Do you ever feel like a tourist when you're out with your camera...?

elven

Or is it just me?

Sometimes I miss shots because I'm too shy to get my camera out, and there's no way I could do candids of strangers either.

I felt like that in Scotland, never mind over here. Am I just too self-conscious? Is this something other people worry about too, or am I just paranoid?

I should maybe have submitted this anonymously hehe...

FreeAnd..

I know what you mean, having just got into it I still feel a bit weird carrying the camera around never mind pointing it in someones face. I'm starting to adjust quickly enough though and i guess its like anything, after a while it will be second nature. No point missing a shot because of how you percieve the situation when you are the one with the camera. I never feel that way about other people that I see with a camera (who are obviously not tourists) so thats the way I aim to feel about the use of my own. Still going to take some getting used to though....

ChityWest

I know what you mean too - think I might start carrying a 'Rough Guide to Dublin' around with me and put on a fake american accent so people wont get freaked as much.

Debbio69

yep i do, and sometimes when ppl are looking at you, i know some of them probly think your a stalker!!

elven

Oh good. I feel less like an idiot now

I have considered the blatant tourist angle, because nobody seems to look twice at them.

Sometimes I've walked past a side street, and thought I saw something I liked and kind of stopped and walked backwards to look down it again, and I've seen people giving me weird look.

It's been 5 years since I got my first SLR so I really should be used to it now though...

CrowdedHouse

only when 'Anto' and a couple of the boyz are eyeing up your camera wondering wat it is/how much wud dey get for it/wud dey be able to take it off me/ bud

FreeAnd..

ChityWest - I know what you mean too - think I might start carrying a 'Rough Guide to Dublin' around with me and put on a fake american accent so people wont get freaked as much.

Are you crazy? Best thing is to do your best thick dub accent, at least that way the chance of having your camera stolen decrease hugely. Almost had my first experience of 'thats a nice camera, i think ill try steal it from you' the other evening. This was down the quays, nearer the Point on the north side. Was driving down and said i'd try to get a night shot of the liffy and the lights down there. After a while two guys saw me, crossed the road and it was obvious enough as there was not a sinner around. I got in the car and left but the sat on the bench i had been on and made some weird noises as i left in the car. It was around 11.30 at night and the two guys were pretty f**ked but thats the joy of having a camera out around Dublin - granted the time and place was asking for trouble....

FreeAnd..

Originally posted by CrowdedHouse

only when 'Anto' and a couple of the boyz are eyeing up your camera wondering wat it is/how much wud dey get for it/wud dey be able to take it off me/ bud

Only saw this after my last post, just to make my point clear try to look as little as possible like a tourist and absolutely nothing at all like an american tourist. You might be fine on grafton street but anywhere else around Dublin you are asking for trouble. Maybe i have a negative view of Dublin but i've been here long enough and seen enough to warrant those views....

scrattletrap

I know what you mean, I certainly get some odd looks while I'm shooting street scenes but my attitude is, they'll have forgotten about it by the time they turn the corner, so my camera goes everywhere and is taken out anywhere.

I enjoy some of the funny looks I manage to catch on camera too.

Fionn

yes absolutely, well not so much a tourist maybe just weirdo!
I'm soo damn self conscious, probably no one is paying me any attention but i'm pretty paranoid at times! i'd be fine if theres an event or something on (no opportunity has presented itself yet), but just walking down town and snapping off shots of people - i'm not sure of that. I keep thinking people are prolly thinking i'm some sort of weirdo, maybe i am anyway i've been saying to everyone i know that i'm taking up photography so at least if someone reports that i've been seen acting suspiciously someplace, it wont come as a surprise to those that know me.

theres not as much security considerations here except maybe late Sat night outside some of the local night spots, they wouldn't really be looking to rob ya, just kick yer head in for fun or whatever. As for Dublin or any city for that matter, i guess you need to be very aware of your personal security if your walking around with perhaps €1000 worth of electronics hanging around your neck in a very snatchable position. I'm thinking one of those stick like monopods would double up nicely as a baton.

Although photography can be a solitary activity, i reckon tho, having a few people together especially in a high risk urban environment is the safer option.

be safe

elven

The security issue a general city thing, not just Dublin for sure. It was bad enough with my old brick of a 35mm EOS which only cost about a hundred quid but I'm just not willing to take the risk of going out after dark with the digital one. As a rule of thumb i wouldn't go wandering anywhere that there isn't at least a few 'normal' looking people floating about.

jaqian

I never feel like a tourist but I do feel selfconcious. I'm getting over it a bit asking ppl can I take their photos etc. Its a bit weird at first but it seems to get easier.

Btw Elven you've beauitful photos on Flickr, very inspiring.

PaulieC

so, if one had a 300D covered under the house and contents insurance and wanted to upgrade to a 30D, where would the best time & place to take photos alone ?

