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wob182
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Apr 05, 2008
Age: 18
Posts: 195
Location: u.k.
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 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject: Hidden Social Rules when it comes to being a Photographer. |
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I really into photography atm and going to do work experience when i can get a placement in a studio.
I went to a wedding, taking with me my SLR camera, my dad had warned me to ask my friend before hand if it was ok to bring my professional camera to her brother's celebration. I didnt i hid it in my bag when my dad wasn't looking when i got there I asked she said it was ok.
I got a bit carried away, everyone looked at there best so when we were ment to be eating i started snapping away, I even spoke to the professional photographer that they hired for tips and advice. By the mid evening i was more comfortable taking photos trying to capture the atmosphere then dancing, I did dance a bit but my friend seemed off so i just decided to get up on a chair and start snapping more.
I got some great shots, I put them on facebook and 6 people are using them as there display photo, I know how to capture people. But i heard from my friend that people were going up to her and complaining that y was i taking so many photos. People apparently complained i had my camera in their face.
I'm cringing about it, she was so stressed the next day (i found this out l8r) that she took it out on my photo saying that to capture the atmosphere that i need to join in more and that if she wanted me to be there to be the photographer she would of hired me instead!
I dont know when its appropriate whats too much, are there times you just should stop taking photos. What are the social rules about when its appropriate to photograph someone ?
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I'm fed up of explaining after every post, I have dyslexia so sometimes my spelling and punctuation is off. I do use spell check doesn't always work... |
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sinsboldly
Free Range Aspie
Joined: Nov 22, 2006
Age: 57
Posts: 7554
Location: Oregon, USA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: Hidden Social Rules when it comes to being a Photographe |
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| wob182 wrote: | I really into photography atm and going to do work experience when i can get a placement in a studio.
I went to a wedding, taking with me my SLR camera, my dad had warned me to ask my friend before hand if it was ok to bring my professional camera to her brother's celebration. I didnt i hid it in my bag when my dad wasn't looking when i got there I asked she said it was ok.
I got a bit carried away, everyone looked at there best so when we were ment to be eating i started snapping away, I even spoke to the professional photographer that they hired for tips and advice. By the mid evening i was more comfortable taking photos trying to capture the atmosphere then dancing, I did dance a bit but my friend seemed off so i just decided to get up on a chair and start snapping more.
I got some great shots, I put them on facebook and 6 people are using them as there display photo, I know how to capture people. But i heard from my friend that people were going up to her and complaining that y was i taking so many photos. People apparently complained i had my camera in their face.
I'm cringing about it, she was so stressed the next day (i found this out l8r) that she took it out on my photo saying that to capture the atmosphere that i need to join in more and that if she wanted me to be there to be the photographer she would of hired me instead!
I dont know when its appropriate whats too much, are there times you just should stop taking photos. What are the social rules about when its appropriate to photograph someone ? |
(None of the following has anything to do with your PHOTOS, as they might be the best thing about this whole issue.)
the social rules is to heed your father's advice and ask LONG BEFORE you went to the wedding, if you were given permission, then research how to take 'atmospheric and casual' photos ( i.e. seldom is anyone happy with having a picture of them eating) and to stay out of people's faces.
Somehow you thought the camera put you in a different relationship with the other guests. You raised yourself from being a guest to beyond a member of the wedding party. In other words, you 'butt in'. It was not appreciated. Try not to be so intrusive next time and research what the responsibilities for being a guest is. Say you were in culinary school, would you have gone in and started stirring the soup? Decorating the cake? If you were in seminary, would you stand next to the priest or rabbi or what ever and lit the candles or rang the bell?
Just something to think about.
Merle |
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Josie
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 26, 2008
Posts: 556
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| Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:51 am Post subject: |
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Try to be invisible.
The candid shots are the best in that situation. |
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tearose
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jun 05, 2008
Posts: 50
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Congrats on the great photos!
Yeah. I think asking permission first is important, and perhaps a powerful zoom lens will help you get close ups without getting too close, just an idea. During dinner is a bad time.
Im also hoping to be a photographer too and from the uk, but living overseas at the moment. Red Bubble is a great photography site by the way. www.redbubble.com
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t0
Deinonychus
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 370
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I think a lot of people don't like candid photos being taken of themselves - especially when eating. I think they want to pose for the photos. Maybe that's where your complaints were coming from - people that felt overburdened by posing. |
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wob182
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Apr 05, 2008
Age: 18
Posts: 195
Location: u.k.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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ahh lol I didn't mean literary when i they were eating, yeah we were sitting down but like people were chatting away. I've actually just exprienced another cringy thing,
I was sitting on the wall at sunset having a chat with my best friend when i was saying it was perfect for a photo. She said go run home and get ur camera, so I did and she directed me to were she thinks were the best photos, I took them then she told me she had to go in coz it was getting late but I should carry on. I felt like its strange just standing in the street with a camera, people will think i'm spying or something but she assured me its ok cause ur taking photos of the sunset. So i did and walking home I saw a cool angle of the sky and the cars so i leaned against the wall to stop camera shake, it didnt work and i didnt wanna stand out so i just sat on the floor behind a car and took photos of the sky n cars. (It looks really good)
Butttt a neighbour came out his house saying his wife had thought I collapsed. I was so embarrassed I went home and have been cringing ever since. (This was a few feet away from my house so its my road if and accuses me of being suspicious)
It just keeps going stranger and stranger, I thought what could possibly go wrong if i was clearly not taking photos of people yettt somehow there is a way.
