Ever wished you had seen it yourself and not through your viewfinder?

[ppusa]

Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes? The paradox is that you have the pictures to share with others but did you actually experience it yourself?

I spent a month in Southern Africa in amazing places like Kruger, Etosha and Okavango delta but I had a Canon PowerShot S3 (should have bough any Canon DSLR instead) that has an electronic viewfinder. Did I actually see the animals when most of the time I was just looking at the fuzzy viewfinder?

Last winter I was in the local zoo here in Helsinki and noticed that snow leopards were unsually active. After a very short wait one of them started to run and made a huge jump towards me and another man who happened to be there. The man was very thrilled but thanks to the viewfinder blackouts, I had to check from my photos what had actually happened: http://ppusa.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/the-flying-snow-leopard/

Another time I was in the canyon that leads to Petra, one of the most amazing cultural heritage sites on earth. I was trying to take a photo of the moving horse carts that some tourists use to get to the site when people around me started to shout "Oh my God, did you see that?" I didn't so I had to check my photos and saw that an elderly woman in the horse cart looked like she is going to die because of a heart attack. Naturally this is not something I would want to see but the event clearly had a big effect on the people who did see her. On our way back we fortunately saw the same lady walking back on her own looking completely healthy.

So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

[sandpiper]

Yes, I do often feel that I have missed out a little by watching an event through the viewfinder.

However, I also know that if I had just watched the event, without the camera in the way, I would be cursing and saying "damn, that would have made a great shot".

Can't have it both ways and the photograph lasts longer :lol:

[ppusa]

I agree with you sandpiper that when something special happens, I would also hate myself if I wouldn't have been able to take a photo of it.

But at times it would be better to forget the camera. Like on safari when the light not so good (and that might be the only time during the whole trip when an animal does something really special...).

[burnxkr]

I did feel this way when I did vacations with the family and had the video camera with me but have never felt like this with my DSLR.

[krb]

What you describe is why some people prefer viewfinder cameras overs SLR cameras.

[dugcross]

Yes, twice actually. Once while taking a picture of the "first lady in drag racing" Shirley Muldowney flying down the strip. Just as my shutter went off there was an explosion and I could hear tiny pieces of metal falling around me. She blew her engine. In the resulting photo you could see the fireball just forming and the manifolds coming off her engine. And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

[Radtech1]

So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

Never. Not even once. I cannot think of a single photograph I have where I would have even remotely perfered to have seen it rather than take the picture.

But I can tell you *LOTS AND LOTS* of times I wished I had my camera instead of just my eyes.

Rad

[Karl Johnston]

All the time, it kills me and inspires me to shoot more.

[ppusa]

What you describe is why some people prefer viewfinder cameras overs SLR cameras.

What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?

[Radtech1]

What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?

No viewfinder blackout as an SLR has when the mirror flips up.

Rad

[ppusa]

And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

Historical significance can also make things even more frustrating.

There must be lots of photojournalists who have witnessed many important events without actually living them through because they were so occupied trying to get the perfect shot.

[krb]

What's the advantage of a viewfinder camera?
You're not looking through the lens. That means you can hold it in front of your eye and view the scene without the "tunnel vision" effect and there's no mirror so there's no blackout when the camera is taking a picture.

[Metalstrm]

Yes, twice actually. Once while taking a picture of the "first lady in drag racing" Shirley Muldowney flying down the strip. Just as my shutter went off there was an explosion and I could hear tiny pieces of metal falling around me. She blew her engine. In the resulting photo you could see the fireball just forming and the manifolds coming off her engine. And the other was when the space shuttle "Challenger" exploded. I hit my shutter just as it happened.

You serious? Have you got a picture of this?

[hollis_f]

Second time I've made this suggestion this morning - try shooting with both eyes open.

[DC Fan]

Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes? The paradox is that you have the pictures to share with others but did you actually experience it yourself?
So have you ever wished that you would have actually seen your photo subject with your own eyes?

Hope this isn't too harsh, but if you feel that taking pictures is interfering with the way you experience life, then it's time to sell the equipment. For a photographer, the picture is the experience.

[dugcross]

You serious? Have you got a picture of this?

yes, I still do...somewhere.

[ppusa]

Second time I've made this suggestion this morning - try shooting with both eyes open.

This is a good advise for some situations and I sometimes use it myself if I'm waiting for something to appear to the viewfinder of if I want to make sure that I don't miss some critical action that is happening outside of the viewfinder.

But it doesn't help if the action is to the right of the viewfinder image. And in a quick unexpected situation like the snow leopard jump it would be quite difficult to track the animal both with the auto-focus point and the free eye.

