What are you doing?

2F/2F · Jul 10, 2010

Ric Trexell said:
Hey 2/F: I think this is due to so many people smoking pot or taking other drugs. It makes the user paranoid. I have seen people watch me like a hawk even without a camera in hand and in public places. There is no reason for it, except they are messed up. Ric.

Are you serious? Come on now. People are largely assholes with or without chemical influence.

M.A.Longmore · Jul 10, 2010

Unfortunately, You Are Correct 2F/2F.
When people ask why I use the 4X5 instead of a DigiSnapper.
I always try to explain the therapeutic value of photography.
No Photography, No Peace ?
Know Photography, Know Peace !
A Very Simple Cure. But most AssHoles, don't appreciate simplicity.

Ron

From The Long Island Of New York, and the
Long Island @ Large Format Group, right here on APUG
.

tony lockerbie · Jul 10, 2010

I was shooting the other day on my local boardwalk, with my old Leica M2, when a young-ish (less than 50) man walked past, and nodded at my camera....M2 or M3, he asked. M2, I replied. Nice, was his retort....we are not alone!

Paul Jenkin · Aug 9, 2010

I've been hassled by Police and "Police Community Support Officers" (plastic plod) in London and always with no good reason. It confuses the crap out of them when they ask to see what I've been shooting and it's on film (not that I would EVER show them what I've been shooting, on any medium, without them getting a court order first).

Recently, I acquired a 500c/m and this seems to be regarded by many as a comedy camera capable of nothing of value. Fools.

cfclark · Aug 10, 2010

2F/2F said:
Are you serious? Come on now. People are largely assholes with or without chemical influence.

Agreed, I think (especially in LA) you'll run into gangs wanting to protect "their" turf and guys who think they can earn respect in the eyes of their peers by intimidating others, more than people whose drug use has made them aggressive. (Point the camera at someone who's dealing, then you can expect some aggression.)

jamesgignac · Aug 10, 2010

Most of the young people in the city I'm from (small, yet surprisingly snobby) think I'm trying to be too clever for my own good when I have my hass out on the town. Some of the artsy folk are into it but they tend to like the look of the camera more than anything else and find me to be very hip, and then the rest of the people (including many who should be old enough to know better) ask me if they can see the photo after I trigger my cable release.

I haven't had my MF gear out and about since I've been in Beijing (just moved here a few weeks ago after a short tour of China's east coast) but I'm very anxious to see some reactions

removed account4 · Aug 10, 2010

i get asked this often, and i just tell them what i am up to.
if i am going to be in an area where i will be visible and a distraction,
i usually contact the police ahead of time so they can run interference for me
when concerned people call them to say there is a tan-guy with dark curly hair
and a camera ... people acted like this well before 2001

benjiboy · Aug 10, 2010

Paul Jenkin said:
I've been hassled by Police and "Police Community Support Officers" (plastic plod) in London and always with no good reason. It confuses the crap out of them when they ask to see what I've been shooting and it's on film (not that I would EVER show them what I've been shooting, on any medium, without them getting a court order first).

Recently, I acquired a 500c/m and this seems to be regarded by many as a comedy camera capable of nothing of value. Fools.

Some people Paul know the price of everything, and the value of nothing

Steve Smith · Aug 10, 2010

Ricus.stormfire said:
So I stopped in a spot where go photograph ALOT

Did you get a picture of this ALOT, whatever that is?.... Or did you mean a lot?

Steve.

Paul Jenkin · Aug 18, 2010

Ben, I agree completely. This "stealthiness" tends to work in my favour, though as people don't seem to realise they're in shot because you aren't stood upright with a camera pointing straight at them. Shooting "pre-focused" from the hip - whilst having a quick look down at the screen to compose is another technique suggested to avoid unwanted attention. That's a bit sneaky (even for me) but I can see the advantage if you're after some truly candid street shots.

John_Nikon_F · Aug 19, 2010

I haven't been hassled, but once got a comment from a guy at the Pacific NW Flower & Garden Show. His comment was "Now, that's a REAL camera!" when he saw the F2A with MD-1/MB-1 and a 55/2.8 hanging from my neck. No comment about the utilikilt I was wearing at the time or anything else, though.

-J

What are you doing?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency