Nervous/Embarrassed ?

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strandville

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following on from an earlier post (strange reactions) do any of you togs get nervous or embarrassed while out and about ? This is my first real venture into photography and I can tell you I'm normally a very confident person, but for some reason, when I've the A200 in my hand I feel like some type of alien :gag: I'm hoping the more I do it the more confident I'll become, but at the minute I feel I rush everything just so I can move on, or I look for places where theres no one around, but theres also nothing to photograph.:bonk: please tell me this will all change in time :nuts:
 
Yep, every time I go out! I don't think getting looks like you're a child-molesting terrorist because you've got a big camera helps either! It's one of the things I'm slowly getting over (helped by the fact that DSLRs are getting more common). I'm still far too self-conscious to ever take a tripod out with me though!

It does go away with time, the truth is very few people are really looking at you, and very few care in the slightest! I'm going to try street photography soon, but I'm sure I'll bottle out! Keep going at it, and it'll get easier!

Chris
 
I do feel a bit nervous at times when I'm in places with a lot of people but my confidence seems to building up bit by bit each time I go out. Something that's helped a lot is the rare time when someone does actually say something to me it has turned out to be another amateur tog just curious about my gear and what I'm shooting. I think a lot of it is genuinely just a bit of paranoia and that 99% of folk really just accept that you're just a guy out taking some photo's.

Tommy.
 
If anything, when I go out I feel more confident because people take you seriously with bigger equipment - Joe Bloggs doesn't know a camera from a camera, they only know the size difference.

I would feel embarrassed walking to a popular photography location with a snapper camera, mixing with semi-professionals/professionals, however I feel confident and almost smug walking with a professional kit to a general location with your every day foreign tourists and their 5MP silver Tesco cameras.

I s'pose it depends on the person.
 
I used to get very nervous when out on the street following a couple of precarious predicaments, but I got over it.

Now my attitude is 'you looking at me?' not the other way round.
If they want to get into an argument and say 'I'm calling the Police', my reaction is 'call em, I'll wait here with you, read this UK photographers rights document while we're waiting'

I do look like a terrorist, papparazzi stalking phaeodophile so I'm used to it.
 
I'm 43, I wear shorts every day and wear an 'Indianna Jones' hat...I have no shame.
 
Always...:thumbs: after 25 years doing this...no different, I suppose I'm quite shy really...Most photographers are (That I know)..:bonk:
 
when I'm local I am reluctant to get the camera out not embarrassed though. When I'm in London however I can stand in the middle of the street snapping people sometimes right in there face and it doesn't bother me I actually enjoy it.
 
strandville said:
...but at the minute I feel I rush everything just so I can move on...
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:nono: That's when you won't get your photo. When you gain a bit more confidence and realise people aren't really looking at you, you'll notice your photos actually improving. When you slow down and take everything in, it really does get you a better photo. :)

Last year when I went up to London I was sooo nervous about being 'caught' snapping, y'know? :cuckoo: Yeah, duff photos. Anyway, went up there a couple of weeks back, much more confident in what I was doing, stood on the street in the dark with tripod, in the tube, etc., no one bothered me (only other toggers and people wanting their photo taken :)) and got some photos I'm really pleased with. :thumbs:
 
"Wary" - thats how I feel. I tend to feel more comfortable when I've got my earphones in, they block out external noise and help me get into my own little world :)
 
Yep, you just need to hold your head up high, slow down and take your time.

I'm actually planning to shoot a nude in the middle of Manchester at some point. (I need to get the weather, lighting and lack of people!) I do expect a very early start for that one and I will be taking my own security with me so I know I won't have a problem.

Most of us don't like to stand out, we are not used to being the centre of attention (or we'd be in front of the camera!)

Don't let it worry you, if you want to take your time, ask someone to watch your back so you can concentrate on shooting.
 
Being a fairly nervous person myself, I can get slightly uncomfortable when I'm out, especially with the 400mm sticking out. However, every time I am out locally, I don't feel too bad, as most people are friendly up here.
I mostly do wildlife photography and I find that the animals don't answer back

I have now come to realise (in my area), that one of the biggest reasons people look at me with the camera, is that they're just interested or curious as to what I'm using and more often than not, they'll come and chat.

