Posted on 06. Mar, 2009 by Paul Burwell in Everything, Top Ten Lists
The other day I started to think about things people have innocently said to me about my photography that have annoyed me. Now, I know that most of the comments were meant without any malice and were well intentioned. I get that. But, that doesn’t stop them from bothering the heck out of me. I’ve taken the liberty of compiling the top offending comments into a top ten list, presented in the traditional descending order for your reading pleasure. I also decided to annotate each of the comments with my own thoughts which would not normally remain safely ensconced in my brain.
10. Will you photograph my wedding?
- Okay, I know that I should take this as a compliment. But unless the bride and groom are going to wallow through a swamp on all fours, count me out. Brides and their mothers scare me more than coming face-to-face with a mother bear and her cubs while hiking.
 Female Black Bear and her cubs walking on a trail
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9. Why can’t I get pictures like that with my cell phone?
- Hmmmmmm. Tough one. Could it be that the miniscule image sensor and cheap piece of plastic they call a lens can’t quite compete with quality glass and the resolving power of the sensors in modern digital SLR cameras?
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8. Digital is okay I guess, but it’s too bad it doesn’t have the quality of film
- Hello? 1995 called and they want their camera back. Seriously, the quality of digital cameras surpassed film several years ago. Seriously.
 Northern Pintail flying over a golden pond
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7. That picture would be amazing as a painting.
- Why in the blue hell is photography held in such poor regard when compared to sketching, painting or sculpting? I get that these days everybody has a camera of some sort and there are literally millions of images captured each day. But, I’ll put a great image up against a great painting or sculpture any day in terms of “artistic” merit.
 Black-capped chickadee perched on the branch of a pine tree - Converted to simulated oil painting to garner some artistic merit
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6. That image looks like it could stand a bit more sharpening.
- Probably the most common bit of “advice” you find on Internet forums when folks post their images. This age of pixel peeping has lead to an increasing number of people wayyyyyy over sharpening their images. In my humble opinion.
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5. Did you Photoshop® that?
- Yeah I did. So what? Do you realize that folks used to “darkroom” their images, remove flaws, lighten areas, darken areas and even completely alter the image? Manipulation of photographs goes back to the advent of photography. A famous example from 1920 is when Stalin had Trotsky removed from an image.
 Stalin and Nikolai Yezhov, before retouching.  Stalin and Nikolai Yezhov, after retouching.
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4. You were so lucky to be in the right place at the right time.
- In the same sense that I was lucky to be up an hour before sunrise for a week to arrive at the location in time only to be disappointed 6 out of the 7 days, I guess I was lucky.
 Long tailed weasel looking for baby gophers
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3. How many megapixels is your camera?
- 200 bazillion. I know that the marketing folks at the various camera manufacturers have worked their butts off to convince folks that megapixels matter. But, I’m here to tell you that you may be able to get away with bigger crops on a high megapixel camera, my “old” four, six and eight megapixel cameras still make great pictures
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2. That’s a really great snapshot.
- Maybe it’s just me, but I find the term snapshot pejorative in the extreme. Call it a great picture, image or even capture, but not a snapshot. Please and thanks.
 Sectored Plate
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1. Wow, you must have a really nice camera!
- Yeah, and that painter must have had a really great easel. Seriously, a nice camera? Are you referring to my new K-Tel Autocapture 3000 that not only takes care of all of those confusing exposure calculations, won’t let me make an image that isn’t optimally composed and automatically chooses the perfect instant to make a photograph? Sure, quality tools will help produce a quality photograph. But until the Autocapture 3000 actually ships, it is still the photographer who makes decisions on exposure, subject, setting, timing, and composition.
 Yellow-headed Blackbird singing from on top of a bullrush
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If you’ve ever been in a situation where you heard some innocent comment or question about your photography that just bugged the heck out of you, I’d love to hear them.
Tags: annoying, list, photographer, say, stupid, ten, things, top, Wildlife
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Amanda
24. Jul, 2009
this is just hysterical !,well written
Gregory
24. Jul, 2009
You people should do weddings, if you get paid. A lot.
You can get like a grand for a few hours work if you’re lucky.
A comment I hear often is: “Cameras are useless, my cellphone takes pictures just as good as that.” The reply usually is: “Blow that picture up to any size bigger than your phone screen, then come back and show me how great it is.”
