POTN Gesture?

For this question I shall assume soccer players to be male. I know the females play a mean game but for this scenario, soccer player = male.

At the end of every season I see the typical winter soccer player being dragged round the shops by thier other halves. You can tell immediately who they. The partners are holding up skirts or tops while the soccer player is looking across the road at the sports shop. "Does this colour suit me?", "Yeah, whatever." There is a sort of knowledgable eyebrow raise and wry smile when one soccer player sees another, especially in womens clothes shops.

So recently I was at a car show. Some bloke walked passed me with a 30D, flash unit and L lens. He had no POTN strap or anything. Being a shy timid creature I was reluctant to approach him and ask questions.

My question therefore. Is there some kind of POTN gesture or nod that you can give to another photographer and if he gives it back he's a POTN member but if he doesn't give the gesture back you don't look like a complete dick?

It depends on the state of the lens and the location.

If the lens looks brand new and you are at a duck pond - they are from POTN

::John:: wrote in post #2806203
It depends on the state of the lens and the location.

If the lens looks brand new and you are at a duck pond - they are from POTN

That is a classic!

Nice idea ... but the flaw is that if you make the 'sign' and the guy isn't POTN then he will either think you are a dick or gay or nuts, any of which could be welcome depending on the individual/s concerned I suppose. The sensible and easy thing to do would be to buy some POTN item.

Make yourself a sign that says "Where's Petkal?" Anyone from POTN will recognize that immediately.

condyk wrote in post #2806355
if you make the 'sign' and the guy isn't POTN then he will either think you are a dick or gay or nuts.

I often wondered why all those West Coast Posy or Staines Massive types make those funny shapes with thier hands. It's a secret gay/nut call.

If the sign was simple. Like say Air Camera (instead of air guitar. Did you know there are international Air Guitar championships?) by making a C and wiggling the top index finger, you're pretending to take a picture. If the other person isn't POTN they'll just think you're making the international sign for taking a picture and are rather impressed at thier equipment.

Place the T of your RH on the TK of his RF

I haven't had the pleasure of running into a POTN'r but I've gone up to many "photographers" in public places. If they're sporting a Canon it's really easy. I find most photographers love talking to fellow photog's. I have, however, crossed paths with people who think they are God's gift to photography just because they have a dslr.

As for your question: lets take a page from all those crazy Jeep and motorcycle people- just do a casual wave. If they look at you funny just say "It's a POTN thing".

***NOTE*** people from California and Hawaii can substitute the wave and show the 'bitchin'" gesture (similar to wave but with only the thumb, pointer, and pinky fingers).

I think Aussie's can do the 'Bitchen' thing too, but only if you are from the coastline.

If you don't have a POTN Strap, then really you can't claim to be a POTNer

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #2807796
If you don't have a POTN Strap, then really you can't claim to be a POTNer

That's exactly what I was going to say. AAMOF, we should make the POTN strap a mandatory requirement for anyone to proclaim him/herself a POTN member. Sort of like a "badge".

Let's make this easier. Approach the photographer and say "man cannot suffer what he does not know." They respond "the eagle soars high when the weather is fair."

august23 wrote in post #2807922
Let's make this easier. Approach the photographer and say "man cannot suffer what he does not know." They respond "the eagle soars high when the weather is fair."

How about,

photog1: "POTN?"
photog2: "yup" (if he is). Or, "huh??" (if he's not).

That's too boring!

The Hand signal is this;

Make a fist, then extend only your middle finger.
This unique hand signal was developed by our avid Bird photographers in the POTN Bird Forum.

We use this to identify each other when stalking birds as it is quiet and won't frighten the birds off.

The first time I recall this happening, I was with some fellow POTNers, and managed to get in front of them to get a perfect shot of a diving Osprey. When I turned back, they all four had there Middle Fingers extended in the POTN Birder greeting.. ( probably as a salute for managing to get such a great photo when they could not. )

Since then I've received this welcome so many times I can no longer recall them all, it always brings such a warm feeling to me to see it though.

Since saying "Showing the POTN hand signal" is a little wordy, we usually refer to this as "The Bird" as in "Giving the bird" to another member. When done quickly (so you can get your hands back on your camera where they belong) it's called "Flipping the bird"

It's grown since then, and spread to other share forms and other types of Photographers at POTN. The Motorsports shooters in particular are fond of "Flipping the bird" to other photographers that may step in there way at a race, (in the hopes of finding another fellow POTNer of course)