Shooting nerves - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/04/2007 02:41:41 PM · #1

I have only just got my camera and i have so much i would like to shoot, but i feel a little awkward setting up my tripod in places where there are people looking at me as if to say " whats this guy upto..."

Am i the only one that feels awkward, and if not, what can be done, if anything to build up my courage.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

02/04/2007 02:49:06 PM · #2

I guess the only thing is to make sure photography is not illegal in the area and then go ahead and do it. The best way to conquer your fear is to do what you fear most.

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

02/04/2007 02:58:26 PM · #3

You're definately not alone. I know there's been several threads like this that I've seen in my short time here. I know for one I'm still really shy.

I'm slowly trying to include people in my photos. I actually took one with a bicyclist once! She was pretty far off and I wish I would have had more courage, because as she got closer I could see she was one of those whacky dressers. That would have been a cool shot had I just had the nerve!

Each time I've been out in public with my camera there's someone that gets that sparkle in their eye and said "wow.. what camera is that" followed by "what lens is that?" I haven't really had any negative responses so really there's no justification for my bashfulness.

I think as long as you're not at a playground shooting kids most people are going to be interested in what you're doing and not worried about what you're doing. I had one lady walk past me with her officebuddies on a walk and say "wow.. wish I could do that for a living." I chimed back "so do I!"

We just have to keep trying. Keep getting closer to the people and over time we'll be right up there with them confident as can be. I'm still in the stage where I'm sitting on a picnic table shooting people on the bike path... with a 20 foot water canal between me and the bike path. ....but I'll get there!

=)

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/04/2007 03:12:32 PM · #4

Originally posted by Axleuk:

Am i the only one that feels awkward, and if not, what can be done, if anything to build up my courage.

A couple shots of Tequila?

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

02/04/2007 03:17:14 PM · #5

Originally posted by Axleuk:

You're not the only one, but it goes away after awhile. When I started shooting non-stop about seven years ago, I was extremely self-conscious of my camera, maybe how silly I look, what people might be thinking (as in, "What on earth can he be taking a picture of," etc.). Now, I don't even give it a second thought. The self-consciousness with my camera is completely gone. I guess it just takes a few thousand clicks of the shutter before you just don't care anymore.

And I really don't think anyone is actually thinking any of those things, either. Just examine how you feel when you see someone using a camera in public. There's a very good chance that's how most people feel.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

02/04/2007 03:25:28 PM · #6

It's definitely a newbie feeling in that once you've done it a few times you won't think much of it at all. I think everyone feels a bit "watched" when they break out the full kit, but personally, I love it now. When you're working on a shot, especially in public, people feel free to just walk up and start chatting, it can make for some great unexpected opporunities.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/04/2007 03:30:29 PM · #7

Originally posted by idnic:

What she said: you meet the most interesting people when you set up camp with a tripod. Almost as much fun as meeting them is watching the ones (there are a lot of these) that hover just outside an invisible boundary and act nonchalant as they try to scope exactly what it is you are doing. They don't get real close (10-20 feet is normal) but you can tell they want to.

Really, shooting in public, with a tripod, can be very liberating in an odd sort of way. Shooting candids, now that's a whole other story. I'm still iffy when I try to do that. Which is why I shoot landscapes :-)

R.

zarniwoop

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 35mm f/2.0D

02/04/2007 03:48:16 PM · #8

I'm much more comfortable shooting in public with a tripod than without. If you shoot with a tripod people feel that they are in the way of your shot; you shoot without, they feel like they are the shot.

Pity my tripod is so crap it makes me want to kill myself trying to get a level horizon, and don't even start on portrait orientation.

xantangummi

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

02/04/2007 04:28:45 PM · #9

I love shooting people in public, it's my favorite thing to do.

I can't really explain why but it's so much more then studio work.

Some fun things to do is to pick a posterboard and shoot everyone who walks in front of it for a specific time period, maybe between 7-8am.

Or just roam the streets looking for that perfect shot.

Tomorrow I'm going to a suburb, I'm going to stand at a buss stop there and shoot people between 10-11.30am.

here's a link to some of the shots I took of people in hongkou, shanghai. //viktor.weaksauce.se/hongkou

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2007 04:38:36 PM · #10

I'm still too shy do go and shoot ful candids on the street. I'm going to though. I think when i see a great shot i can't help myself but then i try and pretend that i was shooting something next to people when they look at me, which is the worst thing to do i suppose.

I took a great shot today of a runner, but he wasn't looking at me, and he was about 30 ft away. I'm going to upload it in minute.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/04/2007 04:44:05 PM · #11

Last time I set up a tripod in a public park, it was not a great day but there was the odd person wandering around ... and TWO of them pulled out a little camera and took a snap or two of me taking photos of the park with my tripod. I was kind of ... erm ... in the spotlight and it made me forget what I was gonna do next. LOL

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

02/04/2007 04:45:30 PM · #12

A tripod is a magnet, put a camera on it and start looking up. Everyone looks at the tripod, you, then up. Attach a cable release and they know you are serious, then you get the 'pros' walking up asking about your gear, what you are shooting etc.

Before long you have spoken to a number of complete strangers, met a couple of interesting people and perhaps, if you are lucky, taken a few shots.

You get used to it.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/04/2007 04:47:57 PM · #13

I have gotten better at the whole setup in public thing but candids are still tough for me. at a GTG with

ericwoo my wife and i were amazed at how easy Eric seemed to be at shooting candids. he didn't hesitate to raise his camera with a huge lens 15 from someone and take some shots. meanwhile we were shooting from the hip hoping they didn't notice:)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2007 05:04:49 PM · #14

You know what, i does make me feel so much better hearing other people suffer from the same problem. I am not a shy person normally but i guess i do not want people to think i must be upto something.......PARANOIA !! Thats what it really boils down too.

I'm sure given time and experience it will all be something i can look back and laugh at but for the time being, gimme a nice secluded spot any day.

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

02/04/2007 05:05:12 PM · #15

I don't know if i'd even bother with a tripod yet. Would much rather get in and about with people, in the hustle and bustle, to me that's where the best shots are.
Btw, here mine from today, i like it alot, it looks alot better in full size, i'd appreciate any comments on it;

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2007 05:09:36 PM · #16

Bah, a tripod is civilised!

Try crawling around or lying on a salty sidewalk in a large city during pedestrian rush hour. You'll either get a lot of odd looks, or you'll be trampled, but usually both.

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

02/04/2007 05:12:40 PM · #17

I used to be a little shy about putting the tripod up, but to be honest it really is just a confidence thing. I stuck with it and now I prefer to throw the tripod up as people give you a wide berth.

Coupled with a big black camera and a huge white lens they tend to assume that I'm linked with the event. Its like carrying a three legged press pass ;-)

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/04/2007 05:13:32 PM · #18

Ben, thats a terrific shot, its amazing how well you got the silhouette, i would love to see the full version.

I'm envious of those capable of taking such wonderful looking shots. In my mind i have so many ideas, but when i try to bring them to light, i get disappointed, but i know its down to lack of knowledge and experience and am pretty sure that by hanging out with you guys i can only improve.

I think i am going to post a couple of the shots i took today for some advice. I will link to the post because i dont think this is the right forum for it.

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

02/04/2007 05:19:37 PM · #19

All we need now Falc are some white lenses, :P

hanks alot Axluk, sometimes i just see that a great shot is about to happen and it's luck whether in my quick fumbling the camera has the right settings or not, :P

Post some pics here, then we can see.