that is.. shy BEHIND the camera. recently i was out on a walk in the city (chicago) and i saw what i thought would make the most amazing photo. so why didn't i take it? i got all shy. i've noticed that when i'm around friends or family i'm very comfortable taking photos but when i'm out ALONE in a public area (like a sidewalk in downtown) i get really shy and end up walking away from great photo opportunities.
does anyone or has anyone else felt this way? any advise on how you were able to overcome it?
I feel the same way! I get all self-conscious went I'm alone taking pictures! I thought I was the only one with this problem! I'm just trying to get out of my comfort zone and take pictures when I normally would be too shy or scared to
Rupe loves going up to others - especially when there is an opportunity - and asking if he can snap some shots.
It can be a slippery slope. If the subject is busy or engaged, you might feel like you're intruding ... or be submitted into feeling as such depending on the response.
S'matter of going for it and being bold. What have you got to lose? The worst that can happen is they say no. The best? You get to speak with someone about your craft ... something you love to do. I don't see a downside in that bent.
Yes ... I've felt like a creep before. But it happens. It's not always "the right time" for someone to be shot ... but you you grab the opportunity when you can.
P.S. Politeness usually goes far ..... along with small compliments.
oh no no no.. i don't think at this point i would be brave enough to take photos of strangers lol. i was talking about taking architectural photos. i just feel like when i pick up my camera everyone is looking at me. oh lord.. i'm getting all sweaty just thinking about it..
I think Nikki is saying that it makes her feel self conscious just to be seen taking pictures around town. She's not taking photos of people, but she thinks everyone is looking at her and thinking weird thoughts, like - "what a dork!" or something.
I sometimes feel that way too, but then I have to remind myself - who cares what they think - it's my camera, my life and my art - I can do with it what I want as long as I'm not hurting anyone.
So Nikki, just go out and do it - forget about the people around you. Chances are they won't even notice and if they do, they'll probably be thinking, wow, that girl has a cool camera, I bet she gets some great photos!
I think many of us go through that. Just go for it. People may stop and wonder what your up to but mostly its just through curiosity.
You can feel a bit of a chump sometimes if you trying to get a strange angle and your crawling about on all fours for example. but hey - all in the name of art.
Its hard to get past that feeling but only way is to push it aside and just snap. The more you do this the more you will find it easier to forget about your surroundings and others around you.
And remember - generally people are just interested in what you are shooting - they're not thinking your a freak.
I have the same problem when I' m not on my college campus, its weird. I can be on campus and be as trigger happy as I want with my camera. But as soon as I am at the train station or in the city I wonder how many people think I'm a weirdo for crouching down in the middle of the street to take a picture of a building...
But the more I've done it the less shy I've gotten. So I would say keep taking pictures out in public and you'll start to feel better!
I haven't been doing this to this degree too long, but I find it best to go complete dork when taking pictures where I might feel a bit uncomfortable. Put on the photog vest, the horn-rimmed glasses, a pocket protector or two. You get the picture. Seriously, the more I feel like a photographer on assignment or on a mission, the less inhibited I feel. I'm not just some guy taking pictures. I'm a photographer.
It is just a passing moment and no one will ever say some time down the road, "Hey! That's the guy that was taking pictures of strangers at that intersection 3 years ago!" At least that's what I tell myself. :) Have you watched what people do in public and how they dress? It's pretty much a free-for-all on etiquette with everything else out there. So why not a harmless photo? I have never had anyone upset with me even in foreign countries. Oh, and while you're standing there being shy...they're taking your photo on security cameras everywhere! :) Just my thoughts. ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHY wherever you are!
Haha I'm the opposite! I'm fine when I'm on my pwn but when I'm with people I know I don't want to make them stop or whatever...I say just lose your inhibitions and go with the flow! If they ask you what you're doing, tell them about 365 :D xxx
I used to feel that way too, and sometime still do, but then I start to think to myself: what is it going to matter in 10 minutes what this person/these people think of me taking a picture? And 10 years from now I may have this absolutely beautiful picture in my collection and I'll be so glad I didn't let what other people think of me dictate what I photograph and when. It's just really a matter of putting blinders on and looking at the 'big picture' so to speak :) just keep trying, you'll get there!
One rainy day I went downtown to a couple shops and just took pictures of stuff on display in the shops. I know people were thinking I was weird and when the shop keeper started watching me closer, I had to break down and tell her what I was doing so she wouldn't think I was shoplifting or something. I told her about 365 and she thought that was really cool. Did I feel awkward? You bet, but I just kept telling myself that no one really cares, so why should I?
You're not alone. I feel like this a lot. This is why I never really venture out of my own little area. I don't want to be seen taking a photo. No idea why it's so strange feeling for me, but I feel like a sore thumb when I take the camera out. Now if I'm in a touristy area where others are taking photos, I can blend in a bit and am okay with it. I wish I had an idea how to work through this.. Hang in there, you're not alone.
ahhh..thanks for posting this, nikki. i'm even shyer than just taking phtoos of the buildings, etc in public...i even get shy to photograph a friend's even bcause there are other people there that i don't know. i'm reading the replies on this thread and learning, hoping i'll overcome my shyness, too, because i know i'm losing great photos.