Now if I was to take my camera to a city.......... :D
 
I am usually quite happy to walk around with a "**** you" type of attitude.

However, when I have my camera around my neck/wrist I turn into a cowering nervous wreck trying to portray the message "I'm not doing anything wrong, honest. I don't want to hurt anybody, I just want to take some nice photographs, please don't shout at me".

Strange.
 
I don't think I'd have the confidence to walk around a busy city centre with an SLR camera but this is more down to fear of my kit being stolen. I don't have any confidence issues taking photo's at popular tourist destinations where there aren't dodgy characters around.
 
yes - but a home-made R-Strap massively reduces this.
 
Don't let fear put you off doing ANYTHING in life!

I've wandered around Glasgow at night with a 5D in my hand and I'm only 5'4". Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, London........ not had a problem.

I do keep my eyes open and I also have a very heavy tripod in my hand!

Don't sit at home thinking "what if" get out there and do it. Just be sensible and don't wander off down poorly lit streets or really quiet areas.
 
I have felt slightly odd when I first started walking around with my camera but luckily in Edinburgh you see hundreds of folks wandering with DSLR's and Point and Shoot cameras so I don't feel too out of place!
Although I have to say its what I want to do so why should I feel stupid!
 
You're right, we has this same discussion just a couple of weeks ago.

It's true though, a lot of us find it a little intimidating to be doing something that causes people to stare and point at us - it's only natural :shrug:.

My suggestion in the other thread (which you may not have read) was to wear an MP3 player, whilst you're out and about :). Provided that it's not going to make you liable to be mugged or run over by a train that you didn't hear coming, it's actually a good way to help yourself relax and to dettach yourself from the world around you. I find that people don't tend to come up and talk to me if they see that I have earphones in, whereas they do occassionally try and engage me in conversation if I don't.

I suppose that I'm lucky to be living in Germany, as people here don't seem to have the same dim view of togs as they do in the UK (judging purely on comments I've read here and not on personal experience :|).

Finally, as was mentioned in the other thread, quite a lot of people are probably a little in awe of what you're doing and are just curious in a friendly way, so you really don't need to feel like you're doing anything "wrong". I've only been into photography for a few months, so I can easily remember what I thought about togs, prior to becoming biased :D...

Quite simply, I didn't know one camera from another and didn't care, as long as the person on the other end of it wasn't making a nuisance of themselves (by ordering pedestrians not to walk through their shot, or getting up in people's faces for unwanted "candids" :bang:). If you're not planning to behave like that, you've got nothing to fear and nothing to apologise for :|.

Go to it :thumbs:!
 
I think it's a bit of a catch 22 situation in a lot of days. If you are nervous then that shows and people looking at you are more likely to think you are up to no good, whereas if you are confident, this will also show and people will think you know what you are doing, especially if you have the big camera in your hand. Also, if you make eye contact, it can make people nervous as they feel the centre of your attention. When doing street photography I tend to look straight past the subject after I have taken the shot and they usually think you are photographing someone behind them. They often even turn around to look behind them in order to see for themselves what you were shooting.
 
DarrenToogood said:
I am lucky to be living here on the Island. We photographers are not really looked at as terrorists or razzers compared to if we lived in London.
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Steve Smith said:
Correct. I've never had any problems here either.


Steve.
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I do street photography in London and I've never been looked at as a terrorist or razzer (Whatever that is). :shrug:
 
I am not really nervous or embabbassed about walking about around town with my camera but I am if it comes to taking pictures of people. Sometimes I see some really great people shots on here and wish I had the courage to take some or even approach someone...:(
 
I think when you've lived in London a while, you realise there are a lot more weird/colourful/threatening people around the place that people care about, than a (usually ;)) respectable-looking chap/chapette with a big camera.

I have no problem loitering around the Thames path, crouched at the edge with my tripod, in the dark....but then 6'2", and usually wearing a dark jacket in the gloom so the odd person that comes along is probably more afraid of me than vice versa :P

I was out near my folk's place in the bluebell woods this weekend and everyone I met wanted a chat, makes me want to escape back to t'country!
 
fabs said:
I do street photography in London and I've never been looked at as a terrorist or razzer (Whatever that is). :shrug:
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Likewise.

I tend to stick to more popular areas though.

