Your Camera Will Make You Popular?

[Corran]

Other camera geeks might notice your Leica or Blad. However, one of the nice things about carrying my Linhof and shooting handheld candid-ish portraits is people ask ME to take their picture, rather than me having to ask them and then getting all kinds of questions about why and who I am shooting for, etc. So it's a nice ice-breaker. But that's not online attention so I guess that's not what you really mean 🙂.

 

[Rayt]

When I travel with 4x5 I become too popular for comfort. Young ladies grab me by the arm for selfies. Old men mob me for a peek under the dark cloth. Not kidding at all.

 

[peterm1]

When I travel with 4x5 I become too popular for comfort. Young ladies grab me by the arm for selfies. Old men mob me for a peek under the dark cloth. Not kidding at all.

I agree about the way young women seem to be intrigued by photographers - especially ones who carry Leica cameras. Or other old cameras - especially film cameras. I am not kidding either - they often do not know what the cameras are but they know they look "retro" and often ask about them. They regularly stop to ask questions and make conversation. It seems that film photography is cool right now.

Why did this not happen to me when I was twenty something? I figure it is because now I look harmless. Little do they know.........hahaha.

 

[Rayt]

My primary travel camera is a Rolleiflex TLR and it gets a lot of attention and comments everywhere in the world. The most annoying question is: Do they still make film?!? I like talking to people during my travels so it is a good opportunity to chat up the locals. I don't get much attention with the M6 but the Rollei, Hasselblad and 4x5 get lots of attention.

 

[citizen99]

Hello Kitty Leica by desmolicious, on Flickr

I love the irony 😀
BTW I followed the link to Flickr but it's 'Private' .

 

[ForestCap]

I'm the "one with odd cameras" in the institute I work for.

Currently shooting this Nicca 3-F

 

[robert blu]

For me it's all about the image, the photo, the content...

Looking back at my archive very oft the best photos are not the ones made with the "supposed" best camera...

robert
PS: for best I intend the photos which give me more emotion...and I'm not sure if there is a "best camera"...

 

[oftheherd]

I guess first. I am too old for girls to be interested and use my camera as their intro.

2nd, My two 35mm cameras of choice for about 10 years were certainly not cameras that were known well amongst camera users, never mind those who weren't camera users.

I used a Yashica TL Super and a Fujica ST 901, and several Fujinon and Vivitar Lenses. I never had a chance to go around and do serious lens tests, nor did I particularly want to. As to the cameras, they just seemed to fit my hands and photo style. I liked the photos I took if on one else did.

For any of you who have a camera that gets you noticed, and especially if you are a pro and it gets you more business, Good on ya! Just not a worry for me.

 

[x-ray]

For any of you who have a camera that gets you noticed, and especially if you are a pro and it gets you more business, Good on ya! Just not a worry for me.

I have never had a client or potential client ask what I shoot with or even care which is the way it should be.

Interesting how some people define themselves by their toy. It unfortunately doesn't come as a surprise. Sad! I'd rather be known for my images than my camera. Anyway anyone can buy a Leica, Nikon etc but not many can make photos that are remembered.

 

[PKR]

I have never had a client or potential client ask what I shoot with or even care which is the way it should be.

Interesting how some people define themselves by their toy. It unfortunately doesn't come as a surprise. Sad! I'd rather be known for my images than my camera. Anyway anyone can buy a Leica, Nikon etc but not many can make photos that are remembered.

Yep, on the camera stuff. I just call them "the camera people". Some are interested in photographs (photography) other than pictures of their cameras. But, they are a small percent.

I can't remember who told me this , or where I read it (LF Forum?) but, a guy was out with his 8x10 doing some commissioned work and some young kids walking home from school stopped to ask about the thing on the tripod. He positioned his camera case so they could stand on it and look into the back of the camera. They were all very excited, with one kid saying, it was the biggest LCD he had ever seen on a camera.

The people on RFF who are seriously interested in photography are so few, I'm getting to know who they are. Thankfully, some of the mods are serious photographers.

 

[Deklari]

Anyway anyone can buy a Leica, Nikon etc but not many can make photos that are remembered.

Not sure about this 🙂 Anyone, better spend this money for something else 🙂
I buy my first Leica after almost 30 years of stat using a film camera and still some of my friends thing I really crazy 😀

About camera,.. Yes camera can make anyone more popular, but not better photographer 🙂

 

[giganova]

Being a film photographer makes me unpopular with Leica galleries and Leica magazines because they want to promote their digital products.

 

[PKR]

Being a film photographer makes me unpopular with Leica galleries and Leica magazines because they want to promote their digital products.

