Author Topic: Excuse me - what are you doing? (Read 12719 times)

click_click · « **on:** May 02, 2009, 16:20 »

Don't you love it when people see you in public with a tripod, shooting away and then they walk up to you (mostly walking through the shot

) asking "Excuse me - what are you doing?"

In order to quickly get rid of those annoyances I simply answer "Ah, just taking pictures of this building/landscape" in order to sound as generic and boring as possible (this only works if you don't have a set with several lights and 3 PAs running around acting important...).

Does this happen to you as well?

I mean, why am I not randomly walking up to people asking them: "Excuse me - where are you going?" or "Excuse me - who are you talking to on your cell phone?" Why do people have to get into someone else's business?

batman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2009, 16:33 »

get some white lab coats and big words, "click click Private Investigator".

vonkara · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2009, 16:47 »

You need one or two thing. First MP3 player with rock or techno music blasting and second an angry look in the eyes. Smelling bad is also a good option : )

batman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2009, 17:00 »

Quote from: Vonkara on May 02, 2009, 16:47

You need one or two thing. First MP3 player with rock or techno music blasting and second an angry look in the eyes. Smelling bad is also a good option : )

rofl, true, i forgot smelling bad. or at least, looking dirty and smelling. like get a make up artist to make you up like "aqualung" (jethro tull). snot hanging down his nose... lol..
and like danny de vito (cheers) coughing (esp. now with swine flu) ..

the loud music must backfire, here they would come to you if you blast your music.

good idea vonkara!

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2009, 17:43 »

If I had a nickel for everyone of those jackasses... I should say that many were polite but really, what would you be doing with a camera?

I used to shoot a lot of exterior architecture with a 4x5 so I'd have to stand around for ages waiting for the light. I might as well have put a sign up, "Losers wanted, come tell me your life's story".

tan510jomast · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2009, 18:46 »

click_click, if you have denture, take off your dentures, and smile alot. no one likes to look at a toothless man especially when they smile at you ! except unless a toothless woman comes by, then you're in biggggg trouble.

stacey_newman · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2009, 18:59 »

this used to happen to me regularly. then I decided to sport a lanyard with my business card in it, and no one bothers me. they seem to assume I am press, or official or something. so I wear my lanyard everytime I am out shooting.

click_click · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2009, 20:15 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on May 02, 2009, 18:46

click_click, if you have denture, take off your dentures, and smile alot. no one likes to look at a toothless man especially when they smile at you ! except unless a toothless woman comes by, then you're in biggggg trouble.

Sorry, don't have dentures yet - but it made me smile. Good laugh.

click_click · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2009, 20:28 »

Quote from: stacey_newman on May 02, 2009, 18:59

this used to happen to me regularly. then I decided to sport a lanyard with my business card in it, and no one bothers me. they seem to assume I am press, or official or something. so I wear my lanyard everytime I am out shooting.

Yeah, thought about that. The more important you look like - the more likely they leave you alone...

digiology · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2009, 20:29 »

When I worked in television I would sometimes tape something over the TV station's logo on the video camera I was using. Otherwise I was constantly asked: what's this for? when will it be on?

digiology · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2009, 20:32 »

Quote from: click_click on May 02, 2009, 20:28

Quote from: stacey_newman on May 02, 2009, 18:59
this used to happen to me regularly. then I decided to sport a lanyard with my business card in it, and no one bothers me. they seem to assume I am press, or official or something. so I wear my lanyard everytime I am out shooting.

Yeah, thought about that. The more important you look like - the more likely they leave you alone...

I find the bigger then lens you are using the more that people get the out of the way.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2009, 20:55 »

"Planning my escape from this humdrum existence. You may want to step back."

cdwheatley · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2009, 21:39 »

The worst experience I've had is trying to do model shoots on cruiseships. On paper it sounds like fun, but in reality its like trying to do a shoot in the middle of a herd of Cattle. Big lens, small lens, garlic around the neck, no affect. Never again.

donding · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2009, 22:46 »

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sitting here laughing my "you know what" off!!!

I had recently been shooting...lol...Apachie helicopters, which practice taking off and landing right next to the road. People are always out there right next to the site photographing. One day I set up the tri pod about 3/4 of a mile up the road on private property to photograph them. Well I guess the look out helicopter must have thought the tri pod was a machine gun or something because some one from the base came down and told me to quit photographing them and leave at once (again I was on private property!) or they were going to call the MP's which would call the state troopers and they would confiscate my card.....needless to say I put the camera up..but didn't leave.

click_click · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2009, 15:32 »

Quote from: donding on May 02, 2009, 22:46

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sitting here laughing my "you know what" off!!!

I had recently been shooting...lol...Apachie helicopters, which practice taking off and landing right next to the road. People are always out there right next to the site photographing. One day I set up the tri pod about 3/4 of a mile up the road on private property to photograph them. Well I guess the look out helicopter must have thought the tri pod was a machine gun or something because some one from the base came down and told me to quit photographing them and leave at once (again I was on private property!) or they were going to call the MP's which would call the state troopers and they would confiscate my card.....needless to say I put the camera up..but didn't leave.

It's sad that professional photographers are pushed away from opportunities like these where you can get real "close" without being a military photographer.

Just as a side note - I came across this PDF the other day (it's a bit old) but I think it gives some of you an idea how far to go when taking pics:

http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

tan510jomast · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2009, 18:46 »

Quote from: donding on May 02, 2009, 22:46

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sitting here laughing my "you know what" off!!!

I had recently been shooting...lol...Apachie helicopters, which practice taking off and landing right next to the road. People are always out there right next to the site photographing. One day I set up the tri pod about 3/4 of a mile up the road on private property to photograph them. Well I guess the look out helicopter must have thought the tri pod was a machine gun or something because some one from the base came down and told me to quit photographing them and leave at once (again I was on private property!) or they were going to call the MP's which would call the state troopers and they would confiscate my card.....needless to say I put the camera up..but didn't leave.

null · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:08 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on May 03, 2009, 18:46

i won't mention the country as i adore that place so i don't want to give the impression it's a bad place.

~~Singapore!~~ Dystopia

tan510jomast · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:11 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on May 03, 2009, 19:08

Quote from: tan510jomast on May 03, 2009, 18:46
i won't mention the country as i adore that place so i don't want to give the impression it's a bad place.

Dystopia!

tan510jomast · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:16 »

and what about you Flemishdreams? you travel alot too. i am sure you have some anecdotes worth telling

Kngkyle · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:36 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on May 03, 2009, 19:08

Quote from: tan510jomast on May 03, 2009, 18:46
i won't mention the country as i adore that place so i don't want to give the impression it's a bad place.

Singapore!

Hmm. Since you started this guessing game. I'm going to have to go with Brazil.

cdwheatley · « **Reply #20 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:38 »

Costa Rica

tan510jomast · « **Reply #21 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:42 »

madelaide · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:43 »

Brazil?

I would be surprised with all that attention. All people say when I use a tripod is "She must be a photographer!"

click_click · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:47 »

Quote from: madelaide on May 03, 2009, 19:43

... All people say when I use a tripod is "She must be a photographer!"

Yeah those are the people watching too much Columbo and COPS...

tan510jomast · « **Reply #24 on:** May 03, 2009, 19:49 »

Quote from: madelaide on May 03, 2009, 19:43

Brazil?

I would be surprised with all that attention. All people say when I use a tripod is "She must be a photographer!"

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Author Topic: Excuse me - what are you doing? (Read 12719 times)

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