My friend suggested I should do work experience with a freelance photographer for a week and learn from them what the strange situations are and what the law is. ]
please be kind in ur replies I dont know any better and never mean to offend or upset people i'm just creating art 
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I'm fed up of explaining after every post, I have dyslexia so sometimes my spelling and punctuation is off. I do use spell check doesn't always work... |
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tearose
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jun 05, 2008
Posts: 50
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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That sounds great! Freelance work would be great as you can control it! Choose your days and hours. If youre feeling like you need to be alone and have space then you can.
Im hoping to do the same thing too! |
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t0
Deinonychus
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 370
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| wob182 wrote: | | ahh lol I didn't mean literary when i they were eating, yeah we were sitting down but like people were chatting away. |
Ok. I do think people still like to pose - they get embarrassed if there are photos of them not "looking their best."
| wob182 wrote: | | Butttt a neighbour came out his house saying his wife had thought I collapsed. I was so embarrassed I went home and have been cringing ever since. (This was a few feet away from my house so its my road if and accuses me of being suspicious) |
I don't think you should feel embarrased about this. I think it's nice that the neighbors decided to check on you. I think if you told them that you were experimenting with different ways to practice photography, they'd understand. |
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AspE
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 205
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I majored in photography, and I can tell you people usually don't like a camera in their face. I have an old-fashioned one, 120mm film, which you look into from above, so people don't realize you are shooting them. It can also help to use a longer lens, and shoot from a distance. Above all, don't let them pose. I usually take the shot really quickly, before they know what's happening. |
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Pandora
Cat Lady
Joined: Jun 18, 2005
Age: 47
Posts: 4684
Location: Townsville
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:18 am Post subject: |
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| AspE wrote: | | I majored in photography, and I can tell you people usually don't like a camera in their face. I have an old-fashioned one, 120mm film, which you look into from above, so people don't realize you are shooting them. It can also help to use a longer lens, and shoot from a distance. Above all, don't let them pose. I usually take the shot really quickly, before they know what's happening. |
I think it's always polite to ask because many people get embarrassed about having their picture taken. I know because I'm one of them. I don't get offended if somebody takes my picture without asking but I worry that it will look hideous.
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Break out you Western girls,
Someday soon you're gonna rule the world.
Break out you Western girls,
Hold your heads up high.
"Western Girls" - Dragon
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AspE
Sea Gull
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 205
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Pandora wrote: | | AspE wrote: | | I majored in photography, and I can tell you people usually don't like a camera in their face. I have an old-fashioned one, 120mm film, which you look into from above, so people don't realize you are shooting them. It can also help to use a longer lens, and shoot from a distance. Above all, don't let them pose. I usually take the shot really quickly, before they know what's happening. |
I think it's always polite to ask because many people get embarrassed about having their picture taken. I know because I'm one of them. I don't get offended if somebody takes my picture without asking but I worry that it will look hideous. |
For wedding photography, that's probably true, but for art photography, conventional beauty usually isn't the goal. Photos like that seem posed rather than spontaneous. |
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Pandora
Cat Lady
Joined: Jun 18, 2005
Age: 47
Posts: 4684
Location: Townsville
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:58 am Post subject: |
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I hate it when people bare all their teeth in a picture as it looks feral and kind of creepy. Those celebrity shots in the magazines are the worst.
_________________
Break out you Western girls,
Someday soon you're gonna rule the world.
Break out you Western girls,
Hold your heads up high.
"Western Girls" - Dragon
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_BRI_
Snowy Owl
Joined: Apr 29, 2008
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:53 am Post subject: |
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The point is they didn't want an artist.. so next time just ask them if they want the picture so they can pose or hang around to guess who are the ones who want to be portrayed. Some people don't like pictures besides you could be portraying things and situations they do not want to.
Maybe you can go straight to the theatre,public shows, concerts and that kind of places so nobody can blame you. I also suggest you go for architectonic pictures... you can post them on google earth... learn photoshop... put your name on every picture you take, advertise yourself... if they don't like the pictures you don't care... just live your passion. But not on a sensitive place like a wedding, private party,etc. You can carry your camera and shoot pictures for news... this is a freelance job/art and you can sell the pictures and your talent. You can also shoot political events and figures, sports... anything. Make a website, show low quality samples. Post them on flickr. Now that your father is responsible for you, you can work for free.. it will pay off a few years from now.
Excuse my poor english, have fun... |
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Greentea
Bull in China Shop par Excellence!
Joined: Jun 15, 2007
Posts: 2195
Location: Middle East
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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I've recently taken up Photography as a hobby, and I love to catch people in interesting moments. I don't ever shoot people who know me and can complain. If those I shoot complain, I just shrug it off.
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"It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearl" - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Cerumenator
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Mar 31, 2008
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:56 am Post subject: |
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I've been shooting for years, landscapes, portraits, you almost name it. I did one wedding for a friend (never again). Taken tons and tons of shots all over North America. Been paid for my work, and considered doing more, but my current day job pays pretty good actually and has health benefits for me and my family, so becoming a pro has never really been an option no matter how much I enjoy it.
I can tell you this much: when it comes to portraits, your personal relationship to your subjects is more important than your mastery of the camera. It is a skill unto itself, almost two entirely different fields of study, 1) the science of photography and 2) the psychology of those in front of the camera and your ability to put them at ease.
photo.net is a huge website and has tons of tutorials on the subject. Highly recommended.
Yes, some people get really twitchy and wary when a camera comes out. I've been in a field shooting with a tripod and had people drive off the road up the field in pickups to see what I was up to.
Could spend hours on the subject. Yes, you should have asked permission before you shot the wedding. But this will hopefully happen: the anquish the woman feels will fade and her appreciation of the photos you took will bloom.
But read and study photo.net and in particular, search "street photography rules" and similar. Good pointers here. Photography can actually been quite dangerous, can get you hurt, or your expensive camera broken. |
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