How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front?

RandyMN · 27th of December 2008 (Sat)

I know we all talk about what our models look like, lighting, post processing, etc; but when someone else is clicking the button are you as comfortable in front of the lens as you are behind?

JeffreyG · 27th of December 2008 (Sat)

Not really, but I have good reasons.

I take a huge number of photos. Most of my subjects (read family) are totally comfortable as they know that I am 1) competent to take very good and flattering photos of them and 2) that I ruthlessly purge poor photos and I only keep shots that show my subjects well.

I'm less comfortable in front of the lens mainly because I don't know many good photographers. I guess I don't mind the casual snapshot, but the vast majority of what I see other people shooting (including shots of me) would go straight in to my recycle bin.

chauncey · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

Am not model material, there are no pictures of me.

JoYork · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I hate being in front of the camera. Being behind it feels natural.

Hermeto · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I had more birthdays than pictures of me.
I don’t keep memories, I make them!

Tessa · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoYork

I hate being in front of the camera. Being behind it feels natural.

Yes, same here.

Alexei TND · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

+1 for me too
i hate being in front of the camera and when i nptice someonw trying to take a picture of me, i inevitabely have an expression on my face, the equivelant of the words "kill me now please"

Croasdail · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I spend a lot of time in front of the camera during setup. I shoot myself getting the lighting right and making mistakes on myself. But in this case I am both in front of and behind the camera. Expectations are really low and as JeffreyG says, I control who sees what. But honestly, I don't know how you can ask others to relax in front of the camera unless you force yourself to do the same. The people I shoot are athletes and ordinary people, not models. I am not going to expect them to do something I wouldn't do myself - or at least be empathetic too. Being "comfortable" in front of a camera is a tall order for many.

JeffreyG · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I'm not averse to taking a self portrait though. That's me in the yellow.

Persephone · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I don't like being in front, simply because they usually have a point-and-shoot with an on-board flash that makes you look horrible. Even if my candid moments suck (for whatever reason, I tend to capture the worst in people, completely unintentionally), bounced flash looks a lot more natural and less snapshot-like.

René Damkot · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I started taking photo's as a way to make sure I wasn't in them

_aravena · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I've never liked photos of me. Not sure why...

Unless I'm being weird/silly/crazy/etc

neilwood32 · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

I break lensesbeing in front of the camera so i prefer to stay behind the camera!

Seriously though, as someone else said, I know i can take a good picture but i dont know many other photographers i trust to do likewise. Hence i take the photos (or very occasionally i set up the photo and just tell someone else to push the button (they invairably dont do exactly what they are asked)

xMClass · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

Quote:

Originally Posted by _aravena

I've never liked photos of me. Not sure why...

Unless I'm being weird/silly/crazy/etc

You're not alone. Me too.

DrMitch · 28th of December 2008 (Sun)

Those who can, model. Those who can't, photograph.

27th of December 2008 (Sat)	#1
RandyMN Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: MN Posts: 2,746 IMAGE EDITING OK	How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I know we all talk about what our models look like, lighting, post processing, etc; but when someone else is clicking the button are you as comfortable in front of the lens as you are behind?

27th of December 2008 (Sat)	#2
JeffreyG "my bits and pieces are all hard" Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 13,485	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? Not really, but I have good reasons. I take a huge number of photos. Most of my subjects (read family) are totally comfortable as they know that I am 1) competent to take very good and flattering photos of them and 2) that I ruthlessly purge poor photos and I only keep shots that show my subjects well. I'm less comfortable in front of the lens mainly because I don't know many good photographers. I guess I don't mind the casual snapshot, but the vast majority of what I see other people shooting (including shots of me) would go straight in to my recycle bin. __________________ My personal stuff:http://www.flickr.com/photos/jngirbach/ Commercial sports:http://girbach.zenfolio.com/ I use a Canon 5D and 1DIV and a Panasonic GF-1 Gear List: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...postcount=1550

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#3
chauncey Cream of the Crop Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MI/CO Posts: 7,680 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? Am not model material, there are no pictures of me.

