mommies with cameras

[jann1033]

ok this is a new one for me. took the grandchild to the zoo, i wanted to force myself to use my 50mm so that is all i took. a lot of the animals are inside which imo is never the best conditions to shoot in since the glass is really scratched and dirty enough to make it look like a center spot filter was used if you can manage to find a clean spot but i was shooting manual focus and i had 2 mommies literally following me around commenting on ever shot i took, ("that's not going to take, why is she taking that" etc) at first i was shocked that a) they were so rude b) were so ignorant they evidently never saw a low light lens before and the f1.8 looks like a bubble gum machine prize so i'm sure they assumed it was but both had an entry level dslr i never saw them take a shot with. ( couldn't see the brand but on one the lens had the largest zoom grip i have ever seen, it was most of the lens and not canon ,they didn't really seem to be the type who would buy something other than a kit lens since neither had a bag with them ) just wondered if anyone had ever run across this. i have nothing against mommies just rude mommies( whose 3 yr olds btw were on the older kids( 6yrs+) play equipment instead of the equipment for the younger kids and about gave me heart attacks by walking up the slides and almost falling off the edge about 5 times, evidently that's when they were using their cameras elsewhere i guess )
so snappy comebacks needed in case this happens again

 

[wenrob]

Maybe mutter something like: "She's taking that because she actually knows what she's doing." Then show them your LCD and ask them if they'd like you to teach them how.

I'll tell you, even when I had no clue what I was doing I always tried to get a shot anyway. That's how you learn, trial and error. When we were in SD last year is when I figured out how to make fences and cages "disappear" and saw a guy put his lens right up against the glass which prompted me to try it too. If they're not even bothering they're missing out on more then just a few shots.

 

[DVC Jen]

Oh Janet - I feel your pain.

At Emilys Christmas dance recital there was a Mom sitting behind me totally upset because her camera was not giving her the photos she wanted it to. Then she asked me how mine were coming out because even with her flash she was getting nothing but blur.

She had a Sony dslr. I asked her if what settings she was using and she just gave me this blank look. Then I asked her if she would like me to set her camera so she could get the shots of her daughter she wanted and she was so appreciative.

As I was manually setting her camera she dropped this bomb - "I'm a professional photographer, but just leave my camera on auto and have never had this issue".

She still wasn't happy with what she was getting after I set her camera. She asked to see what I was able to get and I showed her a few shots from my LCD - then I offered to take photos of her daughter for her and email them to her.

When I sent that email - I just couldn't help it. I realize it wasn't the nicest thing I have ever done - but I mentioned that I thought she could really benefit from Bryan Petersons book Understanding Exposure. I said I am sure it will do nothing but help you. And that I was certain since she was charging people for photography she wanted to learn to be the best photographer she could be and give her clients great photos.

Never once heard from her - not a thank you for the photos - nothing.

People like that irk me to no end and it sounds like you are MUCH nicer than I am. I always say something back - even if it is a simple "I am taking this photo here because I know how to use my camera and know that the photo will turn out exactly how I want it to."

 

[annnewjerz]

I've never had this experience, probably just because I have only had my Nikon for 6 months or so---but I really hope I never do. I'm not the type of person who can keep her mouth shut when people do something so obviously rude and act like you aren't even there to hear it and I KNOW this would end up ruining someone's day (although probably not mine )

I agree with Wen and Jen though...saying something about that you are putting your skills to use to get the picture you want and then showing them the LCD afterward would probably do the trick to shut them up.

 

[JR6ooo4]

You could tell them you like to support the zoo but you only paid for the regular admission. Not the "ignorant comments" tour.

Mikeeee

 

[JR6ooo4]

how about
"...if my shots do not come out, maybe I could use your mouth? A lot is coming out of that!"

MIkeeee

 

[pdmedic]

DVC Jen: Just cause someone says they are a professional photographer don't expect them to know a lot. It really depends on what they do. My wife worked as a "photographer" for Wal-Mart's photo studios which I guess qualifies her as a "Professional Photographer" since she got paid to do photos but all they really did was press the button there was no setting anything on the camera and she admits all she did was operate the machine.

 

[DVC Jen]

DVC Jen: Just cause someone says they are a professional photographer don't expect them to know a lot. It really depends on what they do. My wife worked as a "photographer" for Wal-Mart's photo studios which I guess qualifies her as a "Professional Photographer" since she got paid to do photos but all they really did was press the button there was no setting anything on the camera and she admits all she did was operate the machine.

This lady didn't work as that kind of photographer. She handed me her card - has a web site with her work on it. She charges quite a bit for her outdoor only camera set to automatic work.

I checked her out before I made the suggestion.

