It's getting embarrassing

[studiocygnet]

The other thread here called "Free" about free wedding photos from two Austin craigslist posts got me thinking about a walk I took this past weekend.
Saturday morning I had a 9am meeting at an architecture office, and my wife also had to go into town for some volunteer work she was doing. So I had her drop me off at the office, and I told her I'd walk over and meet her after my meeting was over. I got out of the meeting just before 11:30am, with a bright sunny day and not a cloud to be seen. My walk was through Zilker Park, past Barton Springs pool, over through downtown past the farmer's market, and up Congress Ave. past the capital building complex.
During this walk I saw no less than 5 "photo shoots", not to mention the plethora of other folks I saw walking around with DSLR's or large point n shoots. I saw 2 shoots right next to each other along Barton Creek, one looked to be a portrait session of a woman, the other maybe some musicians or band. The "photogs" both had big zooms and battery grips, but no fill flash, reflectors, scrims, or any light modifiers. And they were out in the harsh noonday sun. I wanted to yell out "at least get in the open shade you morons", but I kept my mouth shut and kept walking. Of course there were a myriad of folks out along the trail with their point and shoots, and when I got to the capital grounds there were more "sessions" with family and baby shots, all similar situations to above. And of course there were dozens of people roaming the grounds scouting for photos, taking pics of every statue and memorial to be seen. It seemed almost everyone I went by had a camera of some sort. After the capital there were 3 people on Congress all splayed out in the street taking pictures of a parked police motorcycle. And more people doing portraits at the star in front of the Bob Bullock museum.
Now as to the title of this thread, I was carrying my Ricoh GRD point n shoot, just in case I came across something interesting along the way. But I was kind of embarrassed to even take it out of my backpack, so as not to seem like the rest of the hoi polloi. Anyone else get that feeling recently? Maybe I need to cart around an 8x10 on a tripod just to differentiate myself? I've been a photographer for 45 years, but I don't know if that word even means much to most people anymore. Except for y'all of course, sorry for the rant.

[groovyone]

Nope. I do tend to look at what people are shooting, but I try not to let it impact what I am doing. My NEX gets odd looks. I can only imagine if most of them saw Ricoh.

[Flores]

should be a good thing.

the more people learn about photography, the more they will appreciate the skill and expertise required to make an outstanding image.

Photography has seen something similar to IT in the last 20 years or so...

IT used to require a lot of expertise, because the equipment you worked on was insanely expensive (by todays standards), difficult to purchase, and usually restricted for use by those who were blessed.

Once PCs came out, all the IT gurus in the industry bemoaned the 'death of the IT industry', because anyone with a couple of thousand dollars could buy their way into the industry, cause incredible damage, and generally devalue the IT professional to the point that a wind up toy could do an IT professional's job. Sound familiar?

Instead, entire new industries have emerged to service folks who get in over their head with their own equipment, industries have emerged to take all the 'technology' out of personal computing, and all the IT professionals who weren't complaining about how unfair and dangerous allowing untrained people to 'play' with their equipment are stupidly rich, or at least extremely well off. Those who spent their time complaining work at radio shack, and still complain how unfair it was to let all those 'untrained and unprofessional people' into the industry.

Cameras are not hard to use. and that is a GOOD thing. Anything that allows a photographer to reduce his/her workload, so they can focus on creating amazing content by translating their vision of the scene into pixels is a GOOD thing.

IMHO, if you can adopt a microsoft/apple attitude towards photos, you will see a huge market opening up, instead of a NEC attitude, where too many options create confusion.

[prncfarquad]

Tom don't worry about the equipment others are shooting. While equipment does help with the technical aspects of photography the person behind the camera that makes the image. I have seen images that were taken with equipment that didn't cost half of what I have that inspire me. I have also seen people with much better equipment than mine take less than inspiring images.

Just remember you are the one that sets yourself apart from other photographers not the camera you are shooting.

[tc95]

That's why I have been carrying my Lego camera...around with me...the images are different...and really doing it to just play with it before I give it to my daughter...but I was out Saturday too...between appointments...going thru George Bush park...and saw some things I wanted to take pictures of...carried my R8 w/50 1.4 film....and Lego Camera...taking pictures of the ducks and other water birds...when I was approached by a guy with a Canon w/tripod and Sigma 120-300...he asked me what I was shooting...told him...he laughed that I was shooting film...and again when I pulled the Lego camera out... (got to admit I would laugh too..) ... But I had a chuckle with him...he took a few shots but was on full Auto-Mode...

