Non-Professional Behaviour of the Pro

Nikolai

As some of you may already know, I got to cover a big local bicycle charity event, Tour De Palm Springs.

Early in the morning, when the riders were still gathering around the starting arch, I noticed this other guy. He looked like a pro, carrying two EOS 1D bodies, one with 17-40, another with 70-200.

The whole starting place was rather small, but definitely big enough for several of us, so I didn't mind him at first. But then the situation changed.
The organizers asked me to get a few "shots with dignitaries". You know how it goes: shot with the girls in tiaras, shot with the sponsors, shot with the special guest, shot with the heads of organizing committee.. It's kinda mundane job, but you still want to do it right: you want the clean background, you want the right postures, etc.

And this is where it started. Imagine: you're lining the group up, making sure everyone looks great, stepping back to take a shot, and in this very moment somebody else jumps in to a like 2 ft from the group and start taking "in your face" closeups with the flash. Of course, the subjects are all confused, they do not know which camera to look at, etc. :scratch

If this is not "paparazzi" style, I don't know what is. And let me tell you - I didn't like it at all. I would not have any problem with him taking the shots I posed (and some pros do, I know that for a fact)- but, gosh, have a decency to wait a second... :dunno

No wonder I heard later that organizers wanted to kick him out of the premises...:deal

marlinspike

I've only seen one pro photographer tuck in his chair before leaving the media room, to me that speaks volumes.

henryp

marlinspike wrote:

I've only seen one pro photographer tuck in his chair before leaving the media room, to me that speaks volumes.

Back when film was king, my personal divider between pros and morons with pro equip was whether they left little yellow or green boxes strewn about the ground or picked them up and found a trash receptacle. My personal #2 was whether a pro with a ton of unshot film would loan a roll to the fellow who'd overshot or underpacked and needed one more to keep his editor happy.

IMHO there are plenty of bipeds out there, too few of whom are human beings.

pathfinder

Nikolai,

I am still naive enough to believe that real pros know that courtesy pays off in the long run.

For someone to intrude when you are obviously setting up shots is just rude in the extreme. Confused the subjects and interfered with your sequence of shooting.

Did you get a picture of the shooter to post on the web perhaps, under the moniker of donkey ( the other non-family term not being used here ):D:D

Nikolai

Path,

pathfinder wrote:

Nikolai,

I am still naive enough to believe that real pros know that courtesy pays off in the long run.

For someone to intrude when you are obviously setting up shots is just rude in the extreme. Confused the subjects and interfered with your sequence of shooting.

Did you get a picture of the shooter to post on the web perhaps, under the moniker of donkey ( the other non-family term not being used here ):D:D

Thanks!

No I didn't get a picture of him.. That was my first time in such situation I was a bit confused. I'll be prepared next time:-)

Photog

Ah, the elusive (or not so elusive, unfortunately) "Bigfoot" sighting.

They show up, stomp all over everything, and disappear.

In the markets I've worked in, there was always a pecking order but also a protocol that enables pros to work together for decades. It doesn't mean we won't throw some elbows now and then, but for the day to day work a simple nod of the head or "are you rolling?" signal with the finger makes things work smoothly. Still guys ducked underneath my camera instead of walking past; I looked at them and waited for a nod before moving in close to make sure I wasn't in their shot.

There's no need to be competitive when the situation is low-key like the one you described--but he just showed his hand in terms of how he operates.

IMHO how those pros treat an amateur shooter (or who they think is an amateur shooter or junior freelancer) is also a good indicator of character. It only takes a second to let them get a shot before moving in closer momentarily. Sometime just a wave that says "I'll be around a bit" is enough to diffuse the situation. It's respect.

When things are more competitive it's understandable but that situation didn't merit that behavior IMHO.

The other possiblity was that it was a wannabe. Sure sounds like it. They look pro but the way they move outs them as a poser.

Photog

PS - the flipside of this is that in some situations a pro may really need to get in and out of there and may not be able to wait things out.

I don't think it applies here, but just wanted to throw it out there that sometimes pros get stuck with a hose-and-go assignment where they have a few minutes to get a shot and interview or caption info.

Bigfootin' it is still classless, though.

mlboyd

henryp wrote:

IMHO there are plenty of bipeds out there, too few of whom are human beings.

And, sadly, they're everywhere...

Rhuarc

Slightly off topic, but talking about not have any sensitivity, My wife and I were at a chinese restauraunt the other night, and some lady walks up to one of the waiters (who was chinese) and asks him in a very rude way "I don't suppose you speak any english do you?" I almost choked on my food.