I was on campus last week and a sign fell over. I rushed over to take a picture of it on it's side on the steps but someone got to it before me and set it back up. Someone else noticed me walking away and mentioned "Guess they got to it first," and laughed. I told them "Oh, I wasn't running over there to pick it up, I wanted to photograph it."
They looked at me, shook their heads and looked really confused. I just smiled, shrugged my shoulders and walked off. I didn't expect them to understand. Even my friends laugh at me because I take photos of everything.
I felt like it'd be rude to knock it over again just to take a picture, so I didn't.
Basically, you just have to not worry about what people think. So you're the quirky eccentric person with the camera? So what. Just take that shot so you don't regret it!
Honestly... I kind of feel the opposite way!
I'm more shy about taking pictures around my family because they always tease me about it!
Whenever I take SP's at home, I'm usually out on my front lawn.. and, I live on a main road... so people pass me all the time!
I guess it's something that you just get into!
Don't be embarrassed.. great photo opportunities don't come all that often in public.. capture everything!
Alex - that's a awesome way of thinking about it.. quirky and eccentric. i like that!!
Stefanie & Rainee - sometime's i wish my friends more like that. it's impossible to practice doing candid shots around them. whenever i take my camera out BEFORE i can even get the viewfinder up to my eye they're posing and moving furniture around to "set the scene"
Rainee - totally off subject.. your name is awesome!!! i'm putting that one in the wishful baby name box. lol
I am doing an experiment and seeing if people are brave enough to come up and talk to me about what I am doing. Last Sunday as I was waiting at the Tractor and Supply store for my husband to pick something up I jump out and start snapping some pictures.
Dorky things like parts of lawn mowers,springs ohhh and I spotted some sparkly bokeh coming off a shiny new trailer.So over I went and started shooting some pictures.
At that time I was approached by a salesman and asked if I wanted to buy a trailer. I explained what i was doing and he walked away not sure what to say.
So start snapping and before you know it you will not even care what others think especially if you get "the " picture.
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It can be a slippery slope. If the subject is busy or engaged, you might feel like you're intruding ... or be submitted into feeling as such depending on the response.
S'matter of going for it and being bold. What have you got to lose? The worst that can happen is they say no. The best? You get to speak with someone about your craft ... something you love to do. I don't see a downside in that bent.
Yes ... I've felt like a creep before. But it happens. It's not always "the right time" for someone to be shot ... but you you grab the opportunity when you can.
P.S. Politeness usually goes far ..... along with small compliments.
I sometimes feel that way too, but then I have to remind myself - who cares what they think - it's my camera, my life and my art - I can do with it what I want as long as I'm not hurting anyone.
So Nikki, just go out and do it - forget about the people around you. Chances are they won't even notice and if they do, they'll probably be thinking, wow, that girl has a cool camera, I bet she gets some great photos!
You can feel a bit of a chump sometimes if you trying to get a strange angle and your crawling about on all fours for example. but hey - all in the name of art.
Its hard to get past that feeling but only way is to push it aside and just snap. The more you do this the more you will find it easier to forget about your surroundings and others around you.
And remember - generally people are just interested in what you are shooting - they're not thinking your a freak.
But the more I've done it the less shy I've gotten. So I would say keep taking pictures out in public and you'll start to feel better!
thanks again!
They looked at me, shook their heads and looked really confused. I just smiled, shrugged my shoulders and walked off. I didn't expect them to understand. Even my friends laugh at me because I take photos of everything.
I felt like it'd be rude to knock it over again just to take a picture, so I didn't.
Basically, you just have to not worry about what people think. So you're the quirky eccentric person with the camera? So what. Just take that shot so you don't regret it!
I'm more shy about taking pictures around my family because they always tease me about it!
Whenever I take SP's at home, I'm usually out on my front lawn.. and, I live on a main road... so people pass me all the time!
I guess it's something that you just get into!
Don't be embarrassed.. great photo opportunities don't come all that often in public.. capture everything!
Stefanie & Rainee - sometime's i wish my friends more like that. it's impossible to practice doing candid shots around them. whenever i take my camera out BEFORE i can even get the viewfinder up to my eye they're posing and moving furniture around to "set the scene"
Rainee - totally off subject.. your name is awesome!!! i'm putting that one in the wishful baby name box. lol
Dorky things like parts of lawn mowers,springs ohhh and I spotted some sparkly bokeh coming off a shiny new trailer.So over I went and started shooting some pictures.
At that time I was approached by a salesman and asked if I wanted to buy a trailer. I explained what i was doing and he walked away not sure what to say.
So start snapping and before you know it you will not even care what others think especially if you get "the " picture.