Yeah, that's too bad. Marketing people own those spaces.

I've always wondered why, if those who feel digital imagery is so superior to film imagery, they spend so much time trying to make their digital work look like it came out of a film camera? Why the "film simulation" options in camera modes?

Digital cameras can do many things a film camera can't. No argument from me. I use both. Digital work when printed, looks far different from film stuff.. at least mine does. They both have "their look". What's the big deal?

If your work is good, regardless of the media, it will find an audience.

 

[jsrockit]

It's funny, but in NYC I have had women talk to me because I was using a Leica and/or Fuji. I see it with my friends that use Rolleiflexes the most though. Old men mistake my X100 for a Leica a lot. Old men also mistook my M9 for a film Leica camera a lot. I'd show them the screen and they'd be shocked. In Chile, no one cares about any of my cameras as a vanity object.

 

[x-ray]

Reminds me of the kid in high school that was a total loser and got the hottest car in the school thinking it would get him a date.

 

[PKR]

It's funny, but in NYC I have had women talk to me because I was using a Leica and/or Fuji. I see it with my friends that use Rolleiflexes the most though. Old men mistake my X100 for a Leica a lot. Old men also mistook my M9 for a film Leica camera a lot. I'd show them the screen and they'd be shocked. In Chile, no one cares about any of my cameras as a vanity object.

I think much of this stuff is societal. Leicas and big lens DSLRs are seen as status symbols in some cultures. Others, maybe less material and more "art" bent, ignore the hardware, unless they want to steal it. When in Europe, no one paid any interest in my hardware. In the US it's common, especially now, if film cameras are recognized as being what they are.

Imagine working in public with a crew and lighting. People think you're shooting an episode of the Thorne thing. Local cops have to be hired (often required) at $70/hr to keep the public at bay. I think photography in some places, because of social media, has become more popular than MLB.

 

[Corran]

The Rolleiflex goes in the bin with the Leica and Blad for me. The only people who care or bother me when I have the Rollei or Leica are camera geeks. I dislike getting harangued by those types because it's gear chat. When I get random strangers asking about the cool old vintage camera, that's a bit more fun to educate and show to people IMO. And they often ask for my card / website, and occasionally I get sales that way. The camera geeks want to talk about what generic digital they have or have you heard about LOMO? Blah blah blah.

 

[back alley]

Yeah, that's too bad. Marketing people own those spaces.

I've always wondered why, if those who feel digital imagery is so superior to film imagery, they spend so much time trying to make their digital work look like it came out of a film camera? Why the "film simulation" options in camera modes?

Digital cameras can do many things a film camera can't. No argument from me. I use both. Digital work when printed, looks far different from film stuff.. at least mine does. They both have "their look". What's the big deal?

If your work is good, regardless of the media, it will find an audience.

i see the film simulations as a substitute for the ability to change films for a different look.

 

[jsrockit]

I think much of this stuff is societal. Leicas and big lens DSLRs are seen as status symbols in some cultures. Others, maybe less material and more "art" bent, ignore the hardware, unless they want to steal it.

Yeah, true... in Santiago, the big lenses simply mean very expensive. Makes you a nice target since you never see them on the street. However, in the landscape, its safe to use this gear.

When in Europe, no one paid any interest in my hardware.

I was in France about 12 years ago or so and I was using a crappy Panasonic P&S. Someone came up to me and asked if it was the new Panasonic blah, blah, blah... you just reminded me of this, but I was shocked at the time.

In the US it's common, especially now, if film cameras are recognized as being what they are.

Yep...especially in the big cities.

Imagine working in public with a crew and lighting. People think you're shooting an episode of the Thorne thing. Local cops have to be hired (often required) at $70/hr to keep the public at bay. I think photography in some places, because of social media, has become more popular than MLB.

Too funny. In NYC we were/are accustomed to seeing TV shows and movies being shot on the street, but the tourists aren't...

 

[PKR]

I haven't visited Montréal, but know a large amount of American film production has moved, in part, to Canada. There is a huge (maybe the best SOTA) soundstage with on site crew in Vancouver. This has happened because of unions, production costs, and local filming restrictions that aren't an issue in Canada (chime in Joe).

I think Robert De Niro has a home in Montréal and maybe production interests in Canada?

People living in those areas likely see a lot of high end film production. I think Game of Thrones is filmed in Iceland. I'll bet production costs, as a long term project, are a fraction of what they would be here. I think the location scenery is the prime reason for Iceland, but, costs are surely an important item.

I wonder if those productions see the social media phone snappers we see on the productions here. If there is a crowd, it's likely made up of American tourists.

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