The 'meeting famous photographers' thread got me to thinking. While I haven't met all that many famous photographers, all the ones I have met were real gentlemen and a genuine delight to speak with---not at all like the stereotypical altruistic "famous arteest" we see portrayed in fiction. So heres my question to us not famous (dare I say---"infamous?") photographers:
How do you treat others when you meet the public, either in the field or when showing your prints?
"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White
I know some get annoyed by curious persons met in the field while shooting, but personally I enjoy the encounter. As long as it is not some "informed" person who just spent a gazillion dollars on a new digital that is in every way better than my analog stuff, and who wants to tell me all about it.
I like sharing the view of the groundglass with someone who has never seen it before. "It's upside down!!!" is usually the first comment. Most are impressed, and I think those of us who shoot B&W forget the groundglass is in vivid color, and quite pretty to look at.
A Polaroid back is fun to share with kids. I helped a kid take a picture of a bull moose in Glacier National, and he was excited to walk away with a print. I think most of us have probably forgotten too that most kids have probably never seen a Polaroid print, and that is kind of gee-whiz to them too.
It should all boil down to that categorical imperative - how would YOU like to be treated?
I love to show people what you can see on the GG. Unless I am working with fading light, or have to get the photo right then, I always let them take a peek under the darkcloth and explain until they don't want any more explaining. If I am in a rush, I explain politely, and then finish my photo. Then if they stuck around, I will let them take a look if they want.
Who knows? Maybe someone will get the bug, and they can help us keep film around so we can all keep having fun.
Respect.
When I am shown a print for critique, I never just trash the print. If there's something wrong and I can't succinctly say what it is, then I don't say it. For instance, years ago a fellow working at a camera store I frequented showed me a print, mountain and trees. I said that it was OK, and asked what camera he used. Something bugged me about that print, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Now I know, years later. Half the picture was the mountain (order), and the other half was the pine trees (chaos). But it wasn't a good chaos, so it didn't quite do anything for the photo. But since I couldn't succinctly say what bugged me, I kept my mouth shut.
Of course, though, there are many photographers that I'd like to ask, "When you make a photograph, what do you think you are photographing?"
I always try to be polite and like others, I often ask if they want to look through the ground glass. I've only gotten irritated a couple times, when people went on and on and on about something of absolutely no interest while the light was changing and I wanted to get the photograph before I lost it. I used to get stopped all the time with questions about the wood and brass Tachihara. I don't think the Master Technika ever generated a single question, people probably thought I was a surveyer.
Brian Ellis
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
When I want their opinion, I'll beat it out of 'em.
Greg Lockrey
Wealth is a state of mind.
Money is just a tool.
Happiness is pedaling +25mph on a smooth road.
I'm about as far from a famous photographer as you can get, but I usually enjoy meeting other photographers out in the real world, whether on the streets or out in the country. Actually I can't think of a single negative experience.
At one spot near Banff that I go to occasionally, I'll see an endless parade of people on tight vacation schedules pulling up, snapping a shot or two, and then taking off, while I'm waiting for sunset. Some of them are quite nice to talk to, I meet quite a few foreigners there from a variety of different backgrounds. It's also sort of amusing feeling like you're trapped in a slow motion time-warp.
I tell them that I have candy in my car.
Some of the best people I've ever met has been through photography. Workshops and the forums allow a country wide net of assistance.
I've enjoyed chatting with people...the only bummer is that the "speil" gets old after a while. Kinda feels like one of those poor souls that runs a booth at a trade show.
I've typically found that if I'm in a pinch situation and I don't have time to yap that wearing headphones usually keeps people from approaching me. Whether you listen to music or not is your choice. A lot of people don't want to talk, they'd rather sit back and watch.
Most of the people I've met have been really nice. NYC is a great place to shoot.
--A
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