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#4
JoYork Goldmember Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: York, England Posts: 2,991 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I hate being in front of the camera. Being behind it feels natural. __________________ Jo Flickr

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#5
Hermeto Cream of the Crop Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 6,657 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I had more birthdays than pictures of me. I don’t keep memories, I make them! __________________ What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#7
Alexei TND Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Switzerland Lucerne Posts: 776 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? +1 for me too i hate being in front of the camera and when i nptice someonw trying to take a picture of me, i inevitabely have an expression on my face, the equivelant of the words "kill me now please" __________________ \|My Flickr\| EOS 5D, EOS 7D Canon 70-200L 2.8 IS, 24-70L, 400 5.6L Sigma 50 1.4, 12-24, 20 1.8 SpaceArt

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#8
Croasdail Cream of the Crop Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 6,588 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I spend a lot of time in front of the camera during setup. I shoot myself getting the lighting right and making mistakes on myself. But in this case I am both in front of and behind the camera. Expectations are really low and as JeffreyG says, I control who sees what. But honestly, I don't know how you can ask others to relax in front of the camera unless you force yourself to do the same. The people I shoot are athletes and ordinary people, not models. I am not going to expect them to do something I wouldn't do myself - or at least be empathetic too. Being "comfortable" in front of a camera is a tall order for many. __________________ Mark Its by knowing and mastering all the rules that you learn which ones you can break.

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#10
Persephone Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: CA Posts: 1,122 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I don't like being in front, simply because they usually have a point-and-shoot with an on-board flash that makes you look horrible. Even if my candid moments suck (for whatever reason, I tend to capture the worst in people, completely unintentionally), bounced flash looks a lot more natural and less snapshot-like. __________________ Gear list "Do you think it was my choice to wed a man I did not love? Live a life I did not choose? I was betrayed by the very gods that once saw me as their own. But no more." - Περσεφόνη, God of War

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#11
René Damkot Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: enschede, netherlands Posts: 39,368 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I started taking photo's as a way to make sure I wasn't in them __________________ "I think the idea of art kills creativity" - Douglas Adams Why Color Management. Color Problems? Click here. MySpace Get Colormanaged Twitter PERSONAL MESSAGING REGARDING SELLING OR BUYING ITEMS WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO POSTS IN FORUMS AND/OR WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW FROM FORUMS IS HEREBY DECLARED STRICTLY STUPID AND YOU WILL GET BURNED.

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#12
_aravena isn't this answer a stickie yet? Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Back in the 757 Posts: 12,366 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I've never liked photos of me. Not sure why... Unless I'm being weird/silly/crazy/etc __________________ POTN CRUMPLER MAN!!! My Site ~ Gear List ~ Bag Reviews

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#13
neilwood32 Cream of the Crop Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sitting atop the castle, Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 6,111 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? I break lensesbeing in front of the camera so i prefer to stay behind the camera! Seriously though, as someone else said, I know i can take a good picture but i dont know many other photographers i trust to do likewise. Hence i take the photos (or very occasionally i set up the photo and just tell someone else to push the button (they invairably dont do exactly what they are asked) __________________ Having a camera makes you no more a photographer than having a hammer and some nails makes you a carpenter - Claude Adams Keep calm and carry a camera! My Gear

28th of December 2008 (Sun)	#15
DrMitch Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 280 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: How does behind the lens feel compared to being in front? Those who can, model. Those who can't, photograph. __________________ I have a photographic memory, just wish I'd remember to take the lens cap off more often! 40D - Sigma 10-20 - Tamron 17-50/2.8 - Canon 50/1.8 - Canon 100/2.8Macro - Canon 70-200 F4L - Canon 420EX - Crumpler 7MDH and a few Lowepro bags Flickr Collection

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