Dimy

cambo_gueno wrote:

so, if one had a 300D covered under the house and contents insurance and wanted to upgrade to a 30D, where would the best time & place to take photos alone ?

You mean without getting stabbed and punched in the process?

Fajitas!

I used to be a lot more self concious, but I've had to do work in and with the public, and after a while it wears off. I find that the best thing is always to look as official as possible!

As regards safety, I've had one or two encounters alright, but I'm a big lad, and a monopod is a fairly handy tool...

Karoma

Yup. I'm extremely self conscious with a camera (And without too). I'll stick to scenes without people around, thank you.
Invest in a decent bag and additional batteries so that you can pop the camera in and out at will?

Ruu_Old

Aye, I get some funny looks when Im out snapping and end up putting the camera away when people spot me with it sometimes

Exar Khun

Well that didnt work

Fenster

I just wander in blithely and glare at anyone who gives me odd looks. I've had one drunk eejit try to grab my camera at the Spanish Arch, which is always a bad spot in the summer in my mind, but he got a tripod to the side of the head for his troubles.

Still though, wearing a camera around your neck is just begging to have it stolen. I keep mine wrapped tightly around my fist and haven't had problems for the most part.

Fajitas!

Actually, the first time I properly felt touristy, and had my friends comment on it is when I was using my Holga...

Karoma

Ruu wrote:

Aye, I get some funny looks when Im out snapping and end up putting the camera away when people spot me with it sometimes

And yet, they're probably the same people wearing shorts and snapping happily as they walk down streets in Ireland.

ender ender

I got some wierd looks today using this bad boy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44177339@N00/134412464/

at least I won't be financially crippled if it's stolen!

Exar Khun

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Thats really cool.

Fajitas!

ender ender wrote:

I got some wierd looks today using this bad boy:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44177339@N00/134412464/

at least I won't be financially crippled if it's stolen!

I made a ceramic one It has a viewfinder and everything! Haven't gotten a proper chance to take it out yet - Any advice?

Ruu_Old

When I was in Germany there was 2 teenagers and they were going around laughing and taking pictures of the Asian tourists (who ALWAYS have cameras) and sneering at them.

slumped

Op - I was the same as yourself starting out. Just get out there and shoot. As long as your ot trying to get candid close up shots with an 18mm lens then you will be OK with most people.

I was around the back of the stephens green shopping centre, around some of the back streets there last week and got some strange looks.

Did find myself walking a little quicker when a few scangers went past!

S

nitrogen

elven wrote:

Or is it just me?

Sometimes I miss shots because I'm too shy to get my camera out, and there's no way I could do candids of strangers either.

I felt like that in Scotland, never mind over here. Am I just too self-conscious? Is this something other people worry about too, or am I just paranoid?

I should maybe have submitted this anonymously hehe...

I think most photographers go through this stage, they're probably lying if they say otherwise. But once you over come this self-conscious, you'll see an enormous difference in your images.

If you're worried about looking like a tourist and want to capture more candid shots of strangers, don't have your camera around your neck. I wrap the strap around my wrist, and hold it by my side. HCB thought of it like hunting, sneaking up on your prey and shooting them before they know it.

Another point, if you're not wandering around looking like a tourist and know what you want to capture, then most people won't even pay attention to you and you're more than likely worrying over nothing. If it's a good shot, who cares if someone is watching you. Listen to music, you're in your own little world then.

ender ender

Fajitas! wrote:

I made a ceramic one It has a viewfinder and everything! Haven't gotten a proper chance to take it out yet - Any advice?

There's loads on the internet about pinholes, lots of trial and error to start with, sorry I can't be much help! Have you any pictures of it? It's sounds cool. Thanks Exar...

SOL

mostly a stalker, especially when using my 80-200 2.8, people give you funny looks, but when I'm with people it's even funnier how they react to other peoples funny looks. All in all it adds to the experience :>

5uspect

I just bought my first SLR, finally upgraded form point and shoot. I'm in limerick and I must admit being a bit nervous going out and about with my new pride and joy. I'm off to Barcelona for a conference (holiday!) tomorrow so that should be a city where people are used to idots snapping constantly which should help my confidence.

The monopole/baton idea is probably a good confidence booster too regarding security, tho i'll probably need to pack a sawed off shotgun here in Limbo...

Any suggestions on good camera insurance deals?

cianclarke

I've gotten used to it... If I had a P&S maybe I'd feel like a tourist, but not so much with a 20D and 17-40... :rolleyes:

evilhomer

FreeAnd.. wrote:

Are you crazy? Best thing is to do your best thick dub accent, at least that way the chance of having your camera stolen decrease hugely.

Or you could just walk around in a Celtic Jersey and a Burberry cap

melekalikimaka

evilhomer wrote:

Or you could just walk around in a Celtic Jersey and a Burberry cap

sure if ya do that they'll think ya stole it. better to look like a tourist than a thief!!