Ever get mistaken for...

[Spanik]

Once got asked if I was a reporter. When I was taking photo's of the animals of a circus with the Kiev 60. Not exactly a camera for a reporter I would think.

Today at a festival it was fun looking at the camera's. The lady with the press badge used an OM-D. Most amateurs DSLR's with honking big zooms, even some white cannons. Rest p&s and about as much phones, one ipad clown. One idiot with film: me 😀

 

[Tijmendal]

So I was walking a little North of Union Square Park in Manhattan more than 10 years ago.

There was a young foreign couple, not speaking English. They were diddling around with the latest whiz-bang digital camera of the day.

They stop a sort of elegant/shabbily dressed guy with thick glasses and greyish hair; "Please take our picture, Mister?"

"My pleasure", he says.

The foreign guy elaborately explains to the man with glasses how to push the shutter, how to frame a picture, how to make sure it's in focus, etc etc, in schoolbook English. "Keep the sun behind you, look through here."

The guy pressed into taking the photo smiles, nods his head sagely when instructed how to take a photo.

The couple stands back, the guy moves the camera around a bit, takes four or five snaps with the digital camera.

"Thank you, mister, thank you very much!" says the beaming couple.

Richard Avedon hands the camera back to them, says "you're welcome", and continues strolling uptown and turns the corner, disapearing out of sight........

Best. (Photography related) Story. Ever.

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."

I'm going to use this. Haha.

Richard, when I got that question (from an aggressive male) I replied "Yes, 'cuz you look cute."
/quote]

This is a really good one too!

 

[jwicaksana]

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."

This is good 😛 I'll try this some time.

 

[rluka]

I often got asked if I'm a reporter when having a walk taking random snapshot on the street or marketplace while smiling like a doofus to myself. Doesn't matter if it's with film camera, faux film camera, or digital mirrorless (no white bazooka though, don't have any).

Probably because, surely, only someone paid for the job would bother going to the marketplace taking random pictures of peoples. Hobbyist are busy taking pictures of hot sexy models, go to the tourist traps or doing studio works.

Other time, I got asked if I'm selling the pictures, which I just answer them, "I wish"

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i travel for work quite a bit,
in my recent travel to pakistan,
i dressed like a bohemian on the plane,
with a m3 around my neck. the
flight attendant asked me what
was my profession... i told
her i was a travel photographer,
boy, that brought up a whole
series of smiles and questions....

M3 with 50 Lux...

 

[mfunnell]

I love obscure one man crusades with an audience of one.

I resemble that remark.

Barry Humphries would be proud of you.

That's his problem.

...Mike

 

[jsrockit]

"Did you just take a photograph of me?" "No. This is film. It's expensive. I don't waste it."

Haha, great reply.

 

[Calzone]

In some sketchier parts of NYC John and I were just walking with our cameras and a passing comment was, "Where's the crime scene?"

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Do all you guys with film, old cameras or rangefinder cameras somehow feel smug and superior to all the clueless doofi with DSLRs and big lenses?

Is the only advantage, to using the type of gear we prefer, to feel superior? Don't be an ass.

 

[KenR]

I had my 4x5 setup on a tripod in front of a run down abandoned building a few years ago and was mistaken for a surveyor. A fellow comes up to me and asks what they're going to put up in its place. I expressed my ignorance, and he says "sure, sure - then why are you surveying the property?"

 

[wolves3012]

Do all you guys with film, old cameras or rangefinder cameras somehow feel smug and superior to all the clueless doofi with DSLRs and big lenses?

Why? Are they all ignorant, non-artistic fools, unlike spiritually minded sincere auteurs such as yourselves?

No but then again, neither do I feel inferior. "Spray and pray", "Chimping" and big-lens DSLRs are almost guaranteed to produce some good shots amongst the dross. Personally, it's more about the approach. By giving some thought to what I want and trying to see the artistic side of things, I do try to get superior shots whilst not wasting film. Superior here, of course, means to my idea of the scene. Not that I always succeed in that, either.

 

[Rodchenko]

No, I never get mistaken for a professional. In the popular mind, professional is equated with two SLRs, big lenses, flash etc. I tote a little Canon digital, or a small rangefinder almost as old as me. Very different.

