Things Not To Say To a Photographer, #1

[amateriat]

Yep: never, ever say this.


- Barrett

 

[kshapero]

you mean this:

 

[nico]

I live in a small town and when I'm shooting it happens quite often to meet some people I know who, after taking a look to the camera, often asks with big smile "are you taking photos"? and my usual answer is a plain simple "no, why?"

 

[Keith]

The one that gets me is ... "I've just seen something over here that you really should take a photo of!"

It always turns out to be a flower or a kitten ... or something equally suitable for the lid of a biscuit tin! 😛

 

[Vince Lupo]

"The last guy who did these photos for me only charged $50.00"

That was from a phone call a week ago.

 

[David William White]

"I was thinking about getting a new camera. What's a good one?"

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I love XKCD, one of my favorite webcomics. Of course, what the duck is still the photographer's webcomic! I like Pictures for Sad Children, Sinfest, and Questionable Content too.

 

[swoop]

H. Fun thread.

yeah, I've been told what I should be taking pictures of. Even worse is when someone asks why you're photographing what you're photographing or what it is you're photographing. As if there needs to be a reason.

 

[craygc]

"I was thinking about getting a new camera. What's a good one?"

Followed closely by (I got this recently in an email) "I've just bought a digital camera, can you show me how to take good pictures!"

In reference to my Leica M "...is that an antique camera?"

In reference to my Mamiya 7II "...is that a Holga?"

In reference to my Leica M2 at airport security "...what do you mean it doesn't turn on?"

"...WHY do you use B&W film?"

 

[Spider67]

"Heyyyy a retro camera (and then ingenerous condescension) There also have to be nostalgic cameras like that one"
WTF is a "nostalgic camera"? A Holga longing for the shelfs of its factory in Hongkong or that brave little Leica feeling an ache for Wetzlar?

 

[emraphoto]

i loathe the "you should take a picture of THIS".

the expletives that are on the tip of my tongue wouldn't make it past the filter here.

 

[surfer dude]

Oh, so you're a photographer? Then you SHOULD have been here YESTERDAY!

 

[Turtle]

'why are you taking pictures of that? What you should be photographing is ______ You need one of those professional cameras with a long lens to do it properly though.' That was two weeks ago in Afghanistan.

Another from Afghanistan was overhearing a conversation between two Afghans:

Person 1: Whats that guy doing with a camera anyway. Why is he taking photos of us?
Person 2: Ahh, never mind him. I've seen him before. He's weird and is not interested in you. He seems to be more interested in dead people.' (I was photographing near some tombs)

 

[yanidel]

"How many pixels does your camera have ?"
Most of the time the first question ... which pretty much determines how interesting will lbe the conversation.

 

[kully]

Spoken: "Why are you taking photos?"
Thinking: "I hope you're not from the DSS, because I told them I can't walk more than 10 yards and need 24 hour care".

 

[swoop]

In reference to my Leica M2 at airport security "...what do you mean it doesn't turn on?"

lol. Classic.

 

[wotalegend]

"Hey, they're good photos. You must have a good/fancy/expensive camera."

To which the obvious reply is "Yeah, and Shakespeare had a good/fancy/expensive pen."

 

[krystek]

airport, hand luggage check, view 4x5" in my bag:"woow.. what's that? i'm not sure if you can get on board with this, something.."

 

[dave lackey]

Yep: never, ever say this.


- Barrett

Way to go, Barrett...

Great thread. Heard this stuff before and sometimes I just can't muster a response. Like when I release the shutter, someone walks over, looks at the M3 and asks, "Can I see the picture?"😱

 

[sepiareverb]

Is that a lens in your pocket?