It’s amusing when people ask why you don’t use film, never do they realise that due to the size grains in the film, the film itself is about 7 mega pixels.
Nick
24. Jul, 2009
I don’t yet have an SLR (due to money), but I consider my Canon SX10 to be somewhat more advanced. My favorite questions about it are “How many megapixels?” and “What times zoom does that have?”
In addition to that everyone I know always wonders why I “take so long” to take pictures. They obviously think you can just point, shoot and get a perfectly composed picture…
Charo
24. Jul, 2009
A couple of years back the MV Doulos was docked at our local port. A friend and I went on the SS Duolos (?). I had my DSLR, she had her tiny digital point-n-shoot. We were being toured by a former student of my friend’s as well. While in the galley, I showed the shots I took of them. My friend goes “Gosh! Your camera really takes great photos! I wish my camera were that good as well.”
With that comment, I took her point-n-shoot, made them pose again, took the shot and showed it to her. Her response: “WHOA! I didn’t know my camera can do that! I guess I just need to learn how to use this better.”
Every time I get that #1 comment, I would find SOME way of showing them that it’s really not about the camera. I love it when later on my friends with their point-n-shoot cams are all excited about taking shots that “look so professional!”
Lea
24. Jul, 2009
This was SO refreshing. Not only cuz I started to think I was the only one in the world who was annoyed by those but also because this is the best article with the best subtle sarcastic humor I’ve read in a while. It’s brilliant.
Kudos.
Nilly
24. Jul, 2009
I photograph flowers, and it’s a nice hobby. However, what I cannot stand is people asking me ‘holy crap what camera do you uuuuse!’
I am a sad, poor sap and have to use a digital camera (it’s about three years old now, been dropped a ton too) meant to take birthday, wedding, and vacation pictures. However as I know how to use it, I can take high quality pictures of my flowers.
I get people telling me I shopped it, but, eh, most of what I do is crop out other flowers that inched into the shot. >.> I don’t even own a photoshop program.
Lydia Raven
24. Jul, 2009
i absolutly HATE it when people think they’re doing some great pose and are all take a picture of this it will be awesome! or when they constantly bother you to take pictures of them >.>
Or when you wait and wait and wait for the perfect shot of something and then inconsiderate people just walk right through your perfect picture >.> most annoying!
BobC
24. Jul, 2009
Heh heh.
I take issue with number 7. When I say “that would make a great painting” I fully understand that a great photograph is the starting point.
As for number 2, I really have trouble with someone that tells me a graphite drawing that took me 60 hours to complete is a “nice sketch”
mike
24. Jul, 2009
If I had 2 cameras hanging from my neck and someone asked if I was taking pictures, I would tell them I’m a camera salesman and ask if they’re interested in buying one.
When someone says to me that I must really have a good camera, I just say “it helps”.
Amy
24. Jul, 2009
This is a fantastic post – I find the comments underneath almost as fascinating.
My favourite I get is “sooo – what system do you use??”. I know its not so much a “wildlife photographer” only thing but the amount of time I’ve got stick from a Canon user because I use Nikon! Let it go guys – we’re all working towards the same aim! I just chose this particular system when I started out and now have too much expensive kit to bother buying the same all over again and I’m used to it too! You’ll get good results with either!!
For the people taking this a little too serisouly – I’m guessing this is because you yourself have mentioned some of these similar comments. Almost every profession comes with these kind of comments made by people who don’t really understand and this is just a small list with what photographers have to put up with, not only from people who aren’t really clued up on photography but also some other photographers. Its like where my mum works, there is a security barrier. The number of times people go through and shout “beep beep beep” like they’re some new comedian just gets wearing.
There are idiots everywhere!!
Alan Howarth
24. Jul, 2009
My snappers are a touchy lot!
The one that sends me crazy is: ‘My cousin/uncle/sister’s boyfriend or whatever takes really good pictures’ sub text They’re better than you.
So, gues that makes me a touchy snapper too
Chris Earle
24. Jul, 2009
I think the LUCK part is a given sometimes. Only one day I sat out in the yard with Mom’s Nikon D40 after a failure of a fleamarket day did I hit the motherload of bird species: I photographed pics of species I hadn’t seen in years! About 12 different species…and no special bird seed. It was weird…but I’d say it was unusual luck. I didn’t see the rarer birds again.
