I'm pathetic, oh yes I am ...

[Vintage Paw]

Thanks for the insurance hint mauvis. I'll check them out, and also see what the deal would be like adding it to my contents insurance too.

So yes, I'm going to buy some maps I've got a bus pass, so I can go anywhere in the county for free - I think it's just building up the confidence to go on my own. I'm also going to see if I can find out about a camera club in Stoke.

weltweit - thank you for your (really long) reply You make a good point about being a girl and others' perceptions, I'll keep that in mind when I am out with Boris.

bosky - you're right, I've just got to do it. Get out there and start snapping. Of course, it is easy to say that now it is pitch black here (at 5.18!!!) and I've got uni work to finish. Let's hope I remember your advice when it's sunny and I start pining again

 

[Ms Ordinary]

Second, I never really have gotten over being really self-conscious, worrying that everyone is staring at me thinking "why the fuck is that bird taking photos of a piece of concrete/tree/corner of a building/small insignificant thing I wouldn't look twice at?". I did warn you in the title I am pathetic ...

I relate to practically everything you wrote in your post - are you me? (but with more interesting pictures )

I do actually feel much less self-conscious on the rare occasions I take a tripod out with me though . Its also the only time I've really felt comfortable taking photos of random people - I even had people wandering over & asking to be in the picture. Maybe the solution is to get a 10 x 8 camera . (No, I can't see myself taking one of those on the bus either...)

I'm planning to (eventually) get a D50 as well - but the cameras I use now are old battleaxe manual slrs that you can drop down stairs & throw into the bottom of a grubby bag - I'm more worried that I'll have to learn to treat it with respect than that it'll get stolen .

I have no real words of wisdom - I'm just reading all the good advice you're getting

 

[Mrs Magpie]

Get it insured too....my daughter lent her mate a really good camera that she saved up for and got for a really good price on ebay, and it got nicked...neither my daughter or her mate can afford to replace it......

 

[Paul Russell]

editor - thanks for that link - street photography is exactly what I want to have the balls to do but on the rare occassion I've been pointing my camera at a real live person I've wanted to vomit!! Small steps I think!

More on shyness:

www.pinkheadedbug.com

I don't know Stoke but I wouldn't think you'd need to worry about your camera getting nicked right in the town centre in the middle of the day. Or is it really that dodgy?!

If you really want to take pic of real live people, as a "small step" you could try and make an interesting photo with "tiny people". You don't have to stick the camera right in someone's face (although others would disagree!)

For example:

tiny1
tiny2

 

[Mrs Magpie]

btw, my daughters camera wasn't nicked in a violent way...twas by stealth.....

 

[weltweit]

btw, my daughters camera wasn't nicked in a violent way...twas by stealth.....

I was stolen from while hunched over a tripod in Barcelona, a child came up behind me and put its hand into my pocket ..

I was furious had no idea what it had taken and wanted to give chase ..

Later I decided all it got was some chewing gum and a lens cap !! :-/

Later still when checking my photos I found the said child captured quite clearly standing with an adult both observing me as I started taking pictures. So in a way he got me but I got them both in my photos.

 

[editor]

Get it insured too....my daughter lent her mate a really good camera that she saved up for and got for a really good price on ebay, and it got nicked...neither my daughter or her mate can afford to replace it......

I've got a good film SLR camera she can borrow.

 

[boskysquelch]

Let's hope I remember your advice when it's sunny and I start pining again

I haven't got time to tap out what I raaaaally want to say to you( and others, Here, in detail) but I mean this from the bottom of my damaged_heart...you ARE a photographer...whether you like it or not you have the skills...whether you want to take it further is entirely upto you as it is for everybody.

From looking at what you've shown on occasions I know what you are and where you are at...it's ma Job innit!!!1...carry on and you'll get to where you want...if you don't carry on then yer won't.

Buckup...chillout and get out there.

I knows everything mes...blahblahblah...if I were you I'd wear the camera as a fashion accessory for as much as you can from now on...shit yerself over it's presence, it's potential loss/theft etc etc..I promise you once you get past that the worry about that, pickee snapping will be small spuds in comparison.

Enuff already... seriously ALL photographers have their moments... and all find a way to get past'em eventually...coz the addiction smothers the fears!!1

*I'm not going to say no more nor to anyone else...I have My 0wn Muses to satisfy NOW ...

here's one of 'em...I workinge mespell on her right now!!

 

[Vintage Paw]

Just read the most recent replies - you guys *shucks* you are giving me a really happy feeling now instead of the misery-guts I was earlier!

I'll reply in more depth once I've finished this film analysis I've got to hand in tomorrow

 

[Bernie Gunther]

 

[Bernie Gunther]

<snip> I suppose in extremis you could use the monopod as a weapon by holding it just below the camera end if they tried to steal your camera, and it would be harder for them to snatch it and run away as well.

Techniques here and here

Particularly useful when attacked by other photographers wielding monopods.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

For what it's worth I understand your nervousness about being in public with a camera. I get it too although it manifests a bit differently in my case.

I don't think trying to be discreet is the key, or at least it doesn't work for me. It just makes me feel furtive and more nervous. What works for me is convincing myself that I have an absolute right to be doing whatever I'm doing and smiling at people then very obviously pointing the camera away from them and looking away to photograph something else, should they look even slightly pissed off.

 

[hedache]

i don't really like taking photos in public either. i try to be as inconspicuous as poss. i often take shots without holding the camera to my face which can lead to some interesting results!

as for worrying about getting mugged, it's best not to think like that or you'll never get anything done. get your camera insured, it'll give u more piece of mind.

..and if you do find yourself getting mugged, a swift kick to the bollocks usually works a treat

i would also recommend photoguard for the insurance. it'll be pretty cheap if you've only got one camera to insure.
i've got around £2500 worth of stuff insured for a premium of less than £100