Digital Shooters

Roger Cole · Dec 21, 2014

Vilk said:
judging by the sheer amount of condescension and insecurity in this thread, if there is no more film one day soon, we will have richly deserved it

naaldvoerder said:
This is funny! And scary at the same time..

Funny maybe. I don't find it scary at all. I am admittedly somewhat condescending toward those carrying around expensive equipment with absolutely no mastery or understanding of it, and I don't think that makes me deserving of losing my beloved film. I am not condescending at all toward digital photographers but you can't really tell the difference by just looking. You CAN usually tell the analog photographers from the poseurs. I occasionally see a hipster with a 35mm SLR and consider them worse than the DSLR-owners-who-aren't-photographers crowd. Fortunately, they're pretty easy to spot with their SLR in one hand and their PBR in the other.

Rick A · Dec 21, 2014

PBR me ASAP! But I'm no hipster, just an old fart that used to like drinking PBR's.

Roger Cole · Dec 21, 2014

That's different. That was PBR back when it was just cheap beer and wasn't "cool."

Chan Tran · Dec 21, 2014

Roger Cole;1739779 Fortunately said:
Oh yeah they hold the camera in one hand.

cliveh · Dec 21, 2014

M Stat said:
Some time last year I was photographing with my Hasselblad on what I thought was a deserted beach in Hawaii. Believe me when I say that there seemed to be no one for miles in either direction, or so I thought. While peering into my viewfinder, I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I looked behind me, there stood a young hipster doofus clutching his precious digital contraption as if it were his first born child. "You're standing in my foreground" is all he had to say to me. I looked up and down this immense and deserted stretch of sand and wondered who the hell he thought he was. I then looked down at my camera and noticed that I had just shot my last frame. Instead of telling him to f**k off (which I should have done), I quietly left without comment. What would have been the use of my pointing out what a jerk he was being? I wonder why he felt that his photo was somehow more important than mine. Could it be because his camera was of a newer technology, or because his camera cost so much more than mine did? I can only judge other people's actions by how I would have acted if the roles were reversed, in which case I would have patiently waited until the person in front of me was finished with their photograph(s), and I would absolutely never have the unmitigated gall to actually touch someone and interrupt their concentration. He obviously had a supreme feeling of self-entitlement and didn't care if he was being utterly rude.

That is very strange and I think I would have asked him why he wants to take a picture in that spot, instead of standing to my left or right.

pdeeh · Dec 21, 2014

Roger Cole said:
. The digital snapshooters running around with expensive equipment they don't begin to understand

I tell what really grinds my gears, those damned analogue snapshooters running around with expensive equipment they don't begin to understand ... they're all idiots and deserve to be treated with utter contempt because of their choice of camera.

the'yre just all utter utter bastards

Photo Engineer · Dec 21, 2014

Christopher Walrath said:
Oh no. The dreaded 'Geyser-with-a-weird-camera' selfies. Haven't had one of those yet.

Don't you mean GEEZER Chris? Unless he is spouting off too much.

PE

cliveh · Dec 21, 2014

Some other thread mentioned the digital shooter who wears a cap back to front and shoots with a DSLR with the lens hood back to front. We should have a name for these guys, as in selfie, but perhaps reversie.

Roger Cole · Dec 21, 2014

pdeeh said:
I tell what really grinds my gears, those damned analogue snapshooters running around with expensive equipment they don't begin to understand ... they're all idiots and deserve to be treated with utter contempt because of their choice of camera.

the'yre just all utter utter bastards

Used to see those, don't anymore. Well, very rarely a hipster type.

And the analog equipment is rarely expensive anymore either, unless it's a brand new F6 or (worse) Leica. But I have never seen anyone with a newer-than-M4 Leica, EVER, and rarely with any Leica. There is (almost) no such thing as an "analog snapshooter" anymore. Anyone shooting film has to be at least a bit devoted to it as a medium, not just recording vacation or family memories.

Roger Cole · Dec 21, 2014

cliveh said:
Some other thread mentioned the digital shooter who wears a cap back to front and shoots with a DSLR with the lens hood back to front. We should have a name for these guys, as in selfie, but perhaps reversie.

How about "idiot too stupid to use a lens hood correctly?"

Photo Engineer · Dec 21, 2014

How about a digital user who leaves the lens cap on and wonders why he only sees the numbers in red and can't see the photo until it is taken, and it appears on the back of the camera. And most of his photos are black!

Actually, I have attracted some attention with my ETRSi and 500 mm lens with telextender. When I hold it pointing down it almost reaches my toes. But even digital users are curious.

PE

Rick A · Dec 21, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
How about a digital user who leaves the lens cap on and wonders why he only sees the numbers in red and can't see the photo until it is taken, and it appears on the back of the camera. And most of his photos are black!

Actually, I have attracted some attention with my ETRSi and 500 mm lens with telextender. When I hold it pointing down it almost reaches my toes. But even digital users are curious.

PE

Lens envy....

Sirius Glass · Dec 21, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
Actually, I have attracted some attention with my ETRSi and 500 mm lens with telextender. When I hold it pointing down it almost reaches my toes. But even digital users are curious.

PE

Like carrying around a Hasselblad on body enhancing steroids.

canuhead · Dec 21, 2014

I couldn't give a flying xxx what other photographers think of my cameras. I could be out with digital or film and I'd feel the same.

and personally speaking, I'd prefer, if another film shooter saw me behind my 500c/m or Zone VI 8x10, to receive a knowing nod of approval vs them coming up to start a convo. Guess I'm just a loner who would prefer to choose who and when I wanted to speak with while shooting. Time with my cameras is precious and I'd rather be exposing film vs chatting about the perceived superiority of film

benjiboy · Dec 21, 2014

cliveh said:
Some other thread mentioned the digital shooter who wears a cap back to front and shoots with a DSLR with the lens hood back to front. We should have a name for these guys, as in selfie, but perhaps reversie.