I do wonder what people do think of me as I'm taking photos. Perhaps I wonder about it too much. But in London, I suppose I'm taken for a tourist. A lot of them have Canon G series cameras, so it'd fit. I don't mind at all, though I don't often take photos of the things tourists tend to be interested in.

 

[Boris Stupak]

You might want to examine that remark.

I am as guilty as anyone else here in regards to being addicted to gear. I have a Leica M9 with 100's of lenses (true). I have a vast array of modern and vintage gear that I enjoy using. My wife calls me a hoarder, which is true.

What is the advantage? There is none.

Using a Summicron ASPH and the M9 is probably more difficult as opposed to using a Nikon D600 with AF. It is just because I like to use the Leica that I usually do.

But except for someone who is doing a microscopic examination of the files, there is no difference in the photos. (except maybe the D600 is better focused when taking photos of one's fast-moving kids)

The subjective quality of even an iPhone camera and a Leica M9 is really about the same for all intents and purposes when posting on the web, when viewing on a computer, even when making prints.

We LIKE to use the exotic stuff we have. There is probably more of an "advantage" in using a phone camera. It's always in your pocket, you can quickly use it, you can send the photo to others in an instant. (why were Leicas popular the 1930's? smaller. always with you. use it quickly as opposed to a bulky Kodak or tripod camera. complicated fine mechanical stuff to make you feel superior and part of the secret society of aficionados)

Just read the remarks of others. They look down on the clueless huddled masses with their big DSLRs and giant lenses. Because WE are part of a cult and they ain't.

We think the ghosts of Robert Capa, HCB and Weegee are whispering to US, and not to THEM. We use the holy gear, they use the garbage. (yes, you can rationalize that YOUR CAMERAS are smaller, lighter, nicer, sharper, require more skill. or maybe your camera uses film. ha ha.....SINGLE USE SENSOR...ANALOG.....SUPERIOR......not like the DIGITAL 'CANIKONS" of those unwashed fools)

What is the advantage, other than spending large sums of money on archaic or exotic equipment? About the same as an "audiophile" feels when he spends $4000 on some interconnect or power cable.

Guilty as charged.

Is the only advantage, to using the type of gear we prefer, to feel superior? Don't be an ass.

 

[Graham Line]

Was rarely mistaken for a professional, even when I was one.

 

[kbg32]

I'm not a big guy. I always get pushed out of the way with guys who shoot with big honkin' DSLRs and lenses when they see I have a small camera in hand.

 

[Boris Stupak]

I'm not a big guy. I always get pushed out of the way with guys who shoot with big honkin' DSLRs and lenses when they see I have a small camera in hand.

 

[kbg32]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

 

[Calzone]

North of Queens Plaza my Nikon F3P with a motordrive and handstrap was mistaken for a gun by someone passing by. I watch as the guy scrambled for cover while he kept his eyes on my every move.

On the South side of Queens Plaza I was mistaken for a plain clothes cop by a truck driver. I was wearing a Gossen Luna Pro light meter, and the truck driver though it was a cop's badgeholder. The driver said to me."Its about time you got here. I called 911 a while ago." I said, "Excuse me," because initially I didn't understand why he was addressing me, but I eventually figured out that he had called the police.

The few times I have been asked if I'm a "professional" I replied, "No, I'm just a guy with a pony tail."

In Madhattan I think I get mistaken as a Japanese tourist, even though ethnically I'm Chinese. I use this to my advantage because generally New Yorkers give tourists some leeway. A few times I have heard some New Yorkers say, "Fxxx-N tourists" but I get away with the shot without someone getting in my face. Now I play it up.

Cal

 

[Chris101]

Some young girls that were sitting on a bench wanted someone to take their picture. The girl that handed me the camera said, 'you look like a professional'.
As I walked away I thought to myself...a professional what??

I think the only answer would be "Bow chika bow bow".

 

[squareshooter]

I have a Nikon DSLR with lenses from 19mm to 500mm so do not look down at digital users. I also have an Olympus Camedia digital I bought used for $15 that takes truly stunning photos. I think Boris is missing the point. I, for one, love old film cameras and have about 50. We are discussing other folks' reaction to our seemingly ancient and oddball cameras.