p.1 #1 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
I'm not posting this because I am upset about it - more amused, I guess - but I was shooting for a musician last night and a lady came up to me, touching my cameras setting on my gear table and apparently felt I was open game for chatting....
"Are you shooting for (name of venue owner)?"
No, I have my own publication (hand her my card)
"Are those Nikons?" (puts her hands on my cameras)
no, Fujis (hoping she is going to quickly take her hands off my cameras and not pick them up
"I'm a photographer"
oh?
"Why aren't you shooting the stars? (there are some stars on the backdrop with the venue's logo on it if you shoot straight on from the front)"
uhmmmm, everyone sees things differently, I guess
"I would shoot with the stars, you should get the stars" - walks away
*relieved*
I understand a person/another photographer having curiosity - and I'm always friendly, regardless - but if a pro is actively working, it's not a good time for chit-chat. I think asking for someone's card is totally cool, then contacting them later for a chat. Advising somebody else how to shoot? Not so much.
Heather Newman Fuji X-T2; 1/200; f2.8; 50-140; ISO 12,800
p.1 #5 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
Ah, I hadn't thought about that. My gender may very well have something to do with it. I appreciate the insight. Interesting.
That brings up some old memories...I got schooled at a basketball game one night by a guy in the stands who didn't think I should be using the overhead strobe lights installed by the newspaper I was working for. He was yelling at me to "use faster film". Pretty weird. I let security sort him out.
p.1 #8 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
dmacmillan wrote:
Great concert photo!
I could tell you were a girl because you took the photo with a toy camera instead of a "manly" DSLR.
I feel for the guys and gals out there photographing because camera size does make a difference in ergonomics. There's a lot of guys with huge hands who might feel more comfortable with something bigger and more substantial in their hands. I don't know...guys? What do you think? The Sonys and Fujis are pretty small and light.
I shot a community parade for Veterans Day and had a lighter zoom lens on the Fuji just to take the lens out for a test drive. It's a 55-200mm and substantially lighter weight than the 50-140mm I normally shoot with for long range. I was remarking to my husband (an ex-cop) about having a little trouble controlling (holding it steady) the lens. He said that lighter guns are harder to control also compared to something with a heavier barrel. Made sense.
Not something I've seen discussed - but...could there be a correlation between weight and size and the photographer's muscle strength? Certainly one might have to make an adjustment in handling lighter weight gear vs. heavier weight gear.
For me, the 50-140 stays put more easily...it would take more effort to make it sway or wobble. I'm accustomed to handling heavy gear - like 300mm f2.8 lenses...but I would not be able to handhold a 600 f4. I had to use a monopod while some of the bigger guys could handhold it. And that was with me going to the gym lifting weights 6 days a week so I was a pretty strong female. Anatomy can play a role in people's gear choices. Believe me, I envy the muscle strength of guys. I wonder if they realize what a gift it is to be that physically strong.
p.1 #9 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
Well I am a fairly big bloke with pretty big hands and I prefer the size and shape of my A7s (which is also close to the size and shape of the film SLRs I used to use and still have some of).
Just because I CAN heft around a large DSLR doesn't mean I want to and I MUCH prefer an EVF now and as long as the camera has a full level of controls and buttons that mean I don't have to dive into the menus I am happy and my A7s gives me that (as does my Panasonic GX7 but not for live music shooting very often).
I recently took my old manual focus 300 2.8 to an indoor pub gig and THAT makes me more obvious though being big and often next to the stage I do get a bit self conscious about blocking people sometimes more so than the size of my camera.
I will mostly want to just take a small bag so the smaller size of the A7s helps in that regards.
To shoot two gigs last night I just took the A7s, Canon 17 f4 L TS-E (which IS big for the focal length), Canon 24 1.4 L FD (which is small for what it is) and the Sony FE 85 1.8 and a tiny flash (which wasn't used as I didn't want to take any punter pics). A larger DSLR and I would have needed either a second bag or a larger one.
p.1 #13 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
I love that image. Scrolled back up and looked a couple more times. The Fuji's are very capable cameras, and I'm impressed looking at the 12,800 ISO. Great results.
p.1 #14 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
pasblues wrote:
I feel for the guys and gals out there photographing because camera size does make a difference in ergonomics. There's a lot of guys with huge hands who might feel more comfortable with something bigger and more substantial in their hands. I don't know...guys? What do you think? The Sonys and Fujis are pretty small and light.
I shot a community parade for Veterans Day and had a lighter zoom lens on the Fuji just to take the lens out for a test drive. It's a 55-200mm and substantially lighter weight than the 50-140mm I normally shoot with for long range. I was remarking to my husband (an ex-cop) about having a little trouble controlling (holding it steady) the lens. He said that lighter guns are harder to control also compared to something with a heavier barrel. Made sense.
Not something I've seen discussed - but...could there be a correlation between weight and size and the photographer's muscle strength? Certainly one might have to make an adjustment in handling lighter weight gear vs. heavier weight gear.
For me, the 50-140 stays put more easily...it would take more effort to make it sway or wobble. I'm accustomed to handling heavy gear - like 300mm f2.8 lenses...but I would not be able to handhold a 600 f4. I had to use a monopod while some of the bigger guys could handhold it. And that was with me going to the gym lifting weights 6 days a week so I was a pretty strong female. Anatomy can play a role in people's gear choices. Believe me, I envy the muscle strength of guys. I wonder if they realize what a gift it is to be that physically strong. ...Show more →
For comfort, body and hand size make a lot of difference. Mismatch feels equally wrong in both directions for sure.
I'm have XL hands and get cramps handling smaller bodies. I use a 7dii.
p.1 #17 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
pasblues wrote:
It happened again tonight. Different venue and gig.
You must be carrying a sign on your back?
I do get drunks wanting to talk to me and to take their photo all the time when I am away from the stage (but almost never asking to see the photos) but not that.
I have a punk rock gig in a couple of weeks that I am looking forward to but might be interesting regards that sort of thing.
p.1 #19 · Another photographer "advised" me on assignment
notherenow wrote:
You must be carrying a sign on your back?
I do get drunks wanting to talk to me and to take their photo all the time when I am away from the stage (but almost never asking to see the photos) but not that.
I have a punk rock gig in a couple of weeks that I am looking forward to but might be interesting regards that sort of thing.
Yes, I forgot about that situation also. "Take my picture" - then amble off...who knows? I think the musicians have it worse, though. I've seen enough bad behavior (climbing on stage; lewdness; yelling out demands to play certain songs) to see why they have to have so much security.
