Kinda shy when taking photo's...

[driftangel]

Hai....

So I got a little problem with photography.
When I'm shooting indoor I find it okay to shoot but once I'm doing outdoor (in the forest, in the city, everywhere by people I don't know) it feels so strange to make photos of stones, plants and strange things (like walls, roads I don't know) while people are watching.
I'm 14 and maybe thats the problem. I am too curious what people think about me when I shoot. Somethimes I can't even take a photo because I need to take a weird pose or so.

Anybody known to this problem, any advice?

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by driftangel

Hai....

So I got a little problem with photography.
When I'm shooting indoor I find it okay to shoot but once I'm doing outdoor (in the forest, in the city, everywhere by people I don't know) it feels so strange to make photos of stones, plants and strange things (like walls, roads I don't know) while people are watching.
I'm 14 and maybe thats the problem. I am too curious what people think about me when I shoot. Somethimes I can't even take a photo because I need to take a weird pose or so.

Anybody known to this problem, any advice?

The only advice I can think of is...
Don't worry about what other people think. If you go through life worrying about what others think, then you will never do anything you like. You will always do what other like and what they want you to do.

[BabetteKD]

I have the same problem as well and i'm 23. The other day I was in NYC just doing my best to ignore the people's expressions around me (and doing pretty well for once) and this lady jumped in front of my lens! Not only did she ruin the picture I had been lining up, she kept embarassing me by saying really loudly "What are you taking pictures of?" People were staring at us and I just said "Stuff?". She looked at me like I had been drinking, gave me a dirty look, swore at me and took off. I had to leave as well because people kept staring!

Even earlier as I was just snaping away randomly to try and get a handle at understanding how to take pictures of a city (with an overcast sky and moving subjects), this guy leaned in my ear and yelled "ENJOYING YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT?" before taking off running. Scared the living daylights out of me!

Sometimes it's not just about getting over being shy, it's having to deal with the weirdos who out you in public and think you're the weird one!

[kelleyrie]

I have no problem with taking picture of inanimate things in public, but the thought of taking a strangers photos (like a bunch of people crossing a street) terrifies me. I just try not to worry too much and not get in anyone's way.

[driftangel]

Thank you everyone for responding.

@Babette: that is just rude! I can't image people really doing that while you're just making photos. :O

And I think I know what my problem is. I live in a small town and many people know me. Thats what I'm scared of...

[BabetteKD]

Originally Posted by driftangel

Thank you everyone for responding.

@Babette: that is just rude! I can't image people really doing that while you're just making photos. :O

It's New York City, people are rude. I guess it was some karmatic exchange for the good train ride into the city and out later on in the day.

[Wulfy]

If you aren't doing anything illegal or morally wrong, I'd say to hell with what anyone else thinks or says. Being male and in my thirties I suppose I'm a little more intimidating, maybe, but as of yet I've not had any problems.

It also helps that I live in a town of 30k, where quite a few go to the Art Uni... loads of photographers about!

[Nicole]

Originally Posted by driftangel

I'm 14 and maybe thats the problem. I am too curious what people think about me when I shoot. Somethimes I can't even take a photo because I need to take a weird pose or so.

Anybody known to this problem, any advice?

I'm 28, and I still know what you're talking about, but I'm starting to get over it. Part of that is from some advice I got when I was starting to do data collection for my research. I am/was doing focus groups and now I have to do interviews, and what someone who's been through the process told me was that once you hit a certain age you realise that it doesn't matter what people think about you. And I get that, and that I'm not there yet (her advice was that it was somewhere around 40).

But aside from those occasionally really strange people like BabetteKD mentioned, I have a feeling that I think people care more about what I'm doing than they really do. Most people will maybe give you a half second thought before going back to thinking about dinner, their own problems and troubles, what they're doing that night, or the next person they see.

[douglas]

As Nicole said, most people have enough on their minds not to worry about you for more than a few seconds. Sure there are some rude idiots about...but ignore them and do your thing!

[driftangel]

Originally Posted by Wulfy

If you aren't doing anything illegal or morally wrong, I'd say to hell with what anyone else thinks or says. Being male and in my thirties I suppose I'm a little more intimidating, maybe, but as of yet I've not had any problems.

It also helps that I live in a town of 30k, where quite a few go to the Art Uni... loads of photographers about!

Haha.


I am glad I'm not the only one who feels uncomfortable with this. I'm glad you all responsed to my topic and I think I shouldn't focus ever on my enviroment. Easier said than done.