Explaining yourself

Amazing how 9/11 changed otherwise reasonable folks' ideas about many things. Mine included. Although, I haven't called the cops yet when I see someone taking pictures. Unless, of course, they have a Kalashnikov over the other shoulder. :)

Another proud conservative.
 
Nope, just a hobby. Yes, I can still find film for it.

Nope, just a hobby. Yes, I can still find film for it.

I was out today in Washington DC (7-14th Sts) with the R'flex T I bought here on RFF 3-4 weeks ago. I was stopped 4 times by people saying "what a cool camera. Can you still get film for it." One pair of college-age girls chatted 5 minutes, "do you develop the film yourself." The last one, a 50-something woman who quilts, asked me where to get film - she has a Canon Whatever and want to dig it out.

And no, I'm not professional, it's just a hobby. I give the photos to family & friends at Christmas/birthdays. That's it. I'm older than the camera so the under-Thirty set tend to ask me if I've "always owned it." TLR's rate high as both neat-o and innocuous. Old RF Nikon/Leica ditto, if they can see the "real leather."

A month ago, out with an M4 kit, same area, a college student with DSLR asked if she could take my picture as part of her Class Project. Photographing the (geek) photographer. I got to lounge on an ATM machine in a jumbo-slice pizza place. This is like being able to tell people you were in the same elevator as Bob Hope or somebody famous.
 
Peter_wrote: said:
aaah... i nearly forgot, that you are now one of the stern moderators, we have to be aware of..:D
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Yes Peter, The Whip is Coming Out
Stephen wants me to wear a Dominatrix Outfit
when I'm signed In...:eek:...:p...:angel: / wink, wink,wink

All in Jest of Course !
 
helenhill said:
Yes Peter, The Whip is Coming Out
Stephen wants me to wear a Dominatrix Outfit
when I'm signed In...:eek:...:p...:angel: / wink, wink,wink

All in Jest of Course !
Click to expand...


We'll need photos of that ... thanks! :angel:
 
perfect timing: so i went to one of my favorite local restaurants Mesob- Ethiopian restaurant, with my new (to me) M6. had a perfect front right window table and decided before I left I would do a full restaurant shot. few minutes later a lady asked if I took her photo and my knee jerk was, sorry if it seemed like that but I am trying a new film camera and was trying to get a light exposure of he room- with that she said "ah no problem-good luck with your camera"......
 
If someone just asks nicely, I say I'm a freelance photographer, and sell images to stock houses or directly to publishers. Most people have no idea, and if you say it with authoritativeness, they will buy it.

I was only approached once in more of a combative than inquisitiveness manner. That's when your street instincts take over, and you back them up. Otherwise I've had no issues over the years.
 
FrankS said:
I'm thinking more if one is confronted on the street, or questioned what one is doing.

Was hoping for something more eloquent, but not over the top, than: I'm just a hobby photographer taking pictures.
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Nothing to add here. When someone asks me why I am shooting I tell them I am a hobby photographer..
 
At 64 I simply explained I just retired and now following the dream of my life, attending a photography school just for my pleasure to learn it. And of course my teacher gave me an assignment. It works quite well...
robert
 
helenhill said:
Yes Peter, The Whip is Coming Out
Stephen wants me to wear a Dominatrix Outfit
when I'm signed In...:eek:...:p...:angel: / wink, wink,wink

All in Jest of Course !
Click to expand...

A dominatrix photographer with her whip??? Thats why you never have to explain yourself Helen :D
when will the book be out for sale? :p
Best regards
 
I say, "I'm trying out a new camera" or "I've just bought this lens and I'm trying it out".

People are so conditioned to consumerism and possession that they normally accept it without hesitation. Also, 'trying it out' reassures them that you're taking pointless pictures just to see it it works: no awkward explanations about why you're shooting a particular subject.

Cheers,

R.
 
Sparrow said:
if I'm confronted I confront back
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Over here, "confrontation" isn't verbal, it's physical.
Had a guy grab my camera and almost throw it in the Rhône.

Since coming to urban France, I have found people's attitudes MUCH different than in Asia. Notions of space and privacy are different, and people are generally much more aggressive, especially sexually. I'd say "confrontational" is just the normal modus operandi for urban areas here.

I live in a "hot" district downtown near historic Lyon, and people can get VERY upset about cameras. In my area, it almost invariably has to do with racial/ethnic/gender tension.
 
noimmunity said:
Over here, "confrontation" isn't verbal, it's physical.
Had a guy grab my camera and almost throw it in the Rhône.

Since coming to urban France, I have found people's attitudes MUCH different than in Asia. Notions of space and privacy are different, and people are generally much more aggressive, especially sexually. I'd say "confrontational" is just the normal modus operandi for urban areas here.

I live in a "hot" district downtown near historic Lyon, and people can get VERY upset about cameras. In my area, it almost invariably has to do with racial/ethnic/gender tension.
Click to expand...

I grew up in that sort of place, and was the only kid in the area who got to the grammar school so I wore a uniform that attracted idiots for years ... I learned how it works back then, sometimes one thing works and sometimes it's another, but if you are faced with a yob appearing weak isn't helpful

"it is safer to walk a dangerous road boldly" ... Sun Tzu
 
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