Are we a bit weird?

you want weird, try reef tanks. We spend crazy money on system setup and even more on corals. Then we have meetings where people show up with coolers filled with stuff to trade or sell. I had a meeting once and yes my neighbors definitely thought we were all weird. But like any hobby, the people your with all "get it". I say just enjoy whatever makes you happy. Don't even get me going on geocaching...

I do feel a bit weird sometimes, but when people catch me crawling on the ground or something they just look friendly and curious, so I'm trying to get over it. I think it's mostly in my head.

Also, photography has made me really look at the world in a way I didn't do before. I've gotten much better at seeing the beauty in everyday life and that is a wonderful thing.

monk3y wrote in post #10223655
some people also ask me why I don't include people in my photos (landscapes)... I don't think they will understand so I just smile.

..and those same people will happily pay good money for calendars featuring those same landscape photos with no people in them..

I always wonder what my neighbours think when I go in the garden with my camera,creeping up on flies and stuff. I'm very self conscious and become sneaky because I feel their eyes on me, laughing.

Helena wrote in post #10229940
photography has made me really look at the world in a way I didn't do before. I've gotten much better at seeing the beauty in everyday life and that is a wonderful thing.

Absolutely. I definitely see things differently now and I'm very pleased that I do.

JoYork wrote in post #10230042
Absolutely. I definitely see things differently now and I'm very pleased that I do.

What opened my eyes was the photography couurse I attended 2002-04. We had to pick one or two photographers (I chose Edward Weston and Ansel Adams),and studying Weston,who was so intense with his photography of ordinary items opened my eyes to what's around me and taught me to 'see'. And I thank my tutor for encouraging me in my pursuit.

Tendy wrote in post #10229954
I always wonder what my neighbours think when I go in the garden with my camera,creeping up on flies and stuff. I'm very self conscious and become sneaky because I feel their eyes on me, laughing.

Ohhhhh, you've gotta get over THAT Next time you're crawling around in the garden, wear a Ghillie suit! If anyone asks, tell 'em you're trying sneak up on some worms. You may not change their opinion, but if you snap a shot right after that explanation I bet you get a great expression shot.

Tendy wrote in post #10229954
I always wonder what my neighbours think when I go in the garden with my camera,creeping up on flies and stuff. I'm very self conscious and become sneaky because I feel their eyes on me, laughing.

ignore them and enjoy the hobby for all it has to offer

Snydremark wrote in post #10230624
Ohhhhh, you've gotta get over THAT Next time you're crawling around in the garden, wear a Ghillie suit! If anyone asks, tell 'em you're trying sneak up on some worms. You may not change their opinion, but if you snap a shot right after that explanation I bet you get a great expression shot.

A what suit?? What on earth is a Ghillie suit?

LowriderS10 wrote in post #10230902
ignore them and enjoy the hobby for all it has to offer

I wish it were that simple. I'm extremely nervous of people lacking in social skills (Asperger's) and when I go out with my camera I won't take it out the case until I'm well in the sticks.

Tendy wrote in post #10233053
A what suit?? What on earth is a Ghillie suit?

Here, let me look that up on wikipedia for you...

Tendy wrote in post #10233053
A what suit?? What on earth is a Ghillie suit?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=G​hillie+suit

krb wrote in post #10233070
Here, let me look that up on wikipedia for you...

Oh holy mother of Darwin I could just imagine my kids face if I went to pick them up from school wearing one of these!:

http://www.crazynfunny​.com …own-ghillie-suit/stories/

Everyone's gotta be weird in some way, otherwise the world would be rather boring.

As for taking pictures in a workplace that is not your own... it's creepy. I used to work at a large Chevy dealership. We had one customer that always had a camera with him and would take pictures of everyone. He never asked permission or even talked to you about it. Would just wander around and snap, snap, snap. No one was particularly happy about it. Who knew what he was doing with the pictures. It was very obvious that he was just a GWC, and one with very few skills. If someone with obvious knowledge of what they were doing asked me if they could take my picture, no problem.

I wasn't trying to snoop on his workplace or anything. He has a garage a few miles off the coast and the garage is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. I asked if there were any nice views within walking distance and that's when he told me to not go around taking photos.

His main hobby seems to be buying fast cars and driving them until they blow up. And he calls me weird