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 09/01/2009 05:01:11 PM · #1
Sorry I need to vent.

Last night, I was watching a firework show, and everybody around me were trying to take pictures WITH THE FLASH!!! I bit my tongue to resist the urge to tell them that the flash need to bounce on the subject to be usefull, and that wasn't possible with firework... then they were complaining that their pictures were dark and that their camera were crap.

I hate it when people buy nice cameras and get stuck on the "auto" mode. A few months ago I was in a camera shop and the guy next to me was buying what I think was a D300. He ask the clerk "So with that you're telling that I'll have something better than my brother-in-law?" The guy didn't care about the camera he was buying, he just wanted to have something better than his brother-in-law. He didn't want to know about the camera's spec, he just wanted to buy a trophy.

I know, I know, he has the full right to do so, but that really bugged me.
 09/01/2009 05:08:20 PM · #2
I understand your need to vent. I often feel the same way. Kinda like, as photographers we've learned to use our gear and earned the right to work with it, but some rich soccer mom can go out and buy it without have ever worked to deserve it.

Skewed thinking, perhaps, but true :-)
 09/01/2009 05:14:01 PM · #3
But at least we (hopefully) take better pictures by learning how to use our cameras.
 09/01/2009 05:15:01 PM · #4
Someday we will live in a world where our governments can simply take those things they believe others don't deserve to have and give them to those that do. Ahhhhh Utopia.... ;-)

I know what you mean, though. I get frustrated when I give good camera gear away to family members who show an interest and then it gets lost or sits on a shelf collecting dust. >:-/
 09/01/2009 05:21:59 PM · #5
What about the flip side? People that think since you have a good camera, you can do anything. My neighbor asked me to do some pictures of her artwork. I told her I've never really done anything like that and not sure I could do her work any justice. Her reply, "I wanted you to do it because you have a good camera."
 09/01/2009 06:23:23 PM · #6
Originally posted by merchillio:
I hate it when people buy nice cameras and get stuck on the "auto" mode.

Originally posted by Ken:
But at least we (hopefully) take better pictures by learning how to use our cameras.

...and then there are the people who take great pictures with cheap cameras. Last time I checked we had a lot of them on this site. (Can I use this as an opportunity to plug the point & shoot side challenge?
 09/01/2009 06:45:24 PM · #7
Originally posted by Marc923:
Her reply, "I wanted you to do it because you have a good camera."


Reminds me of what happened last week -- I got The Ultimate Compliment.

I was culling and editing on my laptop while waiting for the show to start (theater shoot), and someone came up, looked at my monitor and exclaimed -- loudly, honestly and sincerely -- "WOW, You must have a GREAT camera!"

[ deep breath ] "Thank you. Thank you very much."

Back to the OP -- A few months ago I had a person actually contract me to teach them how to use their new DSLR. In retrospect, I should have vetted them a little more completely before accepting. Essentially, they bought what the guy at Best Buy told them was the latest and greatest camera. They owned their own business, and wanted to take "better photos" of their products for their web site.

I cannot describe to you... the headaches... the endless repeating of the same explanations... the general-complete-lack-of-interest when I tried to describe even the most elementary photographic methodology.

I finally told them to go back to using their point and shoot. That's what they wanted -- something they could literally POINT... and SHOOT. Well, they call them that for a reason. "But the guy at Best Buy said--" "The guy at Best Buy was WRONG. If you won't take the time to learn how to use it, just take it back."

My favorite line from those DAYS of "classes..." "Hey, how come every time *you* take a picture with this camera it looks great, but when *I* do it, it doesn't look good at all?"

Oh, I think I'm getting a headache just thinking about it again.

To resume/continue the original rant -- people just shouldn't buy things that require skill to operate if they are not willing to take the time to learn the skill.
09/01/2009 08:38:32 PM · #8
Originally posted by cdrice:
To resume/continue the original rant -- people just shouldn't buy things that require skill to operate if they are not willing to take the time to learn the skill.

Or worse.......when you have someone that knows the technical aspects every which way but Tuesday, will pick apart and bitch about their camera, when what they really need is to learn how to shoot......light, composition, and practice, practice, practice.