Nikolai

Photog wrote:

I don't think it applies here, but just wanted to throw it out there that sometimes pros get stuck with a hose-and-go assignment where they have a few minutes to get a shot and interview or caption info.

Bigfootin' it is still classless, though.

It was definitely not the case.
When I got back from my "rounds" (rather exhausting 50+ mile trip to sample-cover the availalble paths and SAG points) he was still around the start/finish area.
Bigfootin', eh? Now I've learned a new term:-)

Photog

Nikolai wrote:

It was definitely not the case.
When I got back from my "rounds" (rather exhausting 50+ mile trip to sample-cover the availalble paths and SAG points) he was still around the start/finish area.

ARGH. Makes for a long day.

That guy didn't make it any easier. I wonder what his deal was.

Bigfootin', eh? Now I've learned a new term:-)

Bigfoot -- apparently he's big, all ego, not much skill, and is also known for hanging out at the free food. We should report Bigfoot sightings here.

wxwax

Photog wrote:

That guy didn't make it any easier. I wonder what his deal was.

I think you nailed it: poser.

Andy

henryp wrote:

Back when film was king, my personal divider between pros and morons with pro equip was whether they left little yellow or green boxes strewn about the ground or picked them up and found a trash receptacle. My personal #2 was whether a pro with a ton of unshot film would loan a roll to the fellow who'd overshot or underpacked and needed one more to keep his editor happy.

IMHO there are plenty of bipeds out there, too few of whom are human beings.

well said Henry!

Photog

wxwax wrote:

I think you nailed it: poser.

sometime...someplace...that guy is gonna need a battery, film, tape, light, a ride, borrow a cell phone, some info, whatever...and he's gonna be SOL.

I've seen it happen a few times. One time in particular I saw a guy go back to the shop empty-handed on a big story because he'd been riding everyone else for years. He ran out of battery AND tape (double whammy of cardinal sins) and was begging for spares as the rest of us were rolling. Everyone shuffled their feet and said nope, can't help. OUCH.

It's an interesting blend in this biz of staying competive but not being a total jerk, even with the competition.

lynnesite

Am I missing something, Nik? Where did it say he is a pro? To me it's more likely he's NOT a pro with behavior like that. I know a hobbyist who has multiple pro bodies and a 600mm Canon bomber lens. He shoots but AFAIK doesn't sell to participants. Anyone would be confused whether he was the "OP" (official photographer) or not.

Contracts can be a goodly thing--if all he did was ruin your formals, that's not so bad--if he also is selling to the participants, THAT is more heinous IMO.

Nikolai

Lynne,

lynnesite wrote:

Am I missing something, Nik? Where did it say he is a pro? To me it's more likely he's NOT a pro with behavior like that. I know a hobbyist who has multiple pro bodies and a 600mm Canon bomber lens. He shoots but AFAIK doesn't sell to participants. Anyone would be confused whether he was the "OP" (official photographer) or not.

Contracts can be a goodly thing--if all he did was ruin your formals, that's not so bad--if he also is selling to the participants, THAT is more heinous IMO.

Thanks for comments!

I think he was a pro of some sort. He was acting at a times just like my editor tought me to (I string for a local newspaper). His equipment was up for the task and he handled it with ease.
My only beef with this guy was his arrogance while I was trying to take some formals.

I was told that the Palm Springs is a home for many retired celebs, so I thought that paparazzis should, in fact, be plentiful there, maybe he was one of them, just looking for an easy prey...

Glenn NK

Nikolai:

If you'd taken a few picturs of this donkey bursting in on you like that, I can almost guarantee he'd never do that again.

Not likely to anyone; and certainly not to you.

And if he was upset, what could he possibly say? Whatever he said, a reply would be easy; it could be as nice as, "Oh, I was posing these people and I didn't notice you".

No schmuk wants to be photo'd while being a schmuk. He knew what he was doing.

Nikolai

Glenn,

Glenn NK wrote:

Nikolai:

If you'd taken a few picturs of this donkey bursting in on you like that, I can almost guarantee he'd never do that again.

Not likely to anyone; and certainly not to you.

And if he was upset, what could he possibly say? Whatever he said, a reply would be easy; it could be as nice as, "Oh, I was posing these people and I didn't notice you".

No schmuk wants to be photo'd while being a schmuk. He knew what he was doing.

Next time I will:-)
Thanks!