Because I take pictures any time I step out the door, it's not out of the ordinary for people to stare when I've got a camera in hand. Apparently, it's completely bizarre to take a camera out onto the street. Often when I'm walking along the main road I'll be looking around me quite attentively to scout out interesting images. I can understand how that would attract attention from passing cars, especially when I'm holding a camera, but people gaze at me as if I've got eight heads! What's up with that?
Perhaps they're worried I'm going to snap a picture of them. I could, if I wanted to, but I don't. I don't go around taking pictures of people willy nilly. Besides, why on earth would I want to take a picture of a motorist with his face sour at me? And it's hardly a striking image, is it? I remember once I was outside doing photography and I'd climbed over a small 3ft wall at the entrance of an estate. I had my camera resting on the wall as I was leaning on it. The main road faces this wall, and a red car indicated to go into the estate whos wall I was standing by. The driver gave me a sickening look when he saw my camera.
Another reason for people to stare at me could be just genuine curiousity. I understand how people can be interested to know what I'm taking a picture of or why I have a camera outside. But I mean, come on, what's with the faces? Is it impossible for a young person to have a hobby? It's not like I go flaunting my camera around. I do photography discreetly and make sure I don't point the camera at anyone but myself. You may glance, yes, but don't burn a hole in my face with your stares.
This post made me smile. "Tut-tut. Look at that young girl! She should be indoors being hypnotised by the television. What's the world coming to!"
ReplyDeleteActually, this reminded me of when I made the transition from driving my car to/from work to cycling. The reactions I got from pupils on the street, you would have thoughts aliens had landed. "A guy in his thirties ... on a bicycle! Gasp!" Once, one guy actually started laughing his head off when I rode past him.
After a short while, the problems ceased, once I established the pattern of "This is how Mr Sloan does things," and it became the norm to see me on a bike. And therein lies the heart of the issue:
Anything out of the ordinary is either frowned upon, or thought of as strange, or ridiculed as funny. A grown man on a bicycle or a girl with a camera both qualify. It happens because humans are generally herd animals, and if you're not doing what the herd does, you will be considered strange.
Little things like what happened to you with your camera are great opportunities to rid yourself of insecurity - by continuing, of course. :-)
Hi Darryl,
ReplyDeleteI read about your whole transition from travelling in a car to on bicycle on your blog. I actually think that's cool. You're keeping healthy, saving both money and the environment all at the same time. Why not?
It's annoying to get those responses from people like the pupil you mentioned or the motorists I see. Can't people just suck it up and deal with it?
But there have been times when I laugh into myself when I see a motorist glaring at me because I'm holding a camera. It's just funny how extreme the reaction you get is from such simple things that "the herd" doesn't do.
It makes me want to continue doing what I do. And heck, if I get a smashing picture at the end of it, that's a bonus. ;-)