Most overused phrases in photography?

angryman wrote in post #12896911
I hate the "get any good shots" from the members of the public as you walk through the pits.

No sir/madam, I was standing out in the rain all day with the intention of taking crap shots.

That doesn't bother me too much, either. Like someone else said, it's usually just an attempt to make conversation. And, well, sometimes I'm not getting "good" shots.

In a similar vein, but non-photo related, I used to live in a mixed-use neighborhood and would wash my car by hand often. Every... single... time... some yahoo would walk by and say he was going to pull his car up so I could wash his next.

I never said what I really wanted to say... "Wow, that's funny. I've never heard that one before. Yep, that's original. Did you think that one up on your own?"

photoguy6405 wrote in post #12897371
"Scalpel sharp" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Being a diabetic, I go with "lancet sharp."

Them there jabbers is sharp!

As I was traveling back on the train one day, I had to change at Bristol Temple Meads, I had my camera with me as I always do so I started taking a few shots, mainly to relieve the tedium. A young man approached me who was obviously a train spotter and he asked "Got any good shots?" to which I replied "I'm not a trainspotter". He looked a little dismayed and uttered "oh, you're just a photographer"!!!!

20droger wrote in post #12897419
Being a diabetic, I go with "lancet sharp."

Them there jabbers is sharp!

Definitely true - especially the ultra-thin ones I use all the time.

20droger wrote in post #12897419
Being a diabetic, I go with "lancet sharp."

Them there jabbers is sharp!

Then that should be the new phrase. "Oh, your lens is only tack sharp, well mine is lancet sharp." LOL

As stated earlier, I don't mind the 'this lens is tack sharp' comments, but it does get used too much and in the wrong context, IMO.

nicksan wrote in post #11626860
"I've been shooting for more than 20 years".

Disagree... Sometimes, when attempting to help another photographer with an issue, it helps to establish your "credentials." They might be more inclined to listen if you have some experience.

Very true, but experience doesn't always mean expertise!

20droger wrote in post #11885499
Hmpf! No true Redneck status for you! Unless, of course, you have to take off your shoes to count past 10.

and get arrested when you get to 21.:p

JeffreyG wrote in post #11657684
I don't think I've ever seen a painter just set up and painting in all my years. Certainly not while out and about.

Is this common where anyone else lives?

I do see lots of photographers and house painters.

They are out there. The technique is called "plein air" painting.

http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/En_plein_air

mikekelley wrote in post #11657878
"if using regular paypal add 3%"

have fun not selling it to me.

They want you to cover PayPal's fees...

20droger wrote in post #11691657
I love it when everyone who owns a camera claims that he/she is a photographer. This is exactly equivalent to everyone who owns a pencil claiming he/she is an author.

In my opinion, at least 95% of the "photographers" out there are liars. Pressing a shutter button no more makes one a photographer than writing a school essay makes one an author.

If you're too lazy (or unable) to learn at least the basics, which is most of them, you don't deserve the title.

I used to carry a business card that said "Photographer" but I changed it to "Guy With Camera..."

Chippy569 wrote in post #11701634
We need a reference thread with lens nicknames.

Don't even go there... The people who nickname lenses probably have nicknames for other things I shall not mention on a family forum...

tonylong wrote in post #11882411
This is kindof a funny story -- The POTN Book of the Year has/had a section on "memorable POTN quotes of the year". People were asked to nominate worthy nominees (none of which hopefully have shown up in this thread). At some point one or two years ago someone desigined this icon to "flag" a nominee. Once it popped up in the smiley box, well, things got out of hand...

And the very first quote in the book was one of mine...

Speaking of the POTN book, whatever happened to Volume IV?

JWright wrote in post #12905707
Don't even go there... The people who nickname lenses probably have nicknames for other things I shall not mention on a family forum...

Wait...are we talking common nicknames like "The Brick,""The Magic Drainpipe," and "The Nifty Fifty?" In that case, should I feel deeply embarrassed about having "Sigmalux" in my sig?

Or is it more along the lines of personal nicknames, like "Little Rocco," or "Cutie Glass Face?"

cptrios wrote in post #12905849
Wait...are we talking common nicknames like "The Brick,""The Magic Drainpipe," and "The Nifty Fifty?" In that case, should I feel deeply embarrassed about having "Sigmalux" in my sig?

Or is it more along the lines of personal nicknames, like "Little Rocco," or "Cutie Glass Face?"

I'm referring to the more commonly used ones like you mention in the first paragraph. I just think it's silly...

I brought those up in post #245, back in January.

cptrios wrote in post #12905849
Wait...are we talking common nicknames like "The Brick,""The Magic Drainpipe," and "The Nifty Fifty?" In that case, should I feel deeply embarrassed about having "Sigmalux" in my sig?

Or is it more along the lines of personal nicknames, like "Little Rocco," or "Cutie Glass Face?"

The problem with the nicknames are that beyond a handful (The Brick = 24-70L) a lot of them are not well enough known to be descriptive.

Is the 'Nifty Fifty' the 50/1.4 or the 50/1.8? Some people think one, some think the other.

Which is the 'Sigmonster' again? Is it the 50-500, the 150-500 or the 300-800? I get confused because I think there might also be a 'Sigzilla' or something. And is the 'Sigmalux' the 50/1.4 or 85/1.4? I don't know.

Who remembers what the 'Plastic Fantastic' is? I think it was some old third party 17-35, but I cannot remember the maker.

I agree that the nicknames are at best silly and at worst confusing.

People in public (largely weddings) asking "Is that a Mark II?"

Hmm... well I have heard "Sigmonster" and "Plastic Fantastic" used for a bunch of different lenses, but I definitely have only heard "Nifty Fifty" in reference to the 50/1.8. Is it not generally used for whatever a given camera system's cheap 50mm prime is?

I think I'm ok with defending the Brick, the Drainpipe, and the Sigmalux, though. All three are standout lenses, and I very rarely hear the latter two referred to as anything but their nicknames. In fact, I've even met French people who used the term "Sigmalux."

(By the way, the Sigma 85/1.4 is apparently called the "Kegma." That does annoy me.)

Oh, I'll add another one to the list: "I love the way this lens draws." As in, "look at me, I can talk like a real-life photographer. And a pretentious one at that!"