Digital cameras, bane of society?

[notfarnow]

Am I the only person who's being driven nuts by poor camera etiquette? It seems as though every mouth-breather has a digital camera now, and has no concept of how to use a camera politely.

A few cases:
-Family function last weekend: My high-voltage twit aunt takes a picture every 30 seconds, then insists you stop what you're doing so you can see the photo. Over and over, hour after hour.

-Bonfire two weeks ago: Nice quiet evening, chatting around the fire contemplating the workings of the universe. Twit friend keeps insisting everyone stop what they're doing, look at her and get a blinding flash photo. After the 5th or 6th photo, I ask her to turn the flash off or put the camera away. (it was my house, so I didn't mind being bossy)

-Funeral a month ago. Another twit insists on taking a picture of everyone as they arrive at the church for the funeral. Stands right at the entrance to the church for 40 minutes, taking pictures as mourners arrive.

I'm sure there was poor camera etiquette before digital cameras. However, now that cameras are so cheap and there's no cost for each picture, it seems as though we're being barraged by incessant, obnoxious twit with their $85 digital cameras. At family events, everyone stands around taking pictures of people taking pictures. It's madness I tell you, MADNESS.

[Jims5543]

Item 1 and 2 seem annoying now but down the road some of those pics will be fun to see no matter how annoying and I hate having my pic taken but understand.

Item 3....WTF!! There is a time and place for everything and taking pics of morners like your at a wedding is wrong.

[widebody911]

Even better: camera phones! So now they can take pictures surrepticiously!

[craigster59]

I'll go 1 better, camera phones. Try going to a concert, auto show, or any other event with all the dip*****s standing around taking pics with their phone or calling people in the middle of the concert so their friends can "listen in". Whoops, you beat me to it Thom..

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Item 1 and 2 seem annoying now but down the road some of those pics will be fun to see no matter how annoying and I hate having my pic taken but understand.

I like to have pictures of events, and sure... they are a great way to bring back memories.

My specific complaint is the "stop what you're doing so I can get a picture of what you're doing" methodology of the average and ubiquitous twit photographer. There used to one or two of them in every family, but now EVERYONE has a camera, so the problem seems much, much worse.

That, or maybe I am a grumpy prick.

[Moneyguy1]

Like every other technological breakthrough, both a potential blessing and a potential curse.

Too many "toys", too little common sense as to how they should be utilized.

[Isabo]

I was at a wedding a few months ago when it was impossible to see the bride and groom cutting the cake because they were surrounded by camera twits.
If my daughter marries and wants the full dress wedding I will personally pay for burly security men to confiscate cameras and phones (and to evict anyone dressed in poor taste or manmade textiles)

[speeder]

The irony is that posed photos are the worst kind; twit aunt would get better shots if she just snapped away w/ no flash and got fly-on-the-wall pictures.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by speeder
The irony is that posed photos are the worst kind; twit aunt would get better shots if she just snapped away w/ no flash and got fly-on-the-wall pictures.

Bingo... my point exactly. Back in the days of film, bad photographers got discouraged when they paid to get bad pictures developed. Now they take more, and make you look at the pictures right after they take them.

My bother is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He is rarely without his camera, but he uses it almost invisibly. You rarely know you're having your picture taken... his pictures are candid and usually capture a moment perfectly.

[scottmandue]

I am particularly offended when I am at a museum/event/performance where it is clearly posted and people are verbally requested before the show not to take pictures and when the performance starts sure enough some idiot has to snap a shot.

I'm an armature photographer and I appreciate a good photo as much as anyone but some moments in life should be experienced without the distraction of being documented.

[legion]

I went to a Nickel Creek concert in Peoria on Friday.

Big signs were posted everywhere: "No Photography". When we were in line to get in the gates, a staff member came down the line and told everyone not to take pictures...now is the time to stash your camera in your car (which was a 50' walk from the line).

The bouncers had their hands full confiscating some very nice cameras (which they only took if you actually used...)

[TerryH]

Originally posted by scottmandue
I'm an armature photographer and I appreciate a good photo as much as anyone but some moments in life should be experienced without the distraction of being documented.

So you take pictures of wound copper? Even spell check can't fix that one.

I'm probably a twit with my camera. Yes, I took photos at both my parents wakes, not at the church. Many of the mourners I won't see again in my lifetime. I don't like my picture taken, so I figure to have control of the camera will keep me out of most of them.

[Tobra]

There has been a general decay in social mores and in the way people interact with one another. Every single day I see something that leaves me dumb-founded, astounding lack of consideration for anyone or anything.

I am glad my folks raised me right, when I was on the dating scene every single woman I went out with commented on it.

[Noney]

This thread is worthless without photos.

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by widebody911
Even better: camera phones! So now they can take pictures surrepticiously!

A friend of mine got a divorce thanks to a camera phone. He was in a bar/club dancing with a girl when one of his wifes friends saw the two and snapped a phone pic. Emailed it to his wife the next day. THE END.

Not that they were all that happy together anyway.

[Tobra]

Originally posted by Noney
This thread is worthless without photos.

How about a VW ad?

[nostatic]

i shoot a lot of pictures, but flash is always off and I never pose or ask people to "stop what they're doing." That's the whole point...to capture the moment, not try and create it.

Clueless people are clueless people...don't blame the technology. The self-important "I have to talk on my cell phone in Starbucks" just found other ways to show they were important. Feel free to take a call but STEP OUTSIDE

sorry, that's my pet peeve these days...but not at Starbucks, at my local Peets.

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by notfarnow
My bother is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He is rarely without his camera, but he uses it almost invisibly. You rarely know you're having your picture taken... his pictures are candid and usually capture a moment perfectly.

Dude! Keep him away from my office mail room...please?