So, I had a really strange experience this weekend that got me thinking and I'm interested to know what you all think. I was shooting an e-session (my first, yay!!) at a very public place in Long Island City. There was a guy there with pro equipment and he was sort of lurking, for lack of a better word, over my shoulder. The couple and I moved over a bit for better light and I proceeded to snap away switching between a few prime lenses. At that point, he walked over and offered his 70-200 to me for me to use. I declined.

I really don't know what to think about that. If that photog uses this forum, I would love to know what the intention was. I was surprised that he would be so trusting of a stranger, but it also felt sort of rude to jump into my session that way. I would love to hear if any of you have experienced similar situations or if you would ever do that.

For now, it's filed under WTF in my book.

Ummm wha? That's weird!

He's "first line" challenged and wanted a date? Come ON, he's totally INTO you! "Want my long lens, baby?" SERIOUSLY.

I really did laugh out loud!!!

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On a more serious note, that is a bit weird, but never mind!

Perhaps he's a wannabe and like kids at music gigs, he just wanted to hang around and perhaps pick up a few tips and and have a coffee afterward. I agree it is rude to interrupt your session although he probably didn't know that.

I think some people just have a need to show off their equipment, especially if they feel it's better than yours.

He probably saw you switching primes and figured that was irritating to you and offered his big zoom so he could be the hero.


I recently had something similar where a guy I was purchasing lenses from asked us to take his picture with his 5D (I shoot with a 40D, and Andy has a nikon). It was just bizarre. He wanