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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> What's wrong with me?
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 12/14/2004 08:33:54 PM · #1
So I headed to the mall a little bit ago and it wasn't really that populated at all. I just feel so silly with my camera -- like everyone's looking at me or everyone thinks I'm taking a picture of them when really they are the last thing on my mind to get a picture of.

This mall is beautiful too -- I know I could get some nice shots if I could have the whole place to myself...so anyway, does anyone else feel foolish out in public with their camera? What can I do to overcome this problem? Is there anything you have done to overcome a problem similar to this?

Thanks.
 12/14/2004 08:39:22 PM · #2
Many of us go through this - there's even been a couple threads about it. Maybe one of the more gifted among us will link you to some. But the point is, yes, we've been there. I, myself, am fine in a big public place, but my husband hates it - he thinks I am making him look silly! LOL I have more problems in smaller settings with people around. My best advice is to just get the camera in front of your face and start shooting. I usualy forget about everything once I start shooting.
 12/14/2004 08:39:44 PM · #3
I think everyone has this feeling when your taking photos
- I think it's cause everyone is suspicious of your activity and what your doing

probally look like your planning a bank robbery, rampage or a terroist attack and taken pictures of vantage points and stuff - people are just paranoid and people give out a bad vibe cause there don't really want you there taking pictures so this in return makes you feel bad
 12/14/2004 08:46:05 PM · #4
Yep i have this to specially when i start mounting the tripod to take pictures. People look a lot when that happens. I just focus on what i'm doing and don't really think what others think.
This i learnt in a book sometimes you think what people who are looking at you think, but sometimes the are looking at you and aren't even thinking of what they are seeing. So try to think this way it might help.
 12/14/2004 08:55:42 PM · #5
I feel this way a lot. When I was taking pictures for the ‘Landmark’ challenge I really felt out of place. What made it worse at the same time I was sitting up my tripod to shoot some pictures our local news [live] crew was about 100 feet down from me covering a story at the local court house. One man thought I was with the news crew and ask what story we were covering.

Message edited by author 2004-12-14 20:57:02.
 12/14/2004 09:00:43 PM · #6
Seems theres alot of us. I feel especially weird when I mount the tripod, like I'm not a good enough photographer to go to all that trouble. But it still hasn't stopped me yet.
 12/14/2004 09:01:35 PM · #7
haha -- hrmm I guess I just have to overcome the fear or I could always just stick to other stuff :-D
 12/14/2004 09:08:01 PM · #8
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=149736

Go to this link, if it works. I just put a thread out there asking the same question.
All I can tell you is go out there and just do it. I still feel a bit foolish and at first it does effect your work becasue, at least for me, I find myself rushing. As time goes on though you get use to it. Well, I am not at that stage yet, but at least I am not rushing anymore

12/14/2004 09:10:34 PM · #9
heh see I even gave a few examples in that one of a picture I took (it's on page two) and that's the mall I'm talking about that I went to tonight. I don't know...sometimes I feel it sometimes I don't I guess.
 12/14/2004 09:24:22 PM · #10
In our home town there is a mall with a very large glass domed ceiling in the center of it. As I was walking toward the center with my camera a security guard passed by me. I asked if there was any protocol I needed to follow for photographing in the mall. I told him I intended to photograph some architectural features and not shoppers. What was the malls policy? Would there be a problem? No, he said, just be polite and mindful of the shoppers privacy. I went to the center, lifted the camera and snapped away getting lost in what I was doing. When I finally lowered the camera, I looked to the right and about ten yards away were seven security officers, including two local police officers, lined up and quietly watching my every move I made. Talk about self conscious! Luckily, i was saved by the officer I met previously. He explained what I was doing to the others and they quickly dispersed. I did take a picture of a mom and her toddler. . . but only after I asked. I did get the feeling that some people were nervous and wondering what was up. Oh yea. . . and never by way of explanation say that these will be on the net (I tried to explain the challenge). You really get looks then. I guess the immediate association with the net is porn pictures.
Do I still shoot at the mall? Absolutely! Some of the best pictures- print and digital- have been at our local mall. Do I let a security person know what I am doing? You bet. Does my wife stay with me? Not always, but I wish she would. People seem to be a little more relaxed when they see a couple as opposed to a single male snapping pictures. At least it seems that way.
 12/14/2004 09:34:04 PM · #11
heh...yeah maybe I'd feel better if my girl would tag along with me.
 12/14/2004 10:00:12 PM · #12


Talk about feeling silly in public. This was with my 2800Z mounted on my tripod on self timer over a heavily trafficed bridge :D
 12/14/2004 10:53:22 PM · #13
Originally posted by Discraft:
you think what people who are looking at you think, but sometimes they are looking at you and aren't even thinking of what they are seeing. So try to think this way it might help.


Now I'm so confused I won't even care;)

12/17/2004 08:01:46 AM · #14
Originally posted by Intelli:
Originally posted by Discraft:
you think what people who are looking at you think, but sometimes they are looking at you and aren't even thinking of what they are seeing. So try to think this way it might help.


Now I'm so confused I won't even care;)


Discraft's post is probably one of the most important in addressing this issue...

The point is that people are looking at you because you're doing something out of the ordinary (i.e. shopping). Chances are that they are that they aren't thinking anything at all, just noticing that someone is doing something different.

You would get the same reaction if you were carrying around a guitar.