 

[jann1033]

maybe i should write these down on note cards and stick them in my camera bag for next time
i have a tendency to just have my mouth hit the floor at the time then think about what i should have said days later
Jen all i can say about the "auto-pro" is
it was kind of funny though since they were standing right behind me but making the comments in hushed tones, kind of like a golf sportscaster " she aims the camera, just what is she taking? oww it's gonna be a miss. no green jacket today for this one !"

 

[boBQuincy]

Like DVC Jen mentioned, just ask them what settings they are using. That usually shuts them up quickly.

I was at the first tiger overlook at AK and saw someone with a SLR and a long lens (with a bunch of gear and wearing a photo vest) taking photos from about 6 feet back from the wire screen. I mentioned to him that if he got the lens right up on the screen it would tend to disappear. My suggestion was met with a load of photo-babble about apertures, none of which made any sense. I no longer give advice unless it is asked for.
And I still get right up to the wire screen (and it still tends to disappear).

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In January as I was going onto the Tower of Terror elevator, I heard two young women snickering to eachother that my camera was going to come up and hit me in the face during the ride. Nice. I just chuckled to myself at the irony of them thinking it was me who was naive.

I've also had someone start up a conversation with me before telling me she was a professional photographer. I mentioned settings and she quickly balked, saying she only uses auto, too.

 

[pdmedic]

This lady didn't work as that kind of photographer. She handed me her card - has a web site with her work on it. She charges quite a bit for her outdoor only camera set to automatic work.

I checked her out before I made the suggestion.

Well Ummm.....Uhhhh.... Never mind was just a thought.

 

[YesDear]

I had a thread earlier, about seeing a man at AK that I immediately could tell he was a photographer. Someone who knew what the were doing. Particularly at Disney you can tell those that know what they are doing and those that just put the battery in their new DSLR! And some of those DSLR's are high end equipment.

I really enjoy coming across a photographer and sharing info. I also just chuckle to myself when like Bob you get someone that speaks photobabble to you. Normally I would not respond to the idiots because it is just not worth my time.

I also really enjoy when you come across someone you can tell is anxious to learn and I can give a few pointers to.

 

[GrillMouster]

... at first i was shocked that a) they were so rude b) were so ignorant they evidently never saw a low light lens before and the f1.8 looks like a bubble gum machine prize so i'm sure they assumed it was but both had an entry level dslr i never saw them take a shot with. ( couldn't see the brand but on one the lens had the largest zoom grip i have ever seen, it was most of the lens and not canon ,they didn't really seem to be the type who would buy something other than a kit lens since neither had a bag with them )...so snappy comebacks needed in case this happens again

Who the heck cares what they say to each other, what they think of your lens, and what kind of cameras they were using? Keep doing your thing and ignore them.

 

[ukcatfan]

I was by The Living Seas one evening trying to get a shot of SE. I heard some woman say to her friend, "I don't know why anyone would want to take a picture like that when you can just Google it and find a hundred just like it." I said to her, "Well, how do you think they get there?" She didn't respond but her stunned face said volumes.

 

[annnewjerz]

I was by The Living Seas one evening trying to get a shot of SE. I heard some woman say to her friend, "I don't know why anyone would want to take a picture like that when you can just Google it and find a hundred just like it." I said to her, "Well, how do you think they get there?" She didn't respond but her stunned face said volumes.

 

[jann1033]

I was by The Living Seas one evening trying to get a shot of SE. I heard some woman say to her friend, "I don't know why anyone would want to take a picture like that when you can just Google it and find a hundred just like it." I said to her, "Well, how do you think they get there?" She didn't respond but her stunned face said volumes.

personally that's why i never painted the Mona Lisa, it's been done before, yawn.

 

[Groucho]

how about
"...if my shots do not come out, maybe I could use your mouth? A lot is coming out of that!"

MIkeeee

The "unwashed masses" just can't understand that a small lens is often a better lens than a big one! They also figure your camera must be broke if your onboard flash doesn't pop up when you press the shutter.

 

[WVDisGeek]

Similar experience at MVMCP in December. Some (obviously not ALL! ) of my shots were coming out and I overheard the lady behind me telling her husband that "maybe he should ask that man in front of you what he is doing....HIS camera seems to be working fine". I left that one alone. I have also heard people commenting that my camera must be broken because the flash isn't working. When I tell them I didn't want it to "flash", I usually just get blank stares.

 

[seashoreCM]

taking photos from about 6 feet back from the wire screen. I mentioned to him that if he got the lens right up on the screen it would tend to disappear. My suggestion was met with a load of photo-babble about apertures, none of which made any sense.

But did the screen disappear for him when he used his photo-babble tricks (depth of field settings)?

In January as I was going onto the Tower of Terror elevator, I heard two young women snickering to eachother that my camera was going to come up and hit me in the face during the ride. Nice.

Yes it can happen. Tower of Terror pulls you down faster than you might otherwise free-fall.

... my camera must be broken because the flash isn't working. ...

Sometimes I put my finger over the flash when I don't want to use flash.