Photographers and Marksmen

Photographers and Marksmen

  • Yes

    Votes: 181 51.1%

  • No

    Votes: 173 48.9%
  • Total voters
    354
  • Poll closed .
At one time I collected guns, and learned what a black hole collecting can be! That's why I now constantly examine my motives for wanting a new piece of camera gear. I don't want to fall into the trap again!
 
In Denmark you need a weapons permit to carry a a pocket knif if the blade is more than 5 cm so I dropped the whole gun collectiong business before i got into it- but i did shoot in a club once and I think that the breathing techniques the trainer told me helped me do hand held shots at at least two stops slower without camera shakes.
 
Very good point, Ruben! I too think I can better hand-hold a camera at a slow shutter speed due to techniques learned in competitive rifle shooting.
 
I came upon this topic as I took a break from writing an article about photography and hunting.

Very a propos non?

So let me start off by saying: My name is Craig and I like guns.

(group reply) "Hi Craig"

I am also an artist, photographer, photography educator, self confessed dog nut and lover of jazz and peaty scotch.

I should also mention that when I say "I like" or "I'm into" something I actually mean that I am in so deeply you'd need Jacques Cousteau in a diving bell to pull me out.

Guns? Ya I've got a safe full of 'em despite living in Canada, the home of the 2 billion dollar gun registration program that makes about as much sense as putting a thong on a flatulent rhino. In fact I'm in the market for another gun. I am leaning towards an Aya #2 16 guage but my obsession for a Leica M3 keeps getting in the way of that purchase.....

Photography? Check. What started out as a hobby 20 some years ago is now my profession. I am a commercial photographer specializing in being a generalist in a mid sized Canadian city. My studio is of course mainly digital now with all kinds of bits and bites flying around daily but all of my staff shooters are well versed in the traditional ways and some have even caught the RF bug.

Educator? Check. I earned eductation related degrees in Manitoba and Quebec and ended up teaching in the public school system. What did I do when I got out after swearing I would never teach again? Yup, I started a photography school. We have 16 full time students in a 10 month diploma program and welcome over 700 part time enthusiasts to evening courses throughout the year.

Dog? Triple Check... we have three. Two Weimaraners and and an Epagneul de Pont Audemer. I am currently writing a book on the various pointing breeds from continental Europe and travel in North America and Europe photographing dogs with a variety of cameras including my trusty rangefinders.

Jazz and peaty scotch? Stay tuned. I will post some photos of this weekend's concert by Luciana Sousa and I will drink a toast of Ardbeg to all my new friends at RFF

Cheers!
 
I have not fired a gun in many years, but still have a few. AR-1, Bolt-Action 22LR that my dad gave me when I turned 10, and an 1891 Mauser. I have enough property to legally fire the 22LR in my back yard, but I have not. We have a lot of deer around the area, yesterday 6 came through at once. They are fairly tame, but manage to notice whenever I have a telephoto. Some of my friends hunt, and would love to try out the backyard. I tell them that would be fine, they will be dodging bullets, my Wife has the AR-1, a banana clip, and the high ground...
 
To say I'm also a shooting enthusiast would be a slight understatement. For starters I live on and manage the local public shooting range (rifle and pistol range) outside of Boise, Idaho. I have been a long range competitive target rifle shooter since 1991. I shot at Camp Perry in the National Matches in 1995, didn't do all that well (thanks to a cross fire) but had a great time. I haven't been back to Camp Perry since because there is a rather limited number of long range matches at the National Matches there, not to mention it's a 4400 mile round trip for me (long range being 800, 900, & 1000 yards). I have since; each year instead, attended the Rocky Mountain Palma Matches at the NRA Whittington Center at Raton, New Mexico where they shoot long range for nearly a week (that's only a 2000 mile round trip).

I have shot long range matches in California, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia. In 1999 and 2000 I was fortunate enough to be selected as a firing team member on the USA Team to British Columbia shooting against the Canadian and British Rifle Teams. In 1999 I finished as 2nd high team scorer for the USA, and in 2000 as the high team scorer for the USA.

