How to 'not' be a photo noob?

(helix_rider) · (helix_rider) **Join Date: Mar 2003** 05-06-2009, 7:56 AM

So we all have seen them, the wakeboarders who try so hard to act like they are 'pros' and then have the telltale 'noob' giveaways: boards in the boardracks on the freeway, bindings ducked 'in', 1.5 hours to back down the launch ramp, etc. I'm not hating on them...as I was once learning the ropes as well.

BUT, I'm sure some people look at me as an amateur photographer and think the same thing...'what a noob'. I'm not so concerned with what others think of me, but I read a comment on a professional photo site and I thought 'Man...that's me.'

The comment from the pro was something like...'you look like an idiot and an amateur wearing your camera strap just around your neck...you need to wear it over one shoulder and then around your neck.'

So I tried it, and except for the 'slightly more difficult to maneuver quickly' aspect, the over the shoulder pose seemed to work for me yesterday.

What other things do you see in photography that scream '...there's another noob'. (example...$10 UV filter on a $1000 lens...etc).

Here is a pic I took yesterday morning...I love these little jumping spiders.
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(wakesurf12) · (wakesurf12) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 05-06-2009, 8:12 AM

THE MONKEY GRIP!!!!! The hand OVER the lens focusing.

(steezyshots) · (steezyshots) **Join Date: Feb 2008** 05-06-2009, 8:30 AM

HAHAHA! Love the monkey grip!

As with anything performance related there will always be people who "think" they are better than you. Let your pictures do the talking who cares how you get a great shot as long as you get that great shot!

(goinbigg17) · (goinbigg17) **Join Date: Jul 2002** 05-06-2009, 12:13 PM

I personally am unable to do the strap over one shoulder and around my neck...the strap is just to short for it to be useful! Guess I could buy a longer strap...then I would at least look professional

I'm sure I always look like a noob anywhere I go with my camera, but oh well I'm having fun.

(eubanks01) · (eubanks01) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 05-06-2009, 12:39 PM

I love when I'm on a trip and I hand my DSLR to somebody to take a picture of me and my wife and they hold the camera two feet in front of their face and then they say something like, "I think your LCD isn't working."

(dakid) · (dakid) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 05-06-2009, 12:54 PM

this happened to me when i was filming at a red bull shoot.

girl: do you film all red bull gigs?
me: not all, though i do a lot of l.a. gigs. btw, nice cam (20d). do you have the 16mm fisheye?
girl: thanks! no, i don't have it but i wanna get it! do you do pics, too?
me: yeah a bit. i shoot w/ a nikon.
girl: i'm sorry.
me: (looking at her settings) uh, you dare talk smack while shooting in "auto"?

(steezyshots) · (steezyshots) **Join Date: Feb 2008** 05-06-2009, 2:10 PM

classic!

(wakedad33) · (wakedad33) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 05-06-2009, 2:54 PM

I always thought the size of your lens hood gave you street cred

(richd) · (richd) **Join Date: Oct 2003** 05-06-2009, 4:22 PM

It's easy to spot a pro photographer, their equipment always has a beat up and well used look to it.

If you want street cred as an extreme sports photographer or videographer you need to sticker your equipment up.

And why put your hand on the lens at all? that's what AF is for.