I don't have a name for them, but they should be made to wear their trousers back to front too, to prevent them adding to the gene pool.

Chan Tran · Dec 21, 2014

momus said:
On the other hand, I've come to the point where if they're shooting a digital camera I avoid them like the plague. In nearly every attempt to communicate w/ them I'm either met w/ icy stares, curt answers, or they're clutching the lens barrel of their DSLR so firmly I'm sure they think I'm talking to them only as a diversion so I can steal their plastic Japanese camera! This is really not an exaggeration, and it has happened so often that as I say, I don't even bother anymore.

What's up w/ these people? As someone who loves to study people, this type eludes me.

No they were not afraid of you stealing their cameras unless your appearance suggested that way. They don't think you want to steal their cameras because of your inferior camera. They don't want to talk to you because they were afraid you may ask them something they can't answer and make them look stupid. They clutch their cameras because they don't want you to find out how they use their cameras. They either were afraid of you stealing their tricks (these people love to learn tricks rather than fundamental principle) or more likely they were afraid that you might find out that they were using modes that they like to use but were ashamed of using them.

RattyMouse · Dec 21, 2014

I was in a Japanese Zen Monastery in Kyoto a few weeks ago, pulled over to the side to kneel down and change to a new roll of film. A middle aged Japanese women walked over to me and said in very hesitant English, "that is really a classic camera". Not really, it was my Fujiilm GF670W, but I didnt want to start up a conversation with someone who was not too well versed in English. I just nodded and smiled.

ToddB · Dec 21, 2014

This is soooo frustrating. I really try to bridge the gap between analog and digital. All I'm faced with is arrogant A holes! That rely on a camera that does everything for them. No challenge at all.

eddie · Dec 21, 2014

There's an awful lot of judgmental comments in this thread. A lot of presumptions of what people are thinking, their skill levels, and poseur status.
I've never swayed from film, using it exclusively for decades. I've also never felt insecure enough in my choice to use film to denigrate those who choose a different path. If you ever wonder why digital shooters come here, to explore the possibility of trying film, and end up quickly leaving, it's probably due to threads like this.

Ken Nadvornick · Dec 21, 2014

ToddB said:
All I'm faced with is arrogant A holes! That rely on a camera that does everything for them.

I must be an outlier on this.

Years ago I too experienced the condescending Digital Attitude. But not for a long time now. And definitely not recently. I just don't see it any longer when I'm out with a film camera. And unlike some I don't mind interacting with people at all. Onlookers or subjects. Analog or digital.

I was once surprised by a group of foreign students from Washington State University while I was set up with the 8x10 on the rim of the canyon above Palouse Falls. After spending the night in a sleeping bag in my truck, I was a bit of a mess.

But I happily conducted an impromptu mini-seminar for everyone on just what that enormous Beast of a camera was all about and how it worked. I also made sure everyone got a chance to peek under the dark cloth.

Later that day I was approached back at the campsite by the WSU student leader for the group. She told me that several in the group had told her that our chat was the highlight of their outing. Go figure.

Every single one of those students that day was carrying some sort of digital camera. And not a single one of them demonstrated The Attitude. One even expressed a possible desire to look into putting together a beginners darkroom.

Even better, the 8x10 negatives also turned out just fine.

Ken

Poisson Du Jour · Dec 21, 2014

eddie said:
There's an awful lot of judgmental comments in this thread. A lot of presumptions of what people are thinking, their skill levels, and poseur status.
I've never swayed from film, using it exclusively for decades. I've also never felt insecure enough in my choice to use film to denigrate those who choose a different path. If you ever wonder why digital shooters come here, to explore the possibility of trying film, and end up quickly leaving, it's probably due to threads like this.

Absolutely right.

MattKing · Dec 22, 2014

Outside of some good natured kidding, I have heard nothing negative from the 80 or so almost exclusively digital photographers at my local camera club.

I have encountered some poorly informed people, but I cannot think of any rudeness.

If you do encounter rudeness, most likely it is because of the nature of the person, not their equipment choice. Most likely they would still be rude even if they used film.

blockend · Dec 22, 2014

I just finished watching a YouTube video on the photographer Bob Mazzer. He's become well known in the last couple of years for his work on the London Underground in the 70s and 80s. He was a Leica user shooting mostly colour, and it has to be said the aesthetic values of his pictures owe much to their grainy, available light appeal. However in a lecture accompanying his exhibition he said back then he and his friends would dream of being able to shoot in black and white or colour, and at high ISOs, and he's an evangelist for digital photography. Lots of serious photographers like Joel Meyerowitz turned from film to digital.

I prefer film, but each to their own.

jerrybro · Dec 23, 2014

When I am out and about I do not approach other photographers, but they sometimes approach me. I'm always polite and answer their questions. The first one is usually "what is that" followed shortly by "where can you find film". The light meter is what usually makes their mind implode.

blansky · Dec 23, 2014

Let's face it when we use anything out of the ordinary we attract attention. Sometimes people use things out of the ordinary for just that reason. Others for other reasons.

Old cars attract attention. Old watches/pocket watches attract attention. Old tools attract attention. Even old girlfriends attract our attention......etc etc

People are naturally curious creatures and when they spot something unusual they are attracted.

Some for the nostalgia of it and other for the novelty.

How we wish to converse with them is up to us.

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