Don't get embarrassed, you don't know the people...and if you ever do meet them again...you will not know it...both of you will not remember it...it's been said before in this thread...it's the photog not the camera...

(Still working on taking good pictures myself...so you would have chuckled at me...!!!)

[Arcusmedia]

I would say the same thing... But I also have to remember that is where i started... Until I Got Schooled by The Old Schoolers on here and Learned!

[crazeazn]

love the ricoh.

[wclavey]

I just returned from southern Spain where we had the chance to visit several photo-worthy places... I will refer specifically to the Alhambra in Granada... 5,000 to 6,000 people visit there each day during the tourist season and it was probably about half that each day in the week between Christmas & New Year. And I am sure that every one of them had a camera, as did I. What was interesting, in the vein of Tom's comments, was the behavior of most of the people taking the P&S pictures - - I think that when they get back to their hotels or homes, they will probably have very little record of what they were shooting, simply because of what they were doing... and in many respects, taking out my camera made me feel self-conscious, if not actually embarrassed, to be part of those flashing hordes.

But after a while, I could tell the people who were actually trying to capture high quality images from the people who were blasting away for the been-there/done-that award. I kept running into the same people seeking out similar places from which to shoot, waiting for a scene to clear, being respectful of the other people, etc. And they started recognizing me - - there was one man I kept running into all day long, smiling & nodding each time. By the end of the day, I felt confident that I was not part of the hordes.

I tell you, though, I think that technology has created 3 of the most inconsiderate types of people:[LIST]

1. the "take the shot and then stand in the middle of the doorway to review every picture you have taken since yesterday and giggle about them with your friends" person
2. the "purchase the audio tour and blindly walk through the place, ignorant of anything around you, including walking into walls because you are listening to the audio" person
3. the "sign says no cameras - - this is a cell phone" person

I'm not sure I can take too many more technology developments... LOL!

[Melany]

The solution is simple -- don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

I'm really getting tired of the "not real photographer" bashing. It's old.

[kenw]

Originally Posted by Melany

The solution is simple -- don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

bingo.....

[Flores]

unless you find yourself failing... in which case, you might want to consider looking at what other people are doing.

It's usually easier (and cheaper) to learn from other people's mistakes.

Just maybe :D

[lscottpht]

Hmm, I shoot in the middle of the day all the time w/o all of that "stuff".

[MT Stringer]

Originally Posted by Melany

The solution is simple -- don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

I ain't skeered!
Have gun (Canon), will travel!
To heck with what others say or think! heh, heh.

[studiocygnet]

Really I don't worry about what others think. This was just stuff going through my mind at the time, you know topics for discussion that pop into your head.
The main thing I was pondering was the dumbing down of the word "photographer" when referring to the profession. Really, when I learned it was more similar to doctor, lawyer, engineer. People went to school for years, maybe got degrees in it, and it was a learned profession. Now I wonder if the average person off the street might think of a photographer as almost anyone who takes better pictures than they do. You know, uncle Harry with the nice camera, sister that takes really nice pics. Do you think that folks are more likely to go to craigslist for those free wedding photogs these days, than think of photographers as real professionals? I'm glad I lived through the period I did, and don't have to do portraits or weddings anymore unless someone twists my arm really hard. I would think some of y'all currently doing that business really have to differentiate yourself to fight against that perception. Good luck to ya.

[Melany]

Originally Posted by studiocygnet

I learned it was more similar to doctor, lawyer, engineer.

Hmmm I never equated a photographer to a doc. Not even Ansel the great.
I think you may be reaching a bit. I think I understand now why you look down at people in the park with cameras though.

I feel you're being unrealistic.

Me - I look at photographers as artists, sort of. We all do the bet we can with the photography equipment we have. I know photographers who can work WONDERS with a point-n-shoot. I'd challenge you to laugh at them in the park.
I feel like I have "decent" photography equipment, yet I'd love to create what they do with these little $5.00 thrift store finds. One loves his "talkie" camera!

I'm sure I'm one of those "not real photographer" types you frown upon though. But it doesn't bother me -- I keep doing my best with the equipment and skill that I have.