't waste it."
 
Richard, when I got that question (from an aggressive male) I replied "Yes, 'cuz you look cute."

You should have seen him run away. :)

BTW, I didn't take his photograph. He arrogantly assumed so. I wonder why... ;)
 
Last weekend I was out with the M4 and got quite a few "wait, what kind of camera is that?" queries after photographing people. Even one chuffed gentleman who was kind enough to tell me I'm dumb and stupid for taking people's photos without their permission. Though no one took me for a professional, i.e., someone trying to make money off them. I do like the hobbyist vibe of the M4 as it deters people from trying to get out of the way of a "real photographer."
 
When you go around like I do taking photos with ancient cameras like the Yashica J rangefinder and the Bilora Bella 66, you get a lot of "wazzat?" questions. At least they know it's not a digital.
 
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