So tired of the iPhone culture

[Alexis M]

...The same reason you dont use some sort of piano app on the i phone to play a nice piece, you use a real wood piano. Most people dont even know there is a difference though.

 

[AndreasT]

Once this young chap came up to me, slightly drunk holding two beer bottles in his arms similar like that famous Bresson photo of the boy carring the large bottle. He asked what I am doing. Telling him I am taking a photo I told him I am usuing film he kept on saying amazing, amazing. Excited as if I had the newest craze. Then he asked how it works. Me explaining a drunk guy how light goes through the lens etc. etc. I love it when the people then say "on my camera the picture is not upside down".
But what I loved was when I told him about film how it works, he said so it is like when you are burning a CD.
You had to be there.

 

[Helinophoto]

Was out testing my Rolleiflex 2.8F, which was mounted in the ever-ready case with the lens shade on, the other day.

People had looooooong stares and probably wonderd wtf this was.
Two young boys around 14 or 15 passed me and one of the could not stop himself from blurting out "WHooaaaaaa! LOOK AT THAT CAMERA, DUDE!"

Nothing condescending, his jaw just dropped, I don't really care about stuff like that anymore.

 

[Steve Smith]

"WHooaaaaaa! LOOK AT THAT CAMERA, DUDE!"

I had a similar comment from someone simarlarly aged whilst out with my Rolleicord.

I think I have found a way to make an i-phone almost acceptable: http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gif...dium=free&utm_term=Retro+Mobile+Phone+Handset

If I had to have a mobile phone, it would need one of these attached.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

Is that scale related in some way, to the scale we know of today?

It's similar to Bb demented minor.


Steve.

 

[Pioneer]

You are no longer part of the tribe so you are suspicious and need to be closely observed to ensure that you are not a danger.

tkamiya is right, buy a camera phone. When someone questions you, whip it out and act like you are taking their picture. Suddenly you are no longer interesting and they will go away.

 

[KenS]

Tescos

Tesco is a huge building you wander around with your wife while she puts things into a trolley. Before you are allowed to leave they empty your wallet. I'm sure you have similar places.

Steve.

Steve...

Unfortunately it is not nearly as much fun as observing the rather 'strangely-dressed' people one sees when pushing you cart around some of the W**mart stores.

Ken

 

[pbromaghin]

You mean this?

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/photos/

 

[batwister]

"What kinda camera is that?"
"can you still get film for that?"
"how many mega pixels is that?"
"Is that black and white?"

3 out of 4 of those questions could be asked even if you weren't shooting film, more so if you had a tripod and were stood still for extended periods.
When people see a photographer with a tripod, especially if you're relatively smartly dressed, they assume you are...

a) surveying (I've had this too)
b) simply a 'professional' (which means you're a maverick and potentially famous)
c) photographing their kids (see global hysteria)
d) photographing them (people are paranoid about their privacy today)

All these things suggest that what you're doing will effect other people. If you want to photograph in public, just accept that as a photographer, you are the enemy. The only way to counter their unfounded, media poisoned prejudices is by being courteous.

I believe that even the people who ask polite questions really just think you're a voyeur. Making photographs in public, you'll only attract the attention of other voyeurs and the paranoid. People will differ in the way they confront you - 'good cop, bad cop', but it's ultimately all negative attention.

Translating the questions:

"What kinda camera is that?" means "I like photographing children too, but with cheaper cameras"
"can you still get film for that?" means "The government should do something about your type, hippie."
"how many mega pixels is that?" means "Can you make out my kid in those photos?"
"Is that black and white?" means "Only painters are artists, dick"

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

c) photographing their kids (see global hysteria)

The very subject of my Blind Print Exchange #16 submission. I was somewhat surprised that the police weren't called, as it was an odd-looking camera I was using. (Ironically, I'd bet if the mom involved saw it, she'd want a copy and I'd get a thank you.)

And using the same camera, I was approached at the local state fair last August by police. But they made no attempt to interview the gazillions of parents and teenagers and others sporting the omnipresent cell phone cameras. I asked the officer if she would be threatened if I made a photograph of her? "Well, YEAH!" was the response. I just slowly shook my head...



If there's no cake involved, you're either a terrorist, or a pedophile. There are no other viable options.

Ken

 

[kintatsu]

While out photographing some ivy at one of our local biergartens, I was approached by several folks. The first group was a older lady and her grandkids. The grandson saw me and was interested, so she wanted to show them how photography used to be done. I talked with them for some time, letting the kids look in the camera and showing them how my filters changed the scene. They all were very cool. The next group to come along was some late teens, in skater fashion. They were even more impressed. They thought it was cool that someone was "going retro" in their little town! Both interactions were very pleasant. Another time, a local polizei stopped and questioned me. Even he was cool, and got under my jacket to look at the scene.

In all those cases it was more curiosity than anything. The sad thing was the teens, when told the camera didn't do anything automatically, were somewhat disappointed. They basically said having to figure out exposure meant learning too much math, and having to focus involved to much effort. It's sad, and yet we were the same way about things. Who wanted B&W TV, the other kids had color? Who wanted to write out the solution when we had calculators?

I'm glad my daughter gets involved in the photography with me. Last night she learned about exposure and how to use the Zenit over/underexposure indicators to get the scene close to what she wanted, so the new generation aren't completely without hope!