[ppusa]

Hope this isn't too harsh, but if you feel that taking pictures is interfering with the way you experience life, then it's time to sell the equipment. For a photographer, the picture is the experience.

For the 100% dedicated photographer the whole life might be about pictures but I'm quite sure that the majority of photographers want to enjoy other things in life as well. Having a genuine interest (and not just a photographic interest) in the subject will most likely help to create better photos too.

[RandyMN]

Sometimes you don't only miss seeing what happened, but you also miss the shot!

This happened to me while at the zoo and I was looking through the viewfinder. I was paying attention to another gorilla behind the glass and suddenly an angry gorilla jumped towards the glass and pounded it, creating a stampede of on-lookers.

I heard all the screaming and had my feet stepped on, all while looking for a picture and missing the action. Good thing for the glass or I would have been run over by an angry gorilla without even knowing it. Makes me think harder when in similar situations such as near a road or moving objects.

Oh, and I really wish I had seen this outside the viewfinder because it would have been quite the rush!

[Radtech1]

Hope this isn't too harsh, but if you feel that taking pictures is interfering with the way you experience life, then it's time to sell the equipment. For a photographer, the picture is the experience.

Agreed. EDIT For me, I couldn't agree more. /END EDIT Which is why I said that I've NEVER regretted getting the shot. To paraphase Joe Gideon, "To take the picture is life. The rest is just waiting."

Rad

[photoguy6405]

Hope this isn't too harsh, but if you feel that taking pictures is interfering with the way you experience life, then it's time to sell the equipment. For a photographer, the picture is the experience.
It's all or nothing, eh?

[photoguy6405]

Agreed. Which is why I said that I've NEVER regretted getting the shot. To paraphase Joe Gideon, "To take the picture is life. The rest is just waiting."

How does that jive with you siggy quote?

Don't just live the length of your life, live it's depth and breadth as well.

On the one hand you're saying be one-dimensional, on the other hand you're saying to not be one-dimensional.

[photoguy6405]

Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes? The paradox is that you have the pictures to share with others but did you actually experience it yourself?

Sometimes. Depends on the event. There have been times that, when it was over, I realized that I had no idea what what happened at what I just attended. Over time I feel like I have struck a pretty good balance, though.

[asty80]

Have you ever regretted that you saw something through your camera's viewfinder instead of seeing the same with your own eyes?

Never...thats y I dont end up with too many good pictures :D

[joedlh]

Never. When I die, my memories die with me.

[ppusa]

There have been times that, when it was over, I realized that I had no idea what what happened at what I just attended. Over time I feel like I have struck a pretty good balance, though.

I think the balance is important and I got still a lot to learn there. I once accidently found a small outdoors concert where I was able to try a lot of different angles without disturbing anybody so I really tried to concentrate on the shots. Later at home I had to visit the artists myspace page to remind me what her music was like...

[Radtech1]

How does that jive with you siggy quote?



On the one hand you're saying be one-dimensional, on the other hand you're saying to not be one-dimensional.

No contradiction at all - Live the full depth, breadth and length of your life, and spend as little time as possible waiting. - Now, it is up to the individual to determine what constitutes not "waiting".

[Radtech1]

Never. When I die, my memories die with me.

ROY:
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darkness at Tan Hauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time - like tears in rain. Time to die.


What movie?

[FlyingPhotog]

Often, the magic is not in the viewfinder:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/101281173/original.jpg

[professorman]

Yes, this happens to me as well. Sometimes I am at some amazing places, and I want to take it all in through my eyes, but I am looking through my view finder. Every now and again, I look up and see whats going on.

[ppusa]

FlyingPhotog, where can you see sceneries like that? That was certainly something that needs to be admired also with your own eyes and not just through the viewfinder.

[photoguy6405]

No contradiction at all - Live the full depth, breadth and length of your life, and spend as little time as possible waiting. - Now, it is up to the individual to determine what constitutes not "waiting".

Even that contradicts. You agree with DC Fan that there is only one way to do this.

Definitive.

Then you say it's up to the individual.

Subjective.

[FlyingPhotog]

FlyingPhotog, where can you see sceneries like that? That was certainly something that needs to be admired also with your own eyes and not just through the viewfinder.

Sedona Arizona USA .. This is the image I shot:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/101281343/original.jpg

[Radtech1]

Even that contradicts. You agree with DC Fan that there is only one way to do this.

Definitive.

Then you say it's up to the individual.

Subjective.


Good catch. Editied DC Fan's post to more accurately reflect my feelings.

[hooookup]

I happened to be at the event when comedian Eddie Griffin crashed that million dollar Ferrari Enzo. I was one of still 5 photographers that was there. It woulda been nice to see it rather than shoot it.