Mostly, I find people that seem to be watching are interested in (and perhaps envious of) what you are seeing and the desire you have to capture it.

Somebody else mentioned security concerns...huh? I don't ever think people are looking at me suspiciously...
 12/17/2004 08:06:20 AM · #15
You just need to carry your camera about with you as much as possible and take photo's of anything/everything/everyone. Once you get used to this you will have the confidence not to worry about what other people think. I think most of us have gone through this phase but I am way past this now. I just click at anything and I dont care what other people think!

click away!!

Mike


12/17/2004 08:07:03 AM · #16
Originally posted by saintnicholas_25:
I think everyone has this feeling when your taking photos
- I think it's cause everyone is suspicious of your activity and what your doing

probally look like your planning a bank robbery, rampage or a terroist attack and taken pictures of vantage points and stuff - people are just paranoid and people give out a bad vibe cause there don't really want you there taking pictures so this in return makes you feel bad


Yes! LOL
I actually have been stopped by security once asking me what I took photos off and I felt really stupid answering: Flowers, Trees.... :)

But they do know me now and probably only think: ah, that's okay, she is that crazy girl taking photos of trees.....

Bottom line is, I don't care anymore what other people think once I see the end result :)
 12/17/2004 08:36:36 AM · #17
I feel awkward in US. People seem too paranoid. I was taking photos at the stores, train stations, metro in Germany and nobody even gave me a second look.

Once I stopped on the side of the road here in MD to take a few pics of the old barn, and people were blowing their horns as they drove by.

Message edited by author 2004-12-17 08:37:49.
 12/17/2004 08:56:37 AM · #18
When I was in the military, we used to say "walk fast and carry a clipboard, no one will qeustion you". I figure it much the same way with a camera, I just try to look like I know what I'm doing, and I'm supposed to be there, and rarely have a problem.
 12/17/2004 09:03:44 AM · #19
I had a similar issue... a turning point for me was when I had a press pass to a music festival, suddenly strangers starting assuming I was a 'pro', even though I was just carrying an FZ10. It was all in my attitude! You need to ask yourself, how would you feel if you were there to do a paid job, and act the part!
 12/17/2004 09:15:26 AM · #20
Originally posted by deapee:
So I headed to the mall a little bit ago and it wasn't really that populated at all. I just feel so silly with my camera -- like everyone's looking at me or everyone thinks I'm taking a picture of them when really they are the last thing on my mind to get a picture of.

This mall is beautiful too -- I know I could get some nice shots if I could have the whole place to myself...so anyway, does anyone else feel foolish out in public with their camera? What can I do to overcome this problem? Is there anything you have done to overcome a problem similar to this?

Thanks.


Actually there is a lot you can do about this. Talk to the mall manager and tell him what you wanna do and a time frame that you will need and ask him for permission to take some photo's of the mall. If you don't want to be that bold then USUALLY 1 entrance is open al night to let in cleaners and bakers etc. depending on whats in the mall so check the doors. It might not be open but all the malls I've managed we always left at least 1 door open.
 12/17/2004 09:19:18 AM · #21
Originally posted by dpdave:
When I was in the military, we used to say "walk fast and carry a clipboard, no one will qeustion you". I figure it much the same way with a camera, I just try to look like I know what I'm doing, and I'm supposed to be there, and rarely have a problem.


That is usually the case. Most folks don't want to get involved. I do some geocaching and the clipboard story works there too.

You can always say "I/m from Allstate. Did you see the accident (slip n fall, etc) that happended here 4 months ago? I'm taking pictures of hte scene and was wondering if would saw something?" They will run away and hide 99% of the time. That 1% though...

i too feel selfconcious at times. Back in college I shot teh BB games and other stuff, and never felt self concious walking with a camera around my neck or stepping in front of spectators to get a shot. I guess i felt i had a purpose and belnonged there.

As a last resort, you can always dress funny. You'll get looks, sure, but if you look special enough they will leave you alone.
12/17/2004 10:02:55 AM · #22
I actually love it when people stare. I guess I really couldn't care a damn what people think when I am photographing something.

With me, I do alot of night photography, and you should see when I set up a tripod. People stare like you would never believe. I have even had a couple of run-ins with cops harassing me and such.

But I keep shooting....

I have a shirt that reads:

I am a photographer, not a terrorist.

That usually ticks people off. :)
 12/17/2004 10:08:06 AM · #23
"Be yourself, for those who care don't matter, and those who matter don't care"
I think this says it best. I found it in one of the profiles, don't remember which one.
 12/17/2004 10:34:29 AM · #24
Originally posted by dpdave:
When I was in the military, we used to say "walk fast and carry a clipboard, no one will qeustion you". I figure it much the same way with a camera, I just try to look like I know what I'm doing, and I'm supposed to be there, and rarely have a problem.


that's exactly what I wanted to say, but I could never put it in words like that :>
thx
 12/17/2004 10:42:03 AM · #25
Originally posted by deapee:
does anyone else feel foolish out in public with their camera? What can I do to overcome this problem? Is there anything you have done to overcome a problem similar to this?


I realy know what you are talking about and I envy this people that just click there camera anywhere in public like nothing could be more normal (which it is of course). Guess this depends a litle one ones person but experience is a big factor.
Just do it again (and again) and I´m sure it will be easier each time and you´ll be more relaxed after some time.
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