Do people look at you weird when you're taking pictures?

[lamina]

I decided it was a nice day to go for a walk and shoot the area around my neighborhood. I had my D50 on my tripod, and for convenience's sake, didn't take the camera off the tripod, just carried the tripod with the camera still mounted, legs extended.

People were looking at me like I was the resurrection of John Lennon. Have any of you ever experienced that?

I also notice when I have my D50 in public, people look at me with either interest, or disgust (not sure why disgust)...

 

[devilot]

Yes. People look at me funny in the rare chance that I'm actually shooting. You see, I tend to appreciate photos of texture. So I often wind up laying on the ground or sitting on the ground to get some shots. So yes, inevitably, folks passing by give me odd looks.

It's no biggie. I just wish I could ever take some decent shots.

 

[aaron.lee2006]

All the time. Most people in my area smile at me because I am one of the only kids in my area that actually make time and take an interest in something I really love. I don't get "disgust" looks. I get interested looks.

 

[Doctor Q]

We were talking tripod photos in the John Hancock Observatory in Chicago recently, and we had the opposite experience. It seems that if you are setting up or using a tripod, people think you must be a professional or at least an expert, and they watch you while staying out of the way of your shot.

With a little point-and-shoot, it's every man for himself and people walk right through the scene you are trying to shoot.

 

[Westside guy]

With a little point-and-shoot, it's every man for himself and people walk right through the scene you are trying to shoot.

Unfortunately, with my camera on a tripod people go out of their way NOT to walk into the photo - and I've wanted passerbys in it!

 

[ppc_michael]

People tend to ignore me, or just momentarily glance and not react when I'm taking pictures. Probably because my camera's not impressive.

But when I shoot video, my crew tends to draw a small crowd of people, some even ask to be in whatever I'm doing.

Silly peoples.

 

[jeffzoom91]

I'm With Doctor Q

I usually get that feeling that I am getting shot in the back with eyes by anyone who passes if I am out shooting, but alot of the time, I shoot with my dad around, who almost always has a nice bit of white glass attached. However, now that I have my SLR, it is instant respect magnet, tripod or not. The bigger the lens (or sometimes body) the more people attempt to stay out of the shot...but there will always be those r-tards.....

 

[seenew]

I don't notice anymore.
Who cares, really? You should look right back at them, and make them feel awkward, like they missed something.

 

[Aperture]

When I'm out shooting, I always get strange looks. One little girl walked by me and said "Mommy look at his big fancy camera!" & yes, it seems the longer the lens the more people I attract.

 

[IscariotJ]

Camera Envy?

A short while ago, my wife and I went to the zoo, probably the busiest place we've been to since getting our SLR's. One thing I noticed, those with P&S cameras tended to close up and not let us in, while those with SLR made room....

 

[terriyaki]

I just don't even bother to notice anymore. I mean from time to time I do notice that I get a few curious stares when I have my camera slung around on my shoulder or hanging off of my neck.. but as I've become more comfortable with shooting in public I've realized that the less you notice the people who notice you, the sooner they lose interest in you. If that makes any sense.

 

[bartelby]

I sometimes get odd looks, but that's because I sometimes take the same shot with:
A Canon A1
A really, really cheap digital P&S
A decent Digital P&S
A Holga
and a Fisheye.

 

[Lovesong]

It's interesting- perhaps the first time I've felt that way was a couple of weeks ago. I was downtown where there was a marathon my GF and her friend were running. I was standing a little ways from the starting line with my 5D, a 70-200 f/2.8 with hood (huge white thing for those that don't know). There was a group of people that came by, also trying to take pictures, but when they saw what I was holding, one of them appologized, and told all her friends to watch out, " 'cause this guy is taking pictures." It made me feel a bit weird- I mean all I was doing was the same thing that they were- taking pictures of my friends.

 

[siurpeeman]

i get odd/mean looks from my friends, as they are not what you would call "picture people." it's sad, really, because i hardly have any pictures of my friends.

 

[Kamera RAWr]

People have definitely given me strange looks. In fact, its even gotten me a little "gun shy" with my camera, haha. Any suggestions for a remedy? Any potions? .

 

[shieldyoureyes]

You should look right back at them, and make them feel awkward, like they missed something.

Lol! I'll have to try that. I get weird looks all the time...I don't pay any attention to it now, because I am doing what I love and I can care less of what they are thinking.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Yeah, it happens. Like Aperture said, the longer the lens, the more looks you get, or so it seems.

 

[baby duck monge]

The bigger the lens (or sometimes body) the more people attempt to stay out of the shot

I've found that to be more or less true, as well. And I have to admit that sometimes, if enough people aren't moving out of the way, I flip my lens hood out to make the camera look bigger. Works almost every time.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

I've found that to be more or less true, as well. And I have to admit that sometimes, if enough people aren't moving out of the way, I flip my lens hood out to make the camera look bigger. Works almost every time.

Also a good strategy.

When I shoot at sporting events, people often ask me if Im working for the Yearbook at my school, or some school, or why I'm shooting. More often then not, I just shoot for people who I know on the field, or occasional school/city commission.

If I just go out to shoot in the city, or fields, or wherever, people usually understand, and often, make attempts to talk to me. I guess anyone with a big camera gets to feel some of society's fascination with the Photographer; it's almost a mythical, heroic profession.

 

[janey]

I've found that to be more or less true, as well. And I have to admit that sometimes, if enough people aren't moving out of the way, I flip my lens hood out to make the camera look bigger. Works almost every time.

i don't know about you, but i notice a dslr way faster than i would notice any point and shoot camera mostly because of the size. with the latter it just looks like they're holding up something, not taking pictures

i occasionally walk through people trying to take pictures only because i just don't notice that they have a camera. sucks, and i hate it when people do that to me, but it happens.

 

[Scarlet Fever]

i get some weird looks from people when i point the camera in their direction and follow them around...

 

[j26]

i get some weird looks from people when i point the camera in their direction and follow them around...

Is that everywhere or just changing rooms

When I (rarely now) get to shoot, or have to take shots for family events, I do notice that people take the pictures a lot more seriously when I have my D70 that when I pull out Mrs 26's P&S.

 

[iBlue]

Yes. I get kind of nervous about it because I really don't know what I'm doing and it's a rather nice camera.

You don't know weird looks until you walk around taking pictures of a garden gnome though. (long story)


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Apple Store on Regent Street:

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[Abstract]

There was a group of people that came by, also trying to take pictures, but when they saw what I was holding, one of them appologized, and told all her friends to watch out, " 'cause this guy is taking pictures." It made me feel a bit weird- I mean all I was doing was the same thing that they were- taking pictures of my friends.

That's funny. "Watch out everyone! Guy with big camera coming through!" Maybe you should bring pylons and box out your own space around you while you shoot. I'm sure people would jump out of the way and make sure they never EVER enter your space.

I get stares from people, but only because I'm a student and apparently, I own a "gun" camera. I usually reply with "Thanks, it's not bad", but.....to be honest..... I don't really know what that means other than that it's some sort of compliment.

 

[Crawn2003]

Try using a 4x5

I get looks all the time with my Nikon but you really haven't been looked at until you pull out a 4x5 view camera with a huge tripod attached...

Like this (Isn't me but gives you the idea)

People will stop and actually stare at me. I'll pull the dark cloth off and they will either go on their way or stop and start asking me questions. The most often question I hear is "Is that really a camera?" or plainly "What is that?". I find it funny just for the simple fact that you hardly ever see these cameras out in public anymore.

~Crawn