Photography wise I am a gearhead, shooting wise I'm a gun nut. I also enjoy astronomy, riding my Harley on occasion, trying to rebuild my Porsche 914, and doing good work for the great people of the State of Idaho by also working for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (yep, I work two jobs, have for the last 6 1/2 years).

Sorry for the lengthy dissertation.

Don
 
Peter said:
I have this little theory that firearms shooters tends to be involved in photography. I have noticed it here in Singapore at the local shooting club.
Click to expand...

I think it has to do with working with fine, intricate, and well made machinery that can be appreciated. I've noticed photographers, gun nuts, and car nuts tend to flock together.
 
Guns
Cameras
Watches
Stereo stuff
Motorcycles
Musclecars


Did I forget anything?
 
I don't own any firearms, nor have I ever, but I did in fact enjoy my time on rifle team in college and all weapons qualification in the Army. For some reason, I've always found it relaxing, probably because I have to force myself not to be tense the same way I do in photography.
 
Colt National Match c. 1935, Ruger single-action magnum, stainless.

Lots of Leicas, a 1972 Land Rover Series III, a 1978 BMW R100RS...

Cheers,

Roger
 
bmattock said:
I also suspect that a part of it might be the appreciation of fine machinery. Great classic SLRs and rangefinders have that essence of the awesome about them, such that they transcend being merely recorders of photons on film, objects of glass and steel, and become imbued with something that, if not an actual soul, is very much like one in many respects.
Click to expand...

that's definitely the case with me.. I was drawn to handguns because of the mechanical aspects.. and like cameras, I learned that newer is not necessarily better.. my first handgun was a H&K USP40, which I bought because it touted the newest technology.. same thing for my first camera, a Nikon D70

now I own a Kimber CDP, which is built on the Browning 1911 design.. and my favorite camera is a Yashica GSN.. with a Bessa R3A soon on its way.. and eventually a Leica (model still undetermined)
 
I would love to own a handgun but another hobby???!!!
My wife would shoot me then take one of the cameras and shoot me again to warn any others who try the same !!!
 
My mom said I was born with a gun in my hand (watch it!), since as a kid I supplied the myself and the neighbors kids with toy guns playing army, cowboys/indians and cops/robbers.
The photography came later, around age 8, using dad's Brownies's and Polaroids.
The old rangefinders are much easier on the wallet than new pistols these days, and not as much Paperwork to own either - LOL.
 
I don't know how I missed this thread until today. I also own firearms and cameras. I have an Old Model Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt that I did NOT have modified with the new "improved" transfer bar type hammer. It just sounds better when it is cocked than the new model does. I also like the way my Contax IIa and IIIa sound when they are cocked and shot.

I also believe that being a rifle and handgun shooter helps with being a steady hand with a camera. But, having said that, I have shot enough that I know I can do better if I use a rest when shooting a rifle and a tripod when shooting a camera.

Along those same lines I think being a trap and skeet shooter along with being a bird hunter helps with the rangefinder style of seeing the photo oppurtunity and quickly "capturing" the moment.

I might mention that I also reload my ammo, mould my own bullets, make my own feather fletching for my arrows and develop and print my black & white film at home.

I shoot traditional bows (no wheels or cams on the limbs, no Kung-Fu laser sight devices, or releases). It's not that I have any thing against those types of compound bows, they, just like digital cameras, are not right for me.

I have a box full of medals around here some place that supposedly says I am a half way decent shot with a rifle, but I don't shoot near as much as I did as a youth.

Interesting thread.

Wayne
 
It interesting that just about any film camera forum seems to have quite a few folks interested in guns, too. Probably is the mechanical angle.
I used to shoot a lot -- Colt Combat Commander (just like my Leotax I wish I hadn't sold it). Still have the war surplus 1917 Enfield in my closet that my dad customized about 1949 as well as my late father-in-law's French Labelle bolt action (there's no safety!!). I hunted until my late 40s but found I enjoyed the companionship of the people on a deer hunt more than the actual hunting. Have no problem with people who hunt for meat but don't have much use for folks who trophy hunt. I think you tend to get more sensitive as you get older. Stll, if I didn't spend so much time a money on cameras I would probably has a civilian model AR-15 with the heavy match barrel in my closet. Never know when we might have to repell the Communist Hordes!! ;)
 
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