And unfortunately, some just don't have "The Eye".....
 09/01/2009 08:50:28 PM · #9
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Someday we will live in a world where our governments can simply take those things they believe others don't deserve to have and give them to those that do. Ahhhhh Utopia.... ;-)

I know what you mean, though. I get frustrated when I give good camera gear away to family members who show an interest and then it gets lost or sits on a shelf collecting dust. >:-/


Hey Uncle Art, I'll take some good camera gear and I promise I will use it!
 09/02/2009 09:41:03 AM · #10
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by merchillio:
I hate it when people buy nice cameras and get stuck on the "auto" mode.

Originally posted by Ken:
But at least we (hopefully) take better pictures by learning how to use our cameras.

...and then there are the people who take great pictures with cheap cameras. Last time I checked we had a lot of them on this site. (Can I use this as an opportunity to plug the point & shoot side challenge?


exactly. They are the exact opposite of people who thinks they are good photgraphers because the have an expensive camera.

(And yes you can use this as an opportunity to plug the point & shoot side challenge)
 09/02/2009 12:00:29 PM · #11
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Someday we will live in a world where our governments can simply take those things they believe others don't deserve to have and give them to those that do. Ahhhhh Utopia.... ;-)

I know what you mean, though. I get frustrated when I give good camera gear away to family members who show an interest and then it gets lost or sits on a shelf collecting dust. >:-/


Hey! Hey! Uncle Art!!! Pick me! Pick me! I want to switch to the Canon system!!! LOL
 09/02/2009 01:02:41 PM · #12
Originally posted by merchillio:
Sorry I need to vent.

Last night, I was watching a firework show, and everybody around me were trying to take pictures WITH THE FLASH!!! I bit my tongue to resist the urge to tell them that the flash need to bounce on the subject to be usefull, and that wasn't possible with firework... then they were complaining that their pictures were dark and that their camera were crap.

I hate it when people buy nice cameras and get stuck on the "auto" mode. A few months ago I was in a camera shop and the guy next to me was buying what I think was a D300. He ask the clerk "So with that you're telling that I'll have something better than my brother-in-law?" The guy didn't care about the camera he was buying, he just wanted to have something better than his brother-in-law. He didn't want to know about the camera's spec, he just wanted to buy a trophy.

I know, I know, he has the full right to do so, but that really bugged me.

Some fully automatic cameras actually switch to a slower shutter speed when the flash is used. My old Pocket Instamatic worked that way. The user manual even suggested doing this, even in daylight, as a way to trick the camera into taking a slightly longer exposure.

As for noobs buying nice cameras, why not? It's their money and they can spend it any way they want. That's a good thing. It would really suck if you had to prove you were good enough to be worthy of owning a nice camera, wouldn't it? The majority of us here would be S.O.L. Maybe even you.

09/02/2009 01:36:19 PM · #13
Originally posted by Mick:
Originally posted by merchillio:
Sorry I need to vent.

Last night, I was watching a firework show, and everybody around me were trying to take pictures WITH THE FLASH!!! I bit my tongue to resist the urge to tell them that the flash need to bounce on the subject to be usefull, and that wasn't possible with firework... then they were complaining that their pictures were dark and that their camera were crap.

I hate it when people buy nice cameras and get stuck on the "auto" mode. A few months ago I was in a camera shop and the guy next to me was buying what I think was a D300. He ask the clerk "So with that you're telling that I'll have something better than my brother-in-law?" The guy didn't care about the camera he was buying, he just wanted to have something better than his brother-in-law. He didn't want to know about the camera's spec, he just wanted to buy a trophy.

I know, I know, he has the full right to do so, but that really bugged me.

Some fully automatic cameras actually switch to a slower shutter speed when the flash is used. My old Pocket Instamatic worked that way. The user manual even suggested doing this, even in daylight, as a way to trick the camera into taking a slightly longer exposure.

