Posted by Richard Sogn on June 23, 2007 at 4:53 PM
What do you say when you're hiking a trail and you're asked a hundred times, "Did you get some good pictures?":
1. Do you politely say, "Yes, thank you."?
2. Do you grumble, "I don't take pictures, I take photographs."?
3. Do you pretend that you didn't hear them and keep going?
4. Do you hand them your card, hoping that they'll purchase a "picture" from your site?
5. Do you tell them that if they purchased an expensive camera like yours, they could take some good pictures too?
6. Other (and hopefully more humerous) response?
Ya one never really knows until the images are back home and up on the screen if success was achieved or er fleeting... So the best I can say is - I sure hope so!!
How about "Nope, somebody shot all the good ones before I got there"
Posted by Curtis Knight on June 23, 2007 at 11:29 PM
I'm with Mark and Eric. But I'll start using Jerry's line!!!
The question I hate is when I have my camera pointed squarely at the horizon at sunset and I get "Whatchya takin pictures of?"
Posted by Darren White on June 24, 2007 at 12:27 AM
Great thread......
I get asked this all the time...and it's always by the women in the group....
most the time I use the line, "yeah, it's beautiful up there", because I am usually the first one headed back down the trail.....
the people I seem to surround myself with in everyday life are just not appreciative of nature like I am.....sometimes I wish I could just stop and talk to people on the trail...I have tried to make conversation but most people look at me like I am some crazy photographer guy who got up way too early and they just keep walking....
I guess I'll just continue to live in my own world!!!!
I once had a guy ask me where is my food and water....(this was as I was coming back down from Twister Falls) I looked at him for a second and said, "well, I have 2 granola bars in my pocket and a million gallons of water anytime I am thirsty". He said, what about.....and before he could finish I said, "this water is some of the best tasting water I have ever had and no I am not worried about any little bug that might be in it". He got this surprised look on his face and said, hmmmmm...I always carry 4 or 5 water bottles...I said I carry 1 and refill when I get thirsty.
Posted by Tom Kloster on June 24, 2007 at 12:50 AM
Well, I USED to drink right out of the streams, back in the olden days (until I had a nice case of giardia in the early 80s). Sometimes I still do, when I can see the snowfield above the water source!
I kinda like that greeting - it's right up there with "you're almost there" or "not far to go" from tenderfoot hikers who are usually making their first visit. I NEVER tell them that it's my umpteenth visit, and instead just say "Oh, good!" I use Mark's response on the photo question. All of the above fall into a nice enthusiasm that people develop in the outdoors. I ALWAYS greet people on the trail, too, and they usually respond in turn.
I've noticed that in the Gorge, the practice of greeting people generally goes out the window on the paved trails at Multnomah and Wahkeena Falls, but as soon as you leave the pavement, people become much more relaxed and friendly. There's a master's thesis in there somewhere on human social interaction...
Tom
Posted by Darren White on June 24, 2007 at 1:09 AM
The women I see in high heels walking up trail, I never say hello to them....mostly because they reek of perfume
LOL! I think I better just stick with my usual response, "Oh yes, I think so!" It inspires confidence in me along with being cheerful (or apparently so to the questioner!) and enthusiastic about what I am doing.
I just love it when my dutiful service dog is lying right beside me or behind me with his bright RED working vest on that says "Do not pet meÉ", and I am intently looking through the viewfinder with my foot on his leash. Next thing I know, there's all kinds of chattering to my dog and I'm being pulled backward in more than a bit of commotion. (He's a sociable dog and likes to visit when someone makes contact.) So much for literacy, service dog etiquette, and my photo! Never mind the danger it causes for both of us. Goodness knows, he could be taught to bare his teeth in those circumstances. And I'll bet the next thing you know, someone would have me arrested for having a vicious animal in public. Go figure.
So, if you meet us on the trail, for heavens sake don't interact with my dog! But please do say hi to me! Then I can have a chance to visit and Aenghus can take a break and say, "Hey!" too.
Posted by Simon Allenby on June 24, 2007 at 10:56 AM
If you don't want to strike up a conversation, look perplexed, and go with one of the following classics:
I usually look at them with a blank stare for 20 seconds...then break into a high pitch shreeeek while clapping my hands together rapidly. That usually scares them off Then I chase after them, begging them to take my picture!