Also I think the photographer has to be an artist, if only a little bit. (Photography IS art.) To compose a scene, try to predict a set-up (wild animals are notirious for being uncooperative) and see whether the shot has any “art” or not. (I see art in everything. I’m hopeless.)
Suyash
24. Jul, 2009
so tell me if i’m dumb. but really…………………. Doesn’t the camera matters? All i read in this blog was its the photographer, not the camera. Please reply.
peace
Miguel
24. Jul, 2009
You are so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to write this top 10 list. I think it needs a bit more sharpening though.
KarenJ
24. Jul, 2009
This is good stuff. When I go to functions or events, I’ll have people ask me if I’m the “official” photographer.
Janet Hug
25. Jul, 2009
While out at a local park, another photographer approached me, and the first thing out of his mouth was, he thought he recognized the “dust pump” I was using. Not a hello, what are your shooting, or how are you today” ?(He watched me for about 15 minutes before approaching me.) He asked me what camera body I was using with the Canon 100-400mm L lens. I told him I was using the Canon 20D. He started telling me how HE preferred to use the Canon 70-200mm L lens, blah, blah, blah, and how HE had owned the 20D a long time ago, the 40D and the 50D, and moved beyond crop camera bodies to a Canon full frame body and is So much happier now. Meanwhile, looking down nose at me. Geesh. Not what I expected from another shooter. I walked away and kept on shooting, and shaking my head. There are rude photogs out in the world.
Deina
25. Jul, 2009
I hate when people want to show me the shot they got on THEIR crappy camera or cell phone…
Isaac Fast
26. Jul, 2009
“Can you see the MOON with that lens?!”
Why yes, I can! How did you know? Believe it or not, I can also see the moon without the lens. And so can you!
Layne Robertson
27. Jul, 2009
That’s a great start!
Yeah I realize I’m not the best photographer, but that’s still a pretty rude assumption.
Max Vernon
27. Jul, 2009
Fantastic! What a joy to read.
Suyash, in case you need an example of why a good camera is not necessary, see my flickr stream at http://flickr.com/people/max_vernon – even though I’ve spent thousands of dollars on equipment, I still take crappy “snapshots”.
Carlton Ward
27. Jul, 2009
Whats amazing to me is that I now realize how I have succumbed to these sticking points by answering the people asking as if they had a clue what they were talking about.
I have spent the last 2 years trying to get a specific capture with no success (yet) but if I ever do get the capture, nobody will even realize the effort I invested to get it.
Danny Brown
28. Jul, 2009
I like to use the “more cowbell” skit when people ask me about my photography. I just say, “I’m no different from anybody else. I get up in the morning, put my pants on one leg at a time and then go out and take amazing photos.”
Celeste
28. Jul, 2009
I hate when I’m out shooting, and someone starts trying to chat me up and go on about their own photography, get all snooty because my camera is only 6.7megapixels, and then I find out that they’re using a point and shoot, take 1000s of shots and hope for a good one, and start blankly when I ask them about aperture or speed.
I also hate comments like “you must have a great camera” on my Utah series. Then I point out that I spent 2 weeks waking up at 4am, to stand in the snow and wind, waiting for sunrise and hoping the clouds were right. Then scouting all day, and to a different location for Sunset, and hike back in the dark and snow.
J. L. Gould
30. Jul, 2009
I get the “You took that at a zoo, right?” quite a bit.
My answer for “Did you photoshop that?” is usually “only the equivalent of the post processing done in a dark room”.
I collect cameras so on top of my regular gear, I usually have some vintage or near vintage film camera along to play around with (and occasionally a crappy digital point and shoot). That makes some answers fun…ie
Question: Do you use digital or film?
Me: Both!
Question: Do you use Nikon or Canon? (usually from some snooty photographer)
Me: Both! As well as Minolta, Kodak, Agfa, Argus, Leica, etc
It also works for when people make the “you must have SUCH a good camera!” and I pull a photo out of a bin and tell them this particular one was taken with a 1 MP HP Photosmart A200.
A friend of mine often accuses me of shooting with different cameras just so I have an answer for everything. lol
A. Cast
06. Aug, 2009
Some comments I have received:
“Wow, this picture looks like a postcard”
Man, they mean it well, but I can’t avoid to think about a cheesy, tourist intended, souvenir postcard.
