What are your WDW (or personal) photography pet peeves?

[mikegood2]

I'm in the process of starting to research for my trip WDW this summer and was reminded of two photography related things that happened in the parks that annoyed me much more that they should.

1. Maybe it's more out of jealousy but people who have a much nicer DSLR or lenses than I do but have no idea how to use them. I can't tell you how many times I saw people struggling to use their led screen to take outdoor photos, when one of the advantages of a dslr is the optical view finder. I'm convinced that too may DSLR owners don't even know what the view finder intended for or that it is even there.

2. The amount of people who shoot all of their photos/videos on a cell phone. Now I know that smart phones cameras have gotten so much better over the last year or two, and they are now much more of a legitimate option, but my experience was based on my last trip in June 2011. It would just make me cringe when I would see that "magical" once in a life time experience and someone was shooting the photo on a VGA quality flip phone. I know a trip to Disney World is expensive but for well under $200 you can get a very nice p&s camera.

Anyone ele have any pet peeves they want to bring up?

 

[wbeem]

1: People who use the flash on their cell phone and think it will light the entire Cinderella Castle/Spaceship Earth, etc.

2: People who see me with my tripod taking a shot, make eye contact with me, and then walk right in front of my camera anyway. Bonus points if they duck their head down, like it will make any bit of difference as their body blocks my lens.

3: Photographers who take themselves too seriously. After all, it's an amusement park. We just have to be patient and wait for our opportunities. Sometimes they come, sometimes they don't.

 

[HPS3]

William said it well:
1. Flash flash for everything, especially night photography. On my last trip, people were giving me funny looks when I would set up my tripod. Why use a tripod when I have an external flash? Duh!!!

2. For people that don't know, ducking under a fisheye lens doesn't help.

3. Why is it when I'm already set up with the tripod against a fence do some crazy people try to squeeze in front. Can I attach a shocking mechanism to the tripod.

4. And lastly, I have friends who bought DSLRs and use them in auto and wonder why their photos look the same as their P&S photos. I would never let the camera choose a focus point.

 

[wbeem]

Oh, I like the tripod taser idea!

 

[PrincessMe]

I don't tend to pay much attention to what people take photographs with - if they are happy, I'm happy. I get more upset when people are inconsiderate about it. My biggest pet peeves are (1) using a flash or auto focus assist light on dark rides; (2) holding up an iPad in front of someone and either blocking the view or making it all about that big, bright screen; and (3) standing on one side of a sidewalk to take a picture of their family on the other side of the sidewalk, taking forever to get the shot, and getting upset when people walk between.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I don't tend to pay much attention to what people take photographs with - if they are happy, I'm happy. I get more upset when people are inconsiderate about it. My biggest pet peeves are (1) using a flash or auto focus assist light on dark rides; (2) holding up an iPad in front of someone and either blocking the view or making it all about that big, bright screen; and (3) standing on one side of a sidewalk to take a picture of their family on the other side of the sidewalk, taking forever to get the shot, and getting upset when people walk between.

Yup. This year, my pet peeve is the Fruit Bat. They seem to fly about everywhere and leave huge wing trails behind them. Not sure if the mini version is going to make things better either!

 

[wbeem]

(3) standing on one side of a sidewalk to take a picture of their family on the other side of the sidewalk, taking forever to get the shot, and getting upset when people walk between.

That's a good one, too. I try to politely wait, but I've been known to give up waiting and mutter something like "pull the trigger" as I finally walk by them.

When someone extend you the courtesy of waiting for you to take the shot...TAKE THE SHOT!

 

[Bonniec]

2. The amount of people who shoot all of their photos/videos on a cell phone. Now I know that smart phones cameras have gotten so much better over the last year or two, and they are now much more of a legitimate option, but my experience was based on my last trip in June 2011. It would just make me cringe when I would see that "magical" once in a life time experience and someone was shooting the photo on a VGA quality flip phone. I know a trip to Disney World is expensive but for well under $200 you can get a very nice p&s camera.

9 out of 10 times I can't be bothered to lug my camera into the parks. I generally just whip out my iphone. So for me, it's not once in a lifetime memories. As much as I love my camera, I like carrying it light.


I pretty much don't care what other people do with their cameras. My only pet peeve are those using backlit screens on dark rides. Or flashing constantly on a dark ride.

 

[photo_chick]

My only pet peeve is people who use the flash when the rules say they're not supposed to.

 

[DSLRuser]

#1 bird doggers who have to look at every single shot in the LCD after taking it.

#2 people who share photos either on web sites, in person, or worse have prints made, when it is obvious the shooter knows nothing about the rule of 3rds for composition, or have exposures so out of whack its hard to look at.

 

[mikegood2]

9 out of 10 times I can't be bothered to lug my camera into the parks. I generally just whip out my iphone. So for me, it's not once in a lifetime memories. As much as I love my camera, I like carrying it light.

I pretty much don't care what other people do with their cameras. My only pet peeve are those using backlit screens on dark rides. Or flashing constantly on a dark ride.

I do agree that the current crop of smartphones do a nice job with and for most people do a good enough job, but for me I just can't imagine not having some type of zoom lens. I only used my DSLR in the park 2 of our 7 days because of 100+ temps. While my point and shoot (Nikon P300) may not have been as good, the convenience more than made up for it. Again, it's a matter of preference, and people can use whatever works for them, but for me the idea of using any phone from 2+ years ago for all my vacation photos would never work. Also, it's not like a point and shoot is that hard to carry around (fit nicely in my cargo shorts)


Also, agree about how people react about tripods. Too often it seems like they just don't know what to do. I have found that the photographer with the tripod can also be the problem. We saw what appeared to be a family doing a photoshot and having other people directing others out of the way. Have no idea how long they were doing it but I know it was at least a few minutes.

Also, agree with the flash. The sad reality of it is that most people have no idea how to turn it off. It's the same with auto focus, most people have never taken their cameras out of auto mode.

 

[Bonniec]

I do agree that the current crop of smartphones do a nice job with and for most people do a good enough job, but for me I just can't imagine not having some type of zoom lens. I only used my DSLR in the park 2 of our 7 days because of 100+ temps. While my point and shoot (Nikon P300) may not have been as good, the convenience more than made up for it. Again, it's a matter of preference, and people can use whatever works for them, but for me the idea of using any phone from 2+ years ago for all my vacation photos would never work. Also, it's not like a point and shoot is that hard to carry around (fit nicely in my cargo shorts)

If I didn't live here I'd probably carry it in more. I also do photography enough that I just need a break from it at times. Sometimes I go for the photography, but mostly now I just go to hang out with my family. I'll take better pics more often this time of year when the weather is nice. But in the summer....no way, lol

 

[mikegood2]

If I didn't live here I'd probably carry it in more. I also do photography enough that I just need a break from it at times. Sometimes I go for the photography, but mostly now I just go to hang out with my family. I'll take better pics more often this time of year when the weather is nice. But in the summer....no way, lol

I do agree that if you live around there or visit often a iPhone is more than adequate. In my case it was my first time back in 20+ years and my 2 nieces first visit! Seeing that they invited me for that occasion, taking photos of the trip was one of the ways of paying them back. I guess I was looking at it from the point of view of a first visit or occasional family vacation.

Were going again this summer and the heat is the one thing I'm not looking forward too. Don't think my DSLR will be going every day. LOL

 

[photo_chick]

Also, agree with the flash. The sad reality of it is that most people have no idea how to turn it off. It's the same with auto focus, most people have never taken their cameras out of auto mode.

Absolutely agree. I was at my DD's dance concert and the guy behind me didn't know how to turn his AF assist beam off. I showed him how during intermission.

 

[havoc315]

To each their own. If people want to use dSLRs as large point and shoots, go for it. If people want to use their iPhones or iPads, those cameras are just as good as cheap point and shoots, and allows them to instantly share. So can't blame them -- in fact, even with my "real" camera in the other hand, I've snapped some quick iPhone shots just to instantly email or Facebook.
I'm only peeved if someone is disruptive -- if they use their flash in a dark ride.