 

[AndreasT]

We all fall in this trap with automation, not needing to think and take the easy route. Sometimes I hate thinking it makes me tired. If we photograph film we love talking about films, developers, cameras. This is sometimes very technical too technical. Just like the special features of a new phone. I remember my first proper camera was a nikon I brought it from a friend but I alwys wanted to buy a Leica way back in 1995. I read up about the differences about the R8 and the M6, seeing that the R8 is the much better camera I brought myself one.
Today I have a borrowed M3 from a friend of mine and I just think for what do I need an exposure meter after I learnt how to estimate my exposure.
Often when photographing people want money from me even if hey were not in the picture! I remeber this elderly woman coming up from the side saying "I do not want to be photographed".
I just thought actually you do want to be photographed but you are insecure, paranoid and don't want to be photographed, then again you do want to be photographed, then again, maybe not.
Maybe we need a new commen enemy like the good old communist to make us fell more relaxed about life.

 

[hoffy]

Translating the questions:

"What kinda camera is that?" means "I like photographing children too, but with cheaper cameras"
"can you still get film for that?" means "The government should do something about your type, hippie."
"how many mega pixels is that?" means "Can you make out my kid in those photos?"
"Is that black and white?" means "Only painters are artists, dick"

Very funny!

 

[MattKing]

I remember my first proper camera was a nikon I brought it from a friend but I alwys wanted to buy a Leica way back in 1995.

I think I feel old

 

[AndreasT]

I think I feel old

Why?

 

[Sirius Glass]

"way back in 1995." That was just a few days ago to most of us!

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

(people are paranoid about their privacy today)

Yet most of these people post countless information on Farcebook, who don't really give a hooting toot's flute about YOUR privacy and intellectual property*

to the OP, maybe next time, make ringing sounds, and answer your camera like a phone, talk a bit, and after you "hang up" say aloud "S*** I missed the shot!!!" and then turn to them and say....."THAT'S WHY"






*which is why I only post horrible looking cellphone "images" on there, doubt even they will want to steal those.....

 

[Steve Smith]

"way back in 1995." That was just a few days ago to most of us!

1983 (when I left school) seems like a few days ago to me.

Time is weird. When I was at High School (1978 to 1983) if anyone mentioned the 1960s, it seemed like ages ago, e.g. a song from 1969 mentioned in 1979 was only ten years old but seemed almost as distant as WWII. Now the 1980s and 1990s seem so recent despite being 30-40 years ago.

Or perhaps I'm just old!


Steve.

 

[batwister]

Yet most of these people post countless information on Farcebook, who don't really give a hooting toot's flute about YOUR privacy and intellectual property*

The misconception is everything on Facebook is completely accessible to strangers. Only if you leave the windows and doors open, so to speak.

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

The misconception is everything on Facebook is completely accessible to strangers. Only if you leave the windows and doors open, so to speak.

Yes, but most folks do leave them open...... and with Facepoop changing their Privacy settings every two weeks (not really though) it might slip by some. They like changing it to default "share with the whole world".

general rule of thumb, if you don't want anybody/everybody to know, don't post it on Fakebook/Internet

 

[batwister]

Yes, but most folks do leave them open...... and with Facepoop changing their Privacy settings every two weeks (not really though) it might slip by some. They like changing it to default "share with the whole world".

general rule of thumb, if you don't want anybody/everybody to know, don't post it on Fakebook/Internet

I agree that people generally LOVE to make an exhibition of themselves and probably subconsciously leave things open. But honestly, when it comes to intellectual property, which is besides the point of this discussion really, my own photos (only upload iPhone pix myself) are generally too abstract in nature - certainly not stock photography material. People who make contrived decorative pictures are generally setting themselves up for it and they deserve everything they get for their lack of aesthetic judgment in the first place. Here's a bit of twisted logic - if you don't want your pictures stolen, make better pictures.

 

[AndreasT]

1983 (when I left school) seems like a few days ago to me.

Time is weird. When I was at High School (1978 to 1983) if anyone mentioned the 1960s, it seemed like ages ago, e.g. a song from 1969 mentioned in 1979 was only ten years old but seemed almost as distant as WWII. Now the 1980s and 1990s seem so recent despite being 30-40 years ago.

Or perhaps I'm just old!


Steve.

No you are not old. Actually I told a little untruth I brought my first camera in 1997. That was long ago for me because that was when I took my first photos and started photographing.
I was a late starter, I was 26 years old.
So relatively speaking it was long ago in terms of my photographic career.
My brain and my way of thoughts are still in the 1980's.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Speaking of privacy issues, I'm always amazed at the number of seemingly paranoid members of the Forum that won't even put the State (or even country) they live in in their profile.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Speaking of privacy issues, I'm always amazed at the number of seemingly paranoid members of the Forum that won't even put the State (or even country) they live in in their profile.

Sssssh! Even paranoids have enemies! oliceman:

 

[Sirius Glass]

(people are paranoid about their privacy today)

But they will blab on the cell phone so loudly that everyone can hear their business two blocks away!

I was in the doctor's waiting room and a young woman was making one loud long call after another even though there is a sign posted asking that cell phones be turned off because they interfere with the medical instruments. I finally asked her to get off the telephone or leave. I got a rude answer, so I raised my voice and said "Your f*cking life is not interesting! Shut the f*ck up!" She complained on the telephone that I was being rude and that she had to get off the telephone because of me.