Stepping outside of your comfort zone...tips??

[Sammie_Lou]

This is going to sound dumb but all I keep hearing from people is to shoot, shoot, shoot. I have practiced a ton in my house/yard, but I feel like there's only so many pictures I can take of this small space before it just gets redundant. I'd like to take my camera to play around with when I'm out and about...but I feel weird just randomly whipping out a camera when I'm out somewhere. How do you get past that whole "everybody is staring at me like I'm crazy" thing?? Also, what sort of local places do you go to practice??

 

[subscuck]

Some people are more comfortable with that than others. I can't do street because I feel like all eyes are on me. That was true even in the pre 9/11 days. Go to local parks, festivals, places of interest, museums, etc.

 

[Compaq]

What lenses do you have? It would be easier for us to help you if we knew your lenses

 

[Sammie_Lou]

I can't do street because I feel like all eyes are on me.

That is EXACTLY how I feel.

 

[Sammie_Lou]

I have the 18-55mm and the 55-200mm kit lenses. I feel like my backyard could be a lot more interesting if I got myself a macro lens. lol

 

[Compaq]

You're pretty much covered from decent wide to decent tele. You know, you could go out shooting only at 50mm. It'll challenge your compositional skills and make you physically move closer farher away fro your subjects. Then only 200mm and then only 18mm. Just examples.

 

[subscuck]

I suppose if you forced yourself, you could maybe get over it. I think overly extroverted people are better with it. While not an introvert, I just don't like drawing unwanted attention to myself, real or imagined. Plus, I always worry about someone taking offense.

 

[Sammie_Lou]

I just have that feeling like everyone is watching me and then I sort of feel like a creep for taking pictures of people I don't know. I'm going to have to get over it in some way...I just don't know where to start.

 

[usayit]

Sometimes the whole "Everyone is staring at me" is really just internalized feelings.... I still feel like that when I shoot pictures with people or when my child is at the playground.

Have you tried simply carrying a point and shoot then simply force yourself to take a few pictures here and there.... jump in and just do it. It might get you in the "mode" and out of your comfort zone enough to make that transition to just taking your bigger DSLR at a slower pace.

 

[Overread36]

My first tip is to not shoot at something that you don't want to shoot at - trying to force yourself only ever tends to result in poorer performance (esp when you are new to things) and a lack of overall interest in the subjects you're shooting (that makes it hard to engage with them and thus your composition suffers directly).

First work out what you want to take photos of - whatever it might be - shoot what you want to shoot - and learn by shooting it.

As for

How do you get past that whole "everybody is staring at me like I'm crazy" thing?

once you're shooting subjects you want to shoot the thoughts and feelings of those around you starts to slip away somewhat - improving to a good personal standard (ie to have pride in your photography) also helps this a lot as well (at least in my experience - - then again I wander around wearing a camo hat and (in winter) camo scarf so -- I probably am crazy )

 

[Netskimmer]

I've been pushing my comfort zone myself recently. I am a extrovert around people I know (and behind the anonymity of an internet forum) but around strangers I am a quiet introvert. While at the Independence day parade/festival in town I came across a couple walking there dog (bull mastiff) I didn't know them and was out in public and surrounded by complete strangers. I forced myself to walk up to them, talk to them about the dog ,his name was Macky, and ask if I could take a few pictures of him. They agreed to the pictures and I took a knee to get eye level with him and took some shots. I was a little nervous because I could feel people taking notice but I pushed past it and took the shots. Unfortunately none of them were worth anything because the sun was setting forcing me to use a slower shutter speed and Macky wouldn't hold still (he was excited to meet a new person and curious about the camera. Despite the fact that the shots were useless I considered the shoot a victory, if only a small one.

I would try to find places were cameras are common place to start with like subsuck suggested. It's kind of like going down one of those really tall water slides, you just have to get past that initial push and the rest is down hill. I would also suggest reading up on your local laws regarding photograph and privacy. That way you know where you can and can't legally take photos and you'll know where you stand legally if someone does confront you. I would also exercise common sense, it may be perfectly legal to sit in you car and take pictures of kids playing in a park with a telephoto lens but I might not be advisable.

 

[Sammie_Lou]

I looked up local events online and just saw that there's a car show tomorrow night. Maybe I'll give it a shot, if I get out of work in time. =)

 

[subscuck]

I looked up local events online and just saw that there's a car show tomorrow night. Maybe I'll give it a shot, if I get out of work in time. =)

I think you'll find people there will be more than happy to have you take pics.

 

[Raian-san]

The only time I get people starring at me is at the beach and I bust out a flash, big reflector and everything. But I just laughed it off because they're just thinking, "Oh a professional shoot." But I'm not. I never thought of that feeling of people starring at me crazy. I think people look because you're different, holding on a big camera and you're out enjoying your hobby instead of doing nothing or negative things. Like usayit said, it's mostly an internal feeling. Just like when you smoke weed and go to a public place, you feel like everybody is looking at you but they're not *well maybe if they came close to you and smelled it* it's the same if you were normal. But you become self conscious when you smoke weed, I guess guilt, and that's why your mind is playing tricks on you.

It's just taking pictures, just don't point it at somebody longer than 2 secs. Ninja those shots. :thumbup:

 

[joealcantar]

I looked up local events online and just saw that there's a car show tomorrow night. Maybe I'll give it a shot, if I get out of work in time. =)

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Find yourself a decent looking model type hanging out with the cars and abuse her. Guys love a good looking girl getting shot with their cars. Take some shots of the cars as well.
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Shoot well, Joe
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