I'm with Mark and Rick, most of the time, but I have been shameless enough to hand out business cards to about half a dozen folks over the last few years.
>> The question I hate is when I have my camera pointed squarely at the
>>horizon at sunset and I get "Whatchya takin pictures of?"
Reply: "What? You don't see Bigfoot??"
Posted by Mike Stovall on June 26, 2007 at 6:37 PM
I'm with you Darren. I love to make conversation with people I meet along the trail, especially if they are enthusiastic about nature too. Unless it's someone who wants to talk about how my camera takes good pictures because it is a big DSLR. I've already blackened out the Canon Logos, but I don't think I'll go so far as to cover it in ratty duct tape. My response: "It takes bigger pictures, not better pictures. But it does give me more options in low light situations." It might not be exactly accurate in all details, but overall it is true. And it moves the conversation on to other subjects.
Discussion
14 replies1. Do you politely say, "Yes, thank you."?
2. Do you grumble, "I don't take pictures, I take photographs."?
3. Do you pretend that you didn't hear them and keep going?
4. Do you hand them your card, hoping that they'll purchase a "picture" from your site?
5. Do you tell them that if they purchased an expensive camera like yours, they could take some good pictures too?
6. Other (and hopefully more humerous) response?
or
"I won''t know till I get home and Photoshop them to death".
The question I hate is when I have my camera pointed squarely at the horizon at sunset and I get "Whatchya takin pictures of?"
I get asked this all the time...and it's always by the women in the group....
most the time I use the line, "yeah, it's beautiful up there", because I am usually the first one headed back down the trail.....
the people I seem to surround myself with in everyday life are just not appreciative of nature like I am.....sometimes I wish I could just stop and talk to people on the trail...I have tried to make conversation but most people look at me like I am some crazy photographer guy who got up way too early and they just keep walking....
I guess I'll just continue to live in my own world!!!!
I once had a guy ask me where is my food and water....(this was as I was coming back down from Twister Falls) I looked at him for a second and said, "well, I have 2 granola bars in my pocket and a million gallons of water anytime I am thirsty". He said, what about.....and before he could finish I said, "this water is some of the best tasting water I have ever had and no I am not worried about any little bug that might be in it". He got this surprised look on his face and said, hmmmmm...I always carry 4 or 5 water bottles...I said I carry 1 and refill when I get thirsty.
I kinda like that greeting - it's right up there with "you're almost there" or "not far to go" from tenderfoot hikers who are usually making their first visit. I NEVER tell them that it's my umpteenth visit, and instead just say "Oh, good!" I use Mark's response on the photo question. All of the above fall into a nice enthusiasm that people develop in the outdoors. I ALWAYS greet people on the trail, too, and they usually respond in turn.
I've noticed that in the Gorge, the practice of greeting people generally goes out the window on the paved trails at Multnomah and Wahkeena Falls, but as soon as you leave the pavement, people become much more relaxed and friendly. There's a master's thesis in there somewhere on human social interaction...
Tom
I just love it when my dutiful service dog is lying right beside me or behind me with his bright RED working vest on that says "Do not pet meÉ", and I am intently looking through the viewfinder with my foot on his leash. Next thing I know, there's all kinds of chattering to my dog and I'm being pulled backward in more than a bit of commotion. (He's a sociable dog and likes to visit when someone makes contact.) So much for literacy, service dog etiquette, and my photo! Never mind the danger it causes for both of us.
So, if you meet us on the trail, for heavens sake don't interact with my dog! But please do say hi to me! Then I can have a chance to visit and Aenghus can take a break and say, "Hey!" too.
Yo no hablo ingles
Je ne parle pas l'anglais
Ich spreche Englisch nicht
Non parlo di inglesi
Ik spreek engels niet
Regards, Simon
"It speaks English not"? That would be weird.
I'm with Mark and Rick, most of the time, but I have been shameless enough to hand out business cards to about half a dozen folks over the last few years.
>>horizon at sunset and I get "Whatchya takin pictures of?"
Reply: "What? You don't see Bigfoot??"