 

[Shutterbug]

People that see you taking a shot but walk into your shot anyway, thennnn proceed to threaten you about taking their photo.

 

[jimim]

I guess mine is the people that have a crazy better camera than me and have no idea how to use it. . . because I could be putting it to better use.

other than that i guess i'm kinda oblivious when there of others.

I do alot of cellphone snapping but again only to text off real quick for friends. those pics never end up coming off my phone anyway.

I seem to take less and less pictures each trip cause we are there multiple times a year. 90% of all my pics anymore of my kids who are young and I want them to be able to look back and see how they grew with Disney throughout their lives.

 

[OKW Lover]

My pet peeve is the person who wants to take a shot across a busy pathway and expects everybody to stop so they can get their shot.

 

[zackiedawg]

I'm pretty relaxed when I'm at the parks, so not much really bothers me, especially photography-related. I can generally agree with those who use flash where it isn't supposed to be used - I'm sure a good half of them are due to ignorance of how to turn it off. People taking photos across a busy walkway don't peeve me, I just find it amusing as I know how long they're going to wait to get the good shot. People walking in front of my tripod don't really bother me - I know when I set it up that I'm going to have to be patient and wait for the right moment, so I can stand there at peace for many minutes just waiting for my opening...and often I'm taking a very long exposure, so a few people crossing in front of me don't affect the shot. The people shooting with phones or iPads don't peeve me either - they just go in the amusement category - the phones just because they're usually not very knowledgeable of photography and I know they're going to get a terrible shot because they're shooting into the sun, or the camera is badly tilted, etc. The iPad folks just look so darn silly that I get a chuckle every time I see one held up in the air to take a shot.

About the only photography-related peeve I have at the parks is the general lack of spacial awareness that a lot of people have, especially P&S and cellphone shooters who clearly are not photography enthusiasts. The worst offenses tend to be when they line up to take a family shot, and even when you're courteous enough to not walk through their path and try going around, they suddenly decide they can't get everyone in frame, and while still looking at their LCD, start backing up blindly right into the passing crowd. The second worst offenders tend to be those who seem totally oblivious to others who are taking a photo, and step directly in front of them to take their own snap of something...somehow not noticing the person or persons they stepped in front of who have cameras up to their faces and were just about to take a clean shot.

Still, I have so many more general peeves at the park that have nothing to do with photography...reckless cart drivers, bully baby carriage pushers who slam forward into crowds expecting the seas to part, people who push up against your back while in lines, people who cut lines, people who stop for random conversations right in the middle of high-flow traffic areas, people who suddenly stop and change directions in front of you while walking, people who walk like they're on an ocean liner in heavy seas weaving back and forth all over the pathway so you can't get past them, people who drop food or trash and make no effort to pick it up...I could go on and on...

It's best to just be zen, and take your time in the parks - that way, none of this ever gets you boiled over - you can just smile when you see the offenses occurring, and check them off on an imaginary checklist in your head of all the offenses you expect to see for the day. It's easy for me, because I don't go to Disney with kids, or to get on rides, or to be the first in - I go for me, on my schedule, with no preset plans or reservations, so I can just relax and enjoy my time there despite all the chaos around me!

 

[cpbjgc]

I don't have much on the way of pet peeves except for flash on the dark rides - it's disruptive, provides momentary blindness that lessen the enjoyment of the ride by everyone else, and will sometimes blow out my shot being taken without a flash.

I also will walk through shots if you are shooting from across the path and I cannot avoid it - I figure its up to the people wanting that shot to be patient and wait for their opening, not the other way around.

Instead of a peeve, I do have a lot a sympathy for the folks using their phones/P&S/DSLR who have no understanding of exposure, because you know they are going to go home and find that the once in a lifetime shot is blurred, a silhouette, or just burned out. It doesn't matter whether they know about composition rules, or have a picture that would not turn my crank. All they wanted to do was capture that one moment that was special to them which is now gone. Having graduated from point and shoot, I still remember how that feels, especially when you had to wait a week to get your film developed.

And for the record, I do chimp my shots (always checking that histogram!), so please be kind if you see me in the parks the last week of March staring at my screen .