Do you ever feel self-conscious taking a photo? Most of us do, when we start out in photography. Maybe for a long, long time. That little voice in our says things like…
You probably shouldn’t be photographing here.
What will people think?
They are looking at me!
If we listen to it, that little voice can prevent us from taking photos in many situations. It can prevent us from following our heart, prevent us from capturing the image we were called to take.
Today’s market/wheels photo is no exception. It was taken just off Piazza del Duomo in Florence. This little snack cart also had bicycles for rental. As we walked around the duomo, I spotted it and spent a few minutes studying it with my camera, while the vendor of the stand looked critically on. Did it make me uncomfortable to have him there? Heck yeah. But I had a mission, to get a good market/wheels photo. I was struggling with this scene, but I knew I had a unique image here to capture. So I too a deep breath, ignored him, and moved around for a while, eventually finding this composition that worked. I love the depth of the image, looking down the street past the cart to the chair and the second bicycle.
I must be honest, if I had stopped, it would not have been the first time my resolve had withered under the gaze of a watcher. There have been countless times that I have noticed people watching me photograph, and stopped what I was doing. Why? Was I doing anything wrong? Being on the street, in a public area, absolutely not. There are no people, so neither was I violating anyone’s privacy by taking their photo when they didn’t want me to. And who knows what the vendor was really thinking. Probably, “Yes, a tourist! How much money can I get her to pay for an apple?” (I’ve never felt like I was a walking dollar sign anywhere in Italy more than I did in Florence. That town is tuned to squeeze every dollar it can out of tourists.)
So, how do you get over the gazes? The seemingly critical eye of people around you?
- First, you have to want the shot. Want it more than you care about anything else. If you’re worried about how you look more than how the photograph looks, you will not overcome your discomfort.
- Second, you have to be willing to look a little weird to the average person. Non-photographers will not understand what you are doing when you get down on the dirty ground to get that awesome angle. You will get looks. Accept that as a fact.
- Know your rights, but also be respectful of others wishes. Are you on private property? Is there a sign that says “no photography?” Are you in a store and the owner asks you to stop photographing? On private property, the property owner sets the rules. Respect them. In public places, a little respect also goes a long way, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t photograph.
- It happens rarely, but if someone asks you to stop photographing, politely apologize and move on. A little humility also goes a long way.
- Realize that the quizzical looks you get are really just passing glances. People aren’t paying much attention to you. They are off in their own world. If they stop and watch you for a while, you can acknowledge them with a smile and a shrug of your shoulders, and get back to capturing your images.
I could have let the looks of the vendor scare me off here, but I’ve grown a thicker skin. The image I’m working toward is worth more than avoiding the looks I might get. If you get tripped up by this common feeling of worry about what other people are thinking as you take a photo, I encourage you to take a deep breath and continue. Do it once or twice, to push past the discomfort, and see how it goes. What’s the worst that can happen? You apologize and offer to delete the photo if someone asks you to stop. The best that can happen? You get an awesome image, and you have a little more confidence the next time you are photographing out and about.
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Such good advice here, Kat. I’m usually pretty timid about taking photos, but when some one tells me I can’t take pictures, I will politely argue with them. I’ve gotten into difficulties with security guards, police officers, irate homeowners. I need to follow your humility rule, I think.
This is such a wonderful shot — I love how there is a bicycle in the back, mirroring the one in front. Well worth the trouble you took.
Kat, I really love this image and I’m so glad you forged onward in getting it! I have become so much braver because too often I have left a spot with regret in not taking the photo. I was at a Greek festival a few months ago and they had a musician there who sang and played, of course, Greek music. I went up to him inbetween songs to let him know how much I loved his voice and his music and that I loved the passion in which he played his instrument (electric clarinet-not sure). I went back up a little later with my 50mm lens since it was under a tent with low light and crouched down on the ground in hopes of getting a shot. Ummm, he spied me and came straight over and gave me an awesome photo op, of course I felt a little flustered as I had not expected that AND I could feel everyone’s eyes on the both of us! ha But . . . I did get an awesome shot!
I’m still trying to master “ignoring the looks”, it does get easier the more I do it.
Yay for this post Kat. A good lesson to repeat from time to time too. I think we forget these wonderful thoughts. You scored a wonderful image and I agree with Gina, that bicycle in the back adds so much. The image has interest in fore mid and back grounds.
I think I’m past wondering if I look weird-or ignoring the looks/comments when I do. When I am aware, inside my head I think ” go ahead and bust on me….people will admire, compliment, and maybe even offer to buy this image.” It elevates me and lets me tune out the distractions and awkwardness.
Have a great day. Keep on shooting.
