Embarrassed by your camera? I am...

[AnonymousKiwi1]

I spent Saturday covering an event for our local volunteer fire brigade. My first ever 'official' engagement (not charging, they're volunteers after all). Man was I nervous/self concious at the start of the day. By the afternoon I was having a great time (got the opportunity to climb to the top of the big ladder to get aerial shots of the event!), and my pics improved as the day went on too. Just get out there and practice - embarrasment wears off.

[StillFocus]

Originally Posted by wannabephotographer

In NY, the bigger your lens the better.

My poor 35mm...

[digirebelva]

I dont have a p&s so what I bring is the dslr, I usually have it in the car when we go places, never know when you might miss "the shot", my wife doesnt say anything, just smirks, my daughter is a camera ham so no issue there either
havent done the food shots , that might not go over as well..

[CaptainNH]

Originally Posted by StillFocus

My poor 35mm...

That's what extension tubes are really for

[wannabephotographer]

Originally Posted by StillFocus

My poor 35mm...

We would run you out of town!

[gtpete]

Originally Posted by AnonymousKiwi1

I spent Saturday covering an event for our local volunteer fire brigade. My first ever 'official' engagement (not charging, they're volunteers after all). Man was I nervous/self conscious at the start of the day. By the afternoon I was having a great time (got the opportunity to climb to the top of the big ladder to get aerial shots of the event!), and my pics improved as the day went on too. Just get out there and practice - embarrassment wears off.

I also had the same experience at a local car show.... very self conscious until people started to ask which newspaper i worked for or if i could take professional shots of the their Porsche collection!!. So as the day went on the confidence built & I had a ball.
Seems like whatever i was doing was giving people the impression i that was a "real " photographer.... if only they new the truth

[rickbooker]

Seems your girlfriend is the one who is embarrassed. Might be time for a) new, smaller camera so you stop embarrassing your girlfriend or b) a new understanding girlfriend who supports you in your endeavors as you support her in hers.

[morgandavis]

I'm glad I am not the only self conscious one here!
I always have my P&S with me in my purse/pocket. I am getting to where I take my DSLR with me as well. I do catch a lot of grief from my boyfriend about taking the camera(s) and taking pictures, but I also get the flip side when I don't have them.
I know that I have passed up opportunities for a "good shot" because I wonder what people will think. I am trying to get past those feelings so that I can get the good shots.

[andrewdt]

I have only recently really been taking photos as a hobby (2-3years) and now own a 50d with 3 lenses. Since it is new to an existing family (as opposed to someone who has always been like that so girlfriend/wife must just accept it as I have always done it...) I am quite conservative about taking it on all family trips, sometimes I just want to be "dad" and "husband". I do think I have missed some great shots but not at the expense of something else - time with loved ones. I often think about "what would I do here and how would I compose it?" so it still helps me in the long run.

My real problem is this - I recently upgrade from a cheap Tamron 70-300 to the Canon 70-200 IS 2.8 (yes a real pro lens for an amateur like me!!!). But hey, it was used (by a friend who is a pro), I got it dirt cheap and am in love with it - I really am.

Yet when I have it on the camera, it really draws me some flak. If it is someone that knows me, they just raise their eyebrows and are definitely thinking about how that money could have been spent better on other things (they think I paid full price for new equipment), and if it is someone I don't know they are very aware as it is the white lens and stands out big time.

Worst though are the people who know cameras, recognise the lens for what it is and then see that I am just a hobbyist and not a pro (nor accredited press or something of the like). The knowing sneer or the people who actually say something.

I was selling my 70-300 Tamron but am thinking I should keep it for when I feel like being that little bit less obvious, and can still get the reach with a lowish amount of image degradation (low light is obvisouly non-negatiable).

[gturner]

AndrewT - that is exactly my story - even the lenses match

I think we sometimes forget to just have fun with the family and instead hide behind the camera.

I was on the receiving end of some nasty lens envy this weekend from the official wedding photag!