I stick out like a sore thumb in Chesham though - where I live - and do tend to whip the camera out less and for shorter bursts of time as a result.
 
AliB said:
Don't let fear put you off doing ANYTHING in life!

I've wandered around Glasgow at night with a 5D in my hand and I'm only 5'4".
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Brave of you... according to no less than the United Nations we are officially the stabbiest city in the developed world :P
 
MrCynical said:
Brave of you... according to no less than the United Nations we are officially the stabbiest city in the developed world :P
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Glasgow. Developed World?

Don't make me laugh.:lol:

On topic: sometimes. I find introducing myself to whoever thinks they're in charge in the area gets all that sorted. If there's nobody then I'll not be worried.

I'm never concerned that I'm in the wrong, just don't like confrontations and a little worried I might get (another) one. Find it better to have Mr. Jobsworth on-side in advance :)
 
I must admit I do get affected by others watching what I do when I'm out and about shooting. Peer pressure is something thats not good when you're trying to create ideas to compose your shot whilst figuring out what equipment to use and what settings to apply.

I've been stopped a few times by security people who have ordered me to delete my photos so I'm always aware that I'm "under surveillance" which puts me off a bit not to mention all the blimin' kids who pull faces in front of the camera.

Simply pointing out the UK photographers rights does b****r all normally, it doesn't stop them from pushing you around. I mean even if the police declare that you are well within your rights after a long debate down at the police station it doesn't do you any favours as its ruined your whole day and you've probably missed the shots you wanted to take anyway. So either way, you can't win.

Sorry I digress! :p
 
I did notice a 'circle of exclusion' following me around the park at the weekend (with my two boys) which I've not experienced before. I was using the 70-200 F4L for the first time which has dented the confidence a bit :(
 
I'm pretty confident now, I love doing candid street shots in the centre of cardiff, and i'm not really discreet with a big D300 and grip:wave:

As for anyone trying to steal my gear, they'd have said D300 and grip (= heavy) embedded into thier skull before they got close enough :bat:

Chris.
 
Yeah I get nervous while shooting, I recently took some shots while offshore, and after the hassle of doing risk assessments and Hot work permits to allow me out side the accommodation with the camera I had to have a chaperone with me looking over my shoulder.

But despite all that I got a couple of good shots IMO and would do it again.
 
I used to be more nervous when I got my first camera years ago because if I was out taking photos, I'd be the only one, so I used to take a photo and then hide my camera in my pocket! Now so many people have cameras, that I don't feel embarrased. :)
 
strandville said:
following on from an earlier post (strange reactions) do any of you togs get nervous or embarrassed while out and about ? This is my first real venture into photography and I can tell you I'm normally a very confident person, but for some reason, when I've the A200 in my hand I feel like some type of alien :gag: I'm hoping the more I do it the more confident I'll become, but at the minute I feel I rush everything just so I can move on, or I look for places where theres no one around, but theres also nothing to photograph.:bonk: please tell me this will all change in time :nuts:
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Have you thought of shooting with someone else? I shot a few times with a couple of friends and it made a big difference to the level of nervousness some of us had previously felt.

It also meant we could bounce ideas of each other too.
 
Sometimes I feel very confident with my 450d and 70-200 on it taking street shots and other day I just don't. Like today for example, went out, was wandering around city centre for few hours and only ended up with about 30 shots (most of which are useless). Weird :shrug:
 
I always worry initially when taking my camera out and about but when i've taken a shot or two I seem to lock into another world and end up just wandering in my own world oblivious to others :)

great normally but worrying when in a city environment with chavs salivating at my camera and wondering how much they could get for it at the car boot :eek:

Regarding others looking at it generally, aside from the people who will grab their kids out of the way, forget about them I say :) you're there to get good shots, not care what others think :D
 
When shooting in places where there are people, it might not just be the fact that we're using a camera...its maybe because we're stopping/obstructing people's way! How many people would not feel self conscious about stopping and just standing really still in the middle of a busy town centre, staring at one spot for a minute? Without a camera we'd naturally pull to the side so we wouldn't block the flow....so we're we're obstructing people...with a big hefty camera too!
 
being new to photography i too feel slightly nervous, and quite anxious when out and about but starting to relax the more im out. Denny can be a scary place though!! guessing one day the nerves will go away :)
 
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