Curious onlookers - how do you handle them?

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't have a Tilley, but I have a couple of wide-brimmed hats that I usually carry when I'm focusing with a folding hood instead of a darkcloth. I can usually position the hat to get some extra shade on the groundglass when I need it.

[SamReeves]

http://www.tilley.com/

Great hats. Practically indestructible.

Can also be used as a flotation device

LOL! Perhaps also useful for carrying your gear?

[Vaughn]

So do we get to see the result of that shutter release?

Here is a negative scan of the Yosemite Falls image. No fancy PS stuff...just tried to get the brightness and contrast looking right. Looks a little low contrast on my screen.

Film...8x10 Fuji Acros at 100 ASA
Taken on 4-12-07
f64 at ~2 seconds (one one thousand, two one thousand)
Turner Reich - 28" w/ light orange filter (front element only, behind shutter)
Ilford Universal PQ developer, 1:19, 68F 6 min
Jobo 3005 Drum on Beseler Motor base

Pretty typical Yosemite falls photo.

[scott_6029]

Depends, last week a couple of drunks in an alley..about $.35 (only change I had) made them go away. Others, if they are truly interested and I can take a mental break, I will dicuss my ULF camera, photography, etc. If they are photographers, or in one case their son was, I will chat awhile longer. On the whole, I am usually very focused, and as a result not real chatty...

[Don Wallace]

See, yet another reason why I ought to be the Leader of the World or Secretary of State or something like that.

Ya got my vote, Frank!

[John Berry]

Like many others, I do go for a little chat if the situation allows it.

Brian's experience reminds me of a situation where I was setting up my camera in front of a small waterfall. A family with 2 children arrived at the scene, the parents took off their shoes and socks and walked into the water right between me and the waterfall, and finally sat on a rock just in the middle of the scene.
My facial expression must have been one of extreme surprise, but they didn't dare to move. We had NO chat. By the way, they were no curious onlookers ...
After 10 minutes, they left and I took my shots.

Just hand the guy an apple and request he put it on his head, making sure he can see the 45 in the other hand.

[Ted Stoddard]

I wonder if Brian V. Remembers last year during our trip in Yosemite? It was me Roger and Brian shooting Half Dome... We had so many people around us we could barely move, we got a million questions... Had some great conversations and met some cool people... I personally love to talk about LF Photography.... with non-photographers and we also had a bunch of digital guys around us too... Even the digital photographers were amazed at our cameras... That is the same year my 8x10 almost went up in flames in Cook's Meadow while photographing an Elm tree... the sun was beating down on my 450 so it became a big ol magnifying glass... my face was priceless!!! if my 8x10 would of went up in flames...

All in all people were polite and curious to an extent.... I love the stories some of you have posted it made me laugh... Thanks for sharing...

I had taken out the 11x14 a few months ago and I got a bunch of people wanting to look at the ground glass some were from Rochester and knew that it was old... I did have a few people take out there digital cams and say this better... I said ok whatever you say with a smirk on my face... :-)

[SamReeves]

I had taken out the 11x14 a few months ago and I got a bunch of people wanting to look at the ground glass some were from Rochester and knew that it was old... I did have a few people take out there digital cams and say this better... I said ok whatever you say with a smirk on my face... :-)

LOL!!!!

[sog1927]

Obviously, you should carry one of these with you:
http://www.amazon.com/Tire-Valve-Ste.../dp/B0002STSRQ

;-)

Steve

I WISH I RAN INTO CURIOUS ONLOOKERS! This morning I was photographing a local historical landmark when someone drove up, parked a car right in front of my camera, and walked away without even looking back at me. Oh, and the parking lot was empty and there were approximately 149 other parking spaces she could have chosen. Fortunately I had already shot 3 sheets and could live without shooting a 4th. I'd welcome an interuption/enquiry from a curious onlooker!

[Ben Chase]

Obviously, you should carry one of these with you:
http://www.amazon.com/Tire-Valve-Ste.../dp/B0002STSRQ

;-)

Steve

Good idea! Is it considered vandalism if you aren't actually doing any damage?