Can you see me nodding in agreement while reading, Kat?! 😉 I love your photo so much!
I’m so sorry I didn’t make it to your photo-heart connection – I was so looking forward to it. But work was crazy and I didn’t have a quiet minute to go through my January photos. Now I’m hoping for a better start in March!
Have a wonderful week!
I’m not sure I’m brave enough yet to ignore the crazy looks in such a public setting but admire those that do. Thankfully most of my shots are of wildlife and nature so most of the time I’m left to my own devices. The only time I get funny looks are from the animals but them I can deal with :0)
Too funny Kathryn!
I frequently need to convince myself to keep taking the shots I want and ignore the looks of others – even people I know. Sometimes I feel like the time it takes me to get the perfect shot is inconveniencing the people I’m with because they have to stand there waiting for me to finish before we can move on. I need to remember that what feels like an eternity to me is really only about 4 minutes.
I understand! I feel the same way at times, but since I surround myself with people who like me as I am, they typically accept my photography-related quirks. 🙂
it’s a wonderful post, Kat. I do feel self-conscious taking photos sometimes. The city is better because I can blend in more easily. But in Long Island it’s more difficult. In some of the towns people do stare at me and they are not necessarily very friendly… Sometimes, I can feel that they’re just curious , they wonder why I take the picture of that thing/place. And sometimes they just don’t like the fact that I’m taking pictures there. I’m learning to develop a thicker skin, too. I’m getting better.
I love this image. Such beautiful colors and so nicely framed. I love that bicycle in the background.
It’s funny, Kat, sometimes I feel very self-conscious and shy about taking pictures and other times I just do it, and don’t care whether anyone is paying attention or not. I haven’t figured out what makes the difference – if it’s the physical place, or just the “place” I happen to be in on a particular day.
I love your image above, especially the little surprise of the second bicycle in the back!
I often feel just as uncomfortable walking around with my camera than when I’m using it. Maybe I need some quick come-back lines about being part of the paparazi!
BTW, One more way to get rid of the scowling shopowner… Share the photo. Often I can show the person my display screen and offer to email them the best shot. They go from scowling to thrilled. 🙂
Great advice Julie! I’ve done that too, and you’re right, it does a great job of breaking the ice!
I so agree with Julie. This usually creates instant “friendships!” I also take the attitude if I’m somewhere where no one knows me, who cares? 🙂
P.S. Love the photo by the way!! The second bike just pulls it all together.
Great post Kat!
This sort of thing does not bother me at all if it’s an object I’m photographing, but it absolutely cripples me if it’s a person I am trying to photograph. Not sure if I will ever get past that, but I am surely trying!
Thank you so very much for sharing with us today at The Creative Exchange.
Have a wonderful evening!
lisa.
I needed to read this, thank you! Very helpful. 🙂
Yes, I, too, know that feeling of being afraid what others think, whether they be strangers on the street or friends who think I need to be on a 12-step program. I find the more I take the shot, the less inhabitant I am. I’m reminded of what a co-worker said “action overcomes fear”. Lovely, lovely picture. I’m glad, too, that you stopped.
Great quote – “action overcomes fear” – I love it!
Good tips. It seems that a lot of people, me included, have this difficulty with feeling awkward when taking photos in public places. Similar to trying to sketch something and having someone look over your shoulder – eek!! Red faced embarrassment strikes 🙂
Excellent post and advice.
Because street photography is my favorite, I am often exposed to the confused and sometimes even menacing looks with which people seem to want to tell me “Don’t take photo of me!!!”, although perhaps at that moment I don’t want to photograph them, but quite something else . Such people I just ignore.
Regards and best wishes
I so wish you wouldn’t ignore.
great post, and great advice. I get uncomfortable very often. self-conscious. so I walk away. and afterwards I regret not having taken the photo. you are right, I have to work through this somehow.
thanks
To be honest, I couldn’t give a monkey’s about other people watching or even giving ‘a look’.
But I do listen to my own ‘critical eye’.
I find it disturbing to see pictures of strangers taken by bloggers without regard for privacy. Sometimes of people with their emotions raw and vulnerable.
Similarly shots of houses and front doors and gardens taken without permission, upset me as being intrusive. We have to learn that a missed photo opportunity is not always a moral guide to our digital behaviour.
I’m glad to get this off my chest, even though it will make me unpopular.
Hi Hannah, thanks for sharing your view. It’s good to hear an alternate opinion in the conversation. We all have to come to our own conclusions on this topic and it’s great that you are clear in where you stand.
This is such a wonderful piece, Kat. You are so right. You have to know you want the picture! Thank you. x
Great advice to someone (me) who avoided a photo yesterday just because of this.
That is a great photo!