As for noobs buying nice cameras, why not? It's their money and they can spend it any way they want. That's a good thing. It would really suck if you had to prove you were good enough to be worthy of owning a nice camera, wouldn't it? The majority of us here would be S.O.L. Maybe even you.


probably even me....

but like I said they have full right to do this.... it just seems...sad. It's like marying someone not because you love her, but because you want to have a better looking wife than your brother.... The end result is exactly the same... it's just the reasons behind it that are wrong

ok.. tell me I did not just compare a woman and a camera....
 09/02/2009 06:03:54 PM · #14
You reminded me of something that makes me smile every time I think of it--all those huge stadium events (think Olympics) filled with all these people holding cameras & when something happens to motivate them to press the button I see hundreds of flashes going off because the cameras are set to auto, totally useless to each individual camera but very pretty to watch on tv. Think of all those pictures from the last Olympics probably still in the camera.
 09/02/2009 06:13:50 PM · #15
Originally posted by pixelpig:
You reminded me of something that makes me smile every time I think of it--all those huge stadium events (think Olympics) filled with all these people holding cameras & when something happens to motivate them to press the button I see hundreds of flashes going off because the cameras are set to auto, totally useless to each individual camera but very pretty to watch on tv. Think of all those pictures from the last Olympics probably still in the camera.


If everyone pressed the shutter at exactly the same time, the combined flash power might reach the subject.
09/02/2009 06:24:01 PM · #16
Originally posted by merchillio:
ok.. tell me I did not just compare a woman and a camera....


You did not just compare a woman to a camera: you dissed a hypothetical guy who sees women as possessions. Better?

R.
 09/02/2009 06:59:35 PM · #17
I don't see anything wrong with buying a high-end camera and not knowing how to use it, or only using it on auto. If they have the money to toss around, they may as well support the economy.
 09/02/2009 07:15:37 PM · #18
Originally posted by JH:
Originally posted by pixelpig:
You reminded me of something that makes me smile every time I think of it--all those huge stadium events (think Olympics) filled with all these people holding cameras & when something happens to motivate them to press the button I see hundreds of flashes going off because the cameras are set to auto, totally useless to each individual camera but very pretty to watch on tv. Think of all those pictures from the last Olympics probably still in the camera.


If everyone pressed the shutter at exactly the same time, the combined flash power might reach the subject.


haha, the subject would be blinded by the light probably.
 09/02/2009 08:27:55 PM · #19
Originally posted by merchillio:
It's like marying someone not because you love her, but because you want to have a better looking wife than your brother....

There's nothing wrong with that either. I think they're called Trophy Wives. I'd probably have one if I hadn't been so broke when I was younger.

Originally posted by merchillio:
ok.. tell me I did not just compare a woman and a camera....

There's really no comparison. Women are way more expensive than even the best cameras.

;-)

09/02/2009 08:29:38 PM · #20
Thread. So full of judgements and arrogance. Faith in humanity. Fading. Must. Try. To. Ignore.

I'm a noob with a nice camera.

screw you all.
 09/02/2009 09:17:18 PM · #21
[/quote]
There's really no comparison. Women are way more expensive than even the best cameras.

;-) [/quote]

Damn right! ;)
 09/02/2009 09:18:26 PM · #22
Originally posted by dsterner:

There's really no comparison. Women are way more expensive than even the best cameras.

;-) [/quote]

Damn right! ;) [/quote]

... and a lot more complicated to figure out. :O)

Ray
 09/02/2009 09:22:42 PM · #23
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Thread. So full of judgements and arrogance. Faith in humanity. Fading. Must. Try. To. Ignore.

I'm a noob with a nice camera.

screw you all.

You're hardly a noob, but......it *is* a Pentax after all, not a Canon or Nikon.
 09/03/2009 10:08:05 AM · #24
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Someday we will live in a world where our governments can simply take those things they believe others don't deserve to have and give them to those that do. Ahhhhh Utopia.... ;-)

I know what you mean, though. I get frustrated when I give good camera gear away to family members who show an interest and then it gets lost or sits on a shelf collecting dust. >:-/


Art... Utopia? LoL, sounds more like communism :)

I would donate it to the local community centre or photo school for a deserving student who has no money, but has huge potential. You then know that your beloved gear will be treated with the respect it deserves!

And yes, I am also a noob with a nice DSLR camera, but I have 20+ years of SLR experience under my belt... :P

Message edited by author 2009-09-03 10:46:29.
 09/03/2009 10:17:50 AM · #25
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
Thread. So full of judgements and arrogance. Faith in humanity. Fading. Must. Try. To. Ignore.

I'm a noob with a nice camera.

screw you all.


Our work is done. Call it a day, folks.
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