Another good one:
“Wow, man, what a picture. That long lens of you is working wonders”.
Sure. It takes the pictures by itself.
And in the same style:
“Wow, what a great picture. I will have to buy a lens like yours right now!”
(Said a macro shooter, who never shoots wildlife, about my 150-500mm)
A. Cast
06. Aug, 2009
Oh, I’m sorry, another one, and the most anoying of all.
I hate when I’m in a park, quietly waiting for a wading bird to approach me, and some bypassing girls start shouting.
“Hey what are you shooting! Why don’t you better take a picture of me?!!”
JFargo
14. Aug, 2009
Apparently I need to start taking more shots so I can get annoyed at people asking me questions. Either that, or I need to get a big, obvious camera, so they see me and start demanding I take their picture.
I just like attention. I’d be happy to take it away from all you pros.
Links of the Day
20. Aug, 2009
[...] Top ten annoying things to say to wildlife photographer Pretty funny list. Not sure about the accuracy of some of the points (i.e. film vs digital), but still a fun read. (tags: list wildlife funny humor) [...]
Joakim Bergquist
20. Aug, 2009
A couple of times I’ve got the question: Can I borrow your camera? Mine is so bad (i.e for a trip or something) By that time I use to ask them, will you go auto or full manual mode? I say no either way, and tell them that their own point and shoot cameras will do.
Twitter Trackbacks for Top ten annoying things to say to wildlife photographer | WildShots [paulburwell.com] on Topsy.com
30. Aug, 2009
[...] Top ten annoying things to say to wildlife photographer | WildShots http://www.paulburwell.com/blog/2009/03/top-ten-annoying-things-to-say-to-wildlife-photographer – view page – cached The other day I started to think about things people have innocently said to me about my photography that have annoyed me. Now, I know that most of the comments were meant without any malice and were well intentioned. I get that. But, that doesn't stop them from bothering the heck out of me. So, I've compiled them into a top ten list, presented in traditional descending order… 200903 — From the page [...]
Gary
30. Sep, 2009
I’m a wedding photographer and recently shot a wedding that a coworker attended. The coworker was not pleased with the pictures produced by her recently purchased and expensive point & shoot. She said..I thought I bought a good camera but now I’m not sure…she was shooting into a backlit situation and of course the faces were all dark. My comment was…”It’s not about the camera and never will be”
Robyn Carter
23. Oct, 2009
Well done – a great article ad one that iss soooo true. Glad to find another B&H Affiliate too
http://www.robyncarterphotos.blogspot.com
Haven’t uploaded for a while though because i’ve only got sporadic internet access due to me building a new home
Once I move in I’ll be able to start uploading again
Cheers
Robyn
John
10. Nov, 2009
Great list! #1 and #4 are my favorites and so true. For many people obviously great shots are the result of luck and equipment. And if they can’t take great pictures with the same camera, it must be camera’s fault, of course.
Elodie
16. Nov, 2009
lol. Excellent post…
Tim
16. Nov, 2009
I hate it when people call me and ask me how much I charge for wedding photography.
My Follow up is always….’have you seen my work/web site”?
When they say no, they’re just shopping for price, I tell them that photographers are like cars…they come in all shapes, sizes and talents….and if they’re only looking for the cheapest photographer they can find, they should probably be looking on Craig’s List to hire a Volkswagon Photog. “I”m more a Rolls Royce”.
Chris
16. Nov, 2009
I hate it when people see my or my daughter’s sports photography and say “Yeah, well if I had your big lenses I could get those shots, too!” As if training a 600mm through a 1/4sec pan of a motorcycle doing 140km/h in a sweeping curve is something just anybody can do.
Flight Level 250 » Day 47 Its Vegas
16. Nov, 2009
[...] Blog or web site: Ten thing not to say to a wildlife photographer Click here [...]
Blake
17. Nov, 2009
thank you for this. i needed a good laugh today. i get about 80% of those as an professional architectural photographer.
Stephanie
20. Nov, 2009
Wow this topic sparked a lot of passion in people!! I think your an amazing photographer. I really enjoyed reading it. I have to admit I thought that you were going to say you hate it when people ask you to photo shop so there butts don’t look so big and I would of known who you were talking about