Annoying concert "photographers!"

[toverman]

Took my wife to a concert at a smaller venue in Dallas last night that actually allows flash photography. I left my gear at home, just wanting to enjoy the music and an evening out without the kids.

But hundreds of other people decided they "needed" photos of the performer and were mostly using cell phones. A couple in front of me were doing it, and I got to see the blurry, miniature, underexposed results of their efforts. Most also got great flash shots of the heads in front of them. Stop the madness! What are these people using the photos for? Evidence that they attended? It was so annoying and distracting.

Also went to my son's "kindergarten graduation" (guess the school likes to watch parents cry or something), and it was more of the same. I wonder how many of these cell-photos will end up actually surviving the next 10 years. Does anybody print these? Why even bother taking a photo with your cell phone?

*end rant*

[texkam]

Why even bother taking a photo with your cell phone

To email to Grandma.

[JohnT]

I like to make "grab shots" with my iPhone when I'm out and about, but I know the images won't be around that long. As my photography improves and the novelty of "iPhone grab shots" wears off, those images will end up in the trash bin.

However, having all those arms go up in front of me at a concert would definitely annoy me as well.

[Tom]

Did the offender look at all like this:

[CaptainTom]

I still have the vision of last years TPPA conference and a seminar by Hanson Fong about wedding posing. I stood in the back of the room and watched dozens of "professional" photographers hold their Iphones up in the air and grab images of the poses. All those screens in a dark room made me think I was at a Grateful Dead concert.
Now, I have to say that I understand why they were doing it, and I'm not bashing anyone. Just saying that it was a strange sight.

It seems that you can't post on a thread here anymore without someone replying that you are some kind of Ogre for expressing your opinion. (rant over).

[L Stegall]

Man, that's quite some cell phone he has (in response to T Campbell's post, since Cap'n Tom jumped in between them - :-D)!

I'm with you Toverman - I don't get the "thrill" of cell phone images, which are 99.9999999% horrible. But, try finding a cell phone without a camera built in.

[ptrd]

Have you seen facebook? everyone wants "evidence"

I'm not one of those but I do like taking pictures (with an actual camera).

[L Stegall]

Yes, and I have friends guilty of sending images to FB from their iPhones.

[bondarnes]

I just checked and my cell phone does have a camera. Maybe I should figure out how to use it.

[toverman]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I just checked and my cell phone does have a camera. Maybe I should figure out how to use it.

Just not in a dark concert hall, please!

The people with point-and-shoots were annoying, too. I hadn't been to a place that actually announced that flash photography was OK, just no video or audio recording (which I saw a few people do with their cell phones, too). All those flashes going off, only effective in driving everyone crazy ...

[jeffreyluce]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

I just checked and my cell phone does have a camera. Maybe I should figure out how to use it.

LOL - nice one Don.... I have a cell phone w/ no camera - just a phone.

[dbphotos]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I still have the vision of last years TPPA conference and a seminar by Hanson Fong about wedding posing. I stood in the back of the room and watched dozens of "professional" photographers hold their Iphones up in the air and grab images of the poses. All those screens in a dark room made me think I was at a Grateful Dead concert.
Now, I have to say that I understand why they were doing it, and I'm not bashing anyone. Just saying that it was a strange sight.

It seems that you can't post on a thread here anymore without someone replying that you are some kind of Ogre for expressing your opinion. (rant over).

Tom, what the heck are you talking about? You don't know anything! You're just an old curmudgeon and an OGRE!

[djroga]

My wife uses her cell phone camera...but she is an avid gardener who on walks will get a quick shot of a plant or garden setting...makes it easier to remember or describe.

[flx2000]

Don't worry, it just reminds them that they need a pro for seriously good images.

[Cornbread]

It's pretty lame to see people take a dozen photos of the back of everyone's heads because they are too ignorant to hold the camera up higher. I've taken my point and shoot to several concerts, I only take about 10 shots before I put the camera away and focus on enjoying the music.

I'll tell you what was REALLY annoying... I was at the Blue October concert in Boston at the House of Blues and you could actually hear everyone talking during the performance. It was about at the volume of a packed Pappasito's.