Taking pictures outdoors is a great and funny thing. You choose from the seemingly ordinary reality the pieces that are becoming new worlds through camera lens and thanks to your imagination. It could be another planet, the Wild West or other exotic place. Besides, you can catch some sun, breathe fresh air, meet other people… erm, wait.
Yeah, meeting other people. It’s difficult to avoid them when taking pictures outside, unless you shoot in the Death Valley or in distant areas of Antarctica [I’m sure there may be some people to be found there though]. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a misanthrope [or at least I’m in reasonable proportions] and people do not bother me unless they go through the frame. However, both the toyphotographers and passers-by have different sensitivity. And that sensitivity does not always overlap.
It’s funny, how many types of emotions can arouse a man taking pictures of Lego bricks on the sidewalk, or on a park bench. From the very positive ones, which is understandable, to the negative, which is not so understandable. These are not a problem when you enjoy toy safari with other toy photographers, cause nec hercules contra plures, but it could be a problem when you’re alone.
Cleaning streets for some clean shots!
Probably many of you, if not everyone, have seen a reaction from passers-by when taking pictures outside. During my very short “career” of outdoor photographer I’ve experienced most of them.
When I started taking pictures outside the house I hesitated a little; I had doubts. How would I feel and how would I be seen by others? But a moment later I said: Hey, what am I afraid of? I do not hurt anyone. So “move along, nothing to see here”. Wait! Actually there’s a lot to see here! But to see it, you have to get closer. And there were some who were getting closer. “See mom, this guy is taking pictures of Lego minifigures!” or “Haha, nice!” or “Oh! Lego!” These sentences and alike were the most common. Once upon a time the kids came up to me and we even played with Star Wars minifigures on the bench. Their mom looked at me suspiciously for a moment, but when I did not start telling them about the Force, Jedi, or about other religion she seemed to calm down. I also experienced many positive reactions on the beach. You know, sun, holiday, fresh breeze and water. And Lego – the humor immediately improves.
– Utinni!* *move along, nothing to see here – No! Good people! Please come back! Help the poor protocol droid in oppression!
Probably there were many reactions that I have not even noticed. As I mentioned, I was concerned at first, but the fears evaporated when I looked in the viewfinder of the camera. I just forget about the environment and I focus on this small piece of the world in the lens of the camera, or actually on the completely different, new world, to which this lens leads.
So I have no reason to complain. Although, as I mentioned earlier, I also experienced negative reactions. I heard blowing raspberry, I saw a few smiles of pity and the like. Once some grilling people joked that I was taking pictures of the dirt, cause they were too far to see the minifigures. Okay, it was even funny. There was also a less amusing situation that I turned into a joke.
I was preparing for a “sharkception” session, and I did a photo shoot at the fountain near the university. I was kneeling, taking pictures, people was passing me by, water was splashing nicely. And suddenly I felt that somebody is standing behind me. I raised my head and there was a about 50-year-old university guard staring at me behind his mighty mustache.
– Adult man is playing with toys… – he said with disapproval.
– Oh yes! – I answered. – One needs to take care of your inner child. – I replied with a smile. – You know, you have to do it if you don’t want to become idle.
He stood for a moment, made sure that I did not drink or steal the water from the fountain, nor did I intend to destroy it and he walked away in silence.
I’m not good at giving advice, I do not even pretend to be an advisor, but in my opinion an insistent commentator should be put off with laughter. Because yes, we play! Finally Lego name comes from phrase “Leg godt”, which means “have fun”. Regardless of age.
Do you have any unusual or improbable stories of taking pictures outdoors? What are your ways to deal with people? Or maybe it’s just me and I’m bloating the whole thing?
I photograph in public a lot, so I’m always running into folks, or rather they are running into me. Normally all I hear is a snicker or a laugh – or catch a smile as they walk on by.
Once, I was setting up a shot in an airport during the busy Christmas holidays and happened to get a kid in trouble as she stopped to watch me and my lego minifigure as her parents walked on down the terminal. I felt a little bad about that one.
And once I even gained a new follower as she caught me taking a shot of a Lego Stormtrooper. She said she did something similar so now we follow each other on IG.
At first I was self-conscious about shooting in public and taking the time to set up a shot, but either I’m getting used to the weird looks, or I just care a little less. 🙂
I deal with this all the time. Usually from people I know, I took a lot in Washington DC and many of my classmates were around. The usual snickers and what not but I don’t really care. I’m not hurting them and they aren’t hurting me (or my Lego). It was fun in one photo a security guard on the steps of one of the buildings can be seen smiling if you look close enough. You’re definitely not the only one man
Thanks for your testimony Brother! ? Nice to read it!
I share some of the experiences mentioned in the article and comment by Julie. Most times, people are very curious and I usually like to show them on the camera what I have just shot and the reactions are usually one of surprise. Once I peer in the view finder and see the world in a whole new perspective, I am usually too engrossed to be bothered with the things happening around me.
Yes, I have learned it too. I just see the picture I’m trying to take. Thank You!
I never liked taking pictures of toys alone near people. I improved over the years after taking photos in the middle of a crowded or very touristic places but I still feel uncomfortable. Nothing bad ever happened and usually people react positively once they see you’re taking photos of toys. Like “ohh it’s cool”, “hey it’s Ninjago”, etc. But I still don’t like when I’m alone and surrounded by people like in a big city. I’ve got some trouble focusing when too many eyes are looking at me.
That said it hasn’t happened a lot recently… Now I live in a place where it’s very easy to be alone once you leave the city centers, and even if I meet someone, there’s a good chance they’ll be more introverted than me and will do anything to avoid interacting with a stranger.
You know the Finnish nightmares blog? I think You’ll like it ?.
Crowded place can be distracting, I know. I just try to focus on the picture and not to think about humans ?
never really heard anything exept that one time when i took some pictures of some streetart laying on the pavement with people around me. The police stoped with blue lights on and wonderd if someone was hurt 🙂
But usally I just get strange looks from people. Not so commen to talk to strangers where I live (Malmö/Sweden).
Love the Swedish police! Love the Sweden too!
I used to worry about taking photos in public. It was a stealth exercise, wait for a quiet moment, quickly set up, shoot, and pack up before I was noticed! Now I embrace the public shooting. It all changed when I attended my first LEGO photography meetup. Strength in numbers! And yes, sometimes the reactions are just as rewarding as the photos captured!
I know that stealth technique. Sometimes I don’t have so much inner strentgh to deal with people and just wait until they pass me by. I wish to attend toy safari or meetup. That would be interesting!
What a relateable story. I don’t shoot too often outdoors, but when I do the comments are inevitable. I get many interested “What have you got there?” sort of questions, I think presuming I’ve found a unique bug or something nature related. Then when I show them what I do have, that interest turns into confused nods. But nevertheless I’ve really never had very negative experiences and they do turn into nice opportunities to spread the word of toy photography. Whatever we choose to do, confidence is key. I think the positive with perusing your passion always out weighs the negative.
great reply Jennifer! I also think that positive attitude gives positive feedback.