Posted by Glyn Wade
When we go out now the first thing we do is hang a camera round our necks and strap a camera bag to our backs (not one quite as big as Phil’s pixie-carrier of course!). Spare lenses are put into any available pockets and SHAZAM I become self-conscious.
Now this may be just me but I feel I stand out once I assume the role of more than just a tourist snapper which even my modest equipment elevates me above. Not that I’m a photographer of course (see previous article!), I just feel I stand out more.
Do I? Well any more so than with my height, hair and blaring T-shirts? I feel I do and I was wondering if you do too? If you do how much does it bother you?
If none of you do get bothered then can someone recommend a good psychiatrist?
I think I’m getting more use to it now but squeezing my camera backpack up the narrow spiral staircase of York Minster recently was a pain, especially when the straps kept getting caught on the rail. Embarrassing! Having a strange camera shaped lump under my coat when it rains makes me feel conspicuous and I feel more nervous about taking some pictures, for instance of people, than if I just had a small instant camera.
I mean it’s not like I have a monster lens (see other recent article)…….which are ideal for avian photography and don’t worry about what people think…..that better Rob Hartley ?
And now I’m thinking it might just be me. I know Claire will tell me I shouldn’t worry what others think and I tell people the same thing often enough! It’s not so easy to instil it in oneself though. Or is it?
Postscript from My Hartley, thanks for this Rob!:
‘Well you did ask! I spent 3 hours trying to get a shot of a swallow taking a midge from the surface of a lake on Saturday. This is with my 500 mm and 2 x TC. It has a neoprene camo cover to do three things, protect the lens from scratches, minimise disturbance of birds when I am working from a hide and , most importantly, make me look a complete and utter wassock . It is very good for all three.
So there I am , focussing on a patch of water with precisely nothing on it, hunched behind my tripod. Ask yourself how many passers by commented on ” ooh, that’s a big one ” , “what is he looking at?” I got Self conscious, you are only playing at it!’
