Why are photographers sometimes people who might consider themselves as shy?

J

jgw

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This is a well known phenomenon, but I think mainly for certain types of photography, which maybe attract a certain type of person, which is in itself interesting. I don't want to lead or direct the responses (if any) at this stage, but I do have my own answers to this, and these are wide ranging, and for various reasons.

Would you consider yourself a shy person; and if so, what would be your definition of 'shy'? Have you ever not taken pictures because of this, (I know this particular question is covered on this forum in other ways) though I would have thought that it's more likely that certain photographic situations have not been tackled or even entered into and therefore lost. But maybe you've dealt with similar situations before? Do you know any photographers you would have described as shy? We all know that the photographs we miss are the ones we still see in our mind's eye which can haunt us for a long time! As do certain photographic opportunities, perhaps not taken advantage of at relevant times. Perhaps you don't agree with any of this at all!
 
I think a lot of shy people take up photography because that means they'll be behind the camera instead of in front of it. I would have concidered myself a shy person... but after years of photography I think it's helped me become more social... I used to go to parties and not really know what to do, I was the guy sitting in the corner quietly, talking to a few other quiet people. But everyone like getting their picture taken at a party and I found photography gave me something to do while I was there... and consequently I ended up mingling and socializing as I took pictures. It really helped me come out of my shell.

It's also an instant conversation starter... I used to have a hard time talking to people I didn't know, but have a Leica around your neck and 99.9% of people will ask you about it :)
 
Wow, thanks Disaster_Area for your quick response. I can relate to almost everything you mention. I certainly never liked being photographed and interestingly, one of my first moments of 'visual investigation' was many years ago when I sorted out all my family's photos which were in various packages and all jumbled up. I put them all into many albums in chronological order, but did notice that I wasn't on as many as I should have been! I've certainly done the party thing too, and still do this.

Is this really a 'reason' to do photography? Has your photography become something you discovered you could do and enjoy for its own sake, or is it a tool for escape, or maybe now both?
 
jgw said:
This is a well known phenomenon, but I think mainly for certain types of photography, which maybe attract a certain type of person, which is in itself interesting. I don't want to lead or direct the responses (if any) at this stage, but I do have my own answers to this, and these are wide ranging, and for various reasons.

Would you consider yourself a shy person; and if so, what would be your definition of 'shy'? Have you ever not taken pictures because of this, (I know this particular question is covered on this forum in other ways) though I would have thought that it's more likely that certain photographic situations have not been tackled or even entered into and therefore lost. But maybe you've dealt with similar situations before? Do you know any photographers you would have described as shy? We all know that the photographs we miss are the ones we still see in our mind's eye which can haunt us for a long time! As do certain photographic opportunities, perhaps not taken advantage of at relevant times. Perhaps you don't agree with any of this at all!
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Uh... landscape photographers are shy, maybe. I shoot nudes. Other photographers do things like street photography and environmental portraiture, where you have to shoot people, often unaware, and then approach them, tell them about it, and get them to sign releases. There are fashion photographers, glamour photographers, photojournalists and etcetera too. You can't possibly do any of those sorts of things, with any appreciable degree of success, and be shy.
 
Guess it all depends on what you're shooting. I shoot a lot of people, so I need to be social and outgoing, otherwise people might not relax in front of the camera or be so welcoming in allowing you to shoot in a given situation. This is not to say that you need to be aggressive (though that may be necessary sometimes), but it's all in creating a rapport with your subjects -- shyness may hinder your ability to do that.

A plate of food, however, doesn't care if you're shy....
 
jgw said:
Is this really a 'reason' to do photography? Has your photography become something you discovered you could do and enjoy for its own sake, or is it a tool for escape, or maybe now both?
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I started out in photography because it was something I could do alone... I didn't really like people... well... at least I found I didn't like being around people... I was shy, awkward and just found it a relaxing "alone" hobby that got me out of the house. I started with landscapes, nature and street photography sans people. Then one day I realized I was pretty good at it... and other people thought so to... I got invited to a more social activities as I think because people stopped seeing me as that shy awkward guy, instead I was that "introspective photographer guy that always has a camera with him" and therefor more interesting :)

Gradually I started taking on more and more "social" types of photography... my street photography started to include people... I took pictures at parties... I did some informal portraits etc and by the time I went to University I had become many times more "social" than I ever thought I would be... now I shoot concerts, nudes, fashion and get paid to go to clubs to take pictures of people there... so I think I came into photography at one end of the social spectrum and ended up at the other... although I still prefer to be behind the camera instead of in front of it :)
 
I don't think I've ever been accused of being shy. LOL! :)

I've always been outgoing. However, I have noticed that a number of amateur photographers do appear to be reserved and yes, shy.

I do admit that I don't shoot (unacquainted) human subjects very often. Not that I'm shy of doing so, but I do respect their personal space.
 
There is some rather obvious crowding of shy people in highly extroverted professions (like actors, models or media personalities) which is obviously due to over-compensation, but photographers are hardly more public than a swimming pool cleaner or jobbing gardener (who have to visit ten peoples houses a day), so we can presumably disregard that...

The most simple answer would be that photographers are no more or less shy than average - shyness usually is not as pathological as to prevent people from freely choosing their hobbies and profession...
 
FallisPhoto said:
Uh... landscape photographers are shy, maybe. I shoot nudes. Other photographers do things like street photography and environmental portraiture, where you have to shoot people, often unaware, and then approach them, tell them about it, and get them to sign releases. There are fashion photographers, glamour photographers, photojournalists and etcetera too. You can't possibly do any of those sorts of things, with any appreciable degree of success, and be shy.
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I've never thought of landscape photographers as maybe being shy. When I wrote the first post I was already disliking this word: shy. You see, lots of people have their own interpretation of what this 'shy' means as can be seen by what FallisPhoto has said. I'm not really 'shy' myself, though I'm certainly not extrovert. I was hoping to find out why certain personalities find themselves doing the photography they do. You'll obviously choose to photograph subjects that have some interest for you, yourself initially. Photography is a subject, rather like journalism, that enables you to explore almost whatever and wherever you want. Do we do this because of who we are? Do we do this because of our own experiences? Therefore, do our own personalities always allow us to explore the areas we would like to?
 
Disaster_Area said:
I started out in photography because it was something I could do alone... I didn't really like people... well... at least I found I didn't like being around people... I was shy, awkward and just found it a relaxing "alone" hobby that got me out of the house. I started with landscapes, nature and street photography sans people. Then one day I realized I was pretty good at it... and other people thought so to... I got invited to a more social activities as I think because people stopped seeing me as that shy awkward guy, instead I was that "introspective photographer guy that always has a camera with him" and therefor more interesting :)

Gradually I started taking on more and more "social" types of photography... my street photography started to include people... I took pictures at parties... I did some informal portraits etc and by the time I went to University I had become many times more "social" than I ever thought I would be... now I shoot concerts, nudes, fashion and get paid to go to clubs to take pictures of people there... so I think I came into photography at one end of the social spectrum and ended up at the other... although I still prefer to be behind the camera instead of in front of it :)
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Hi Disaster_Area,

I was certainly a bit like that in my teenage years. I was a bit awkward and introvert and didn't really like a lot of the things I was expected to do. Probably just hormone trouble;) But I always was interested in people.
Your posts have been interesting as they've involved your personality and maybe even change it or at least adapted it a little. I'm happy it's worked out so well for you.
 
sevo said:
There is some rather obvious crowding of shy people in highly extroverted professions (like actors, models or media personalities) which is obviously due to over-compensation, but photographers are hardly more public than a swimming pool cleaner or jobbing gardener (who have to visit ten peoples houses a day), so we can presumably disregard that...

The most simple answer would be that photographers are no more or less shy than average - shyness usually is not as pathological as to prevent people from freely choosing their hobbies and profession...
Click to expand...

There is a lot of over-compensation in society covering many subjects. But I think because photography covers and records an infinite number of subjects, there's the potential for a lot of camouflage and even some chameleon activity with photographers, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Certainly some actors find this enjoyable and maybe even useful to them.

I've met many photographers with differing personalities, but what's interesting is how this influences their work.
 
Disaster_Area said:
It's also an instant conversation starter... but have a Leica around your neck and 99.9% of people will ask you about it :)
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Well, I don't have a Leica, and I NEVER have a camera "around my neck", but I do know what you mean. I had a guy at a bar ask "is that a rangefinder?" when he saw my GIII. I also had a guy on an elevator remark "Oh wow! A real camera!" when he saw me carrying the Pentax.

And, the first time I met another RFFer IRL, I was in a conference and saw somebody a couple tables away pull out a M8. "Hey, are you on RFF?" :) :)
 
I think the funniest comment I got was when I had my Rolleicord around my neck... guy in the elevator says: "Oh wow... cool old radio.. I have one just like it at home!"

I really wonder what this guy is listening to :)... I don't think Rollei ever made a TLR with a stereo upgrade package.
 
The most mystifying question I get about my "vintage" looking stuff is: "wow... does that thing still take pictures?"

"no... I just like really heavy necklaces" ;)

It's amazing just how often I get the same question
 
Yes, I'm very shy. Quiet, retiring, afraid of my own shadow. I seldom say what I really mean or think. My opinions don't matter and I just want to be left alone.
 
bmattock said:
Yes, I'm very shy. Quiet, retiring, afraid of my own shadow. I seldom say what I really mean or think. My opinions don't matter and I just want to be left alone.
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Bill is the archtype of a shy photog...:D

I don't know any "shy" photographers. The ones I know work alone most of the time both in the field and in the darkroom (I am blessed with two great friends/photographers who I road trip with all the time...still, everyone works their own side of the street so to speak).

My experience is that you get two or three photographers talking and you can't shut them up...just get them talking about their favorite emulsion or the zone system....lol

Best regards,

Bob
 
I don't consider myself shy.

However, walking down the street and seeing someone really interesting and thinking "Oh I better get a shot of that person" and that same person then notices the camera and me, they give you that look "Oh if that guy just tries and takes my picture..."
Then I find it hard to take the picture, then whack myself over the head afterwards.
 
I don't think I'm a shy person. I'm a quiet person though and I don't talk much, not because I'm shy or anything like that, but because well I don't talk much :) and sometimes people mistake this as being shy.

And frankly, I think photographers who go out, approach and takes pictures of strangers on the street or other places, or take pictures of whatever it is they find interesting in public places and in front of many people, can not be considered shy.

But I think there are people who are new to photography who can be considered as "shy photographers". I see this all the time, mostly my friends. They have cameras in their hands, but most of the time they're too shy to take pictures and just stand there.

bob
 
I was a shy boy, unable to socialize and have difficulties to deal with a crow of people.

Then I started photography and it gives me such a pleasure to deal with people or an unmeasurable confidence to tackle with the society that I am involved. Obviously that boy still exists in me and I don't want him to be lost either.

On the other hand, I notice that a lot of loud people have a keen interest in being the models or subject of the photographs. Maybe by taking photographs, I have to deal with people who are more social than me and it helps to balance out.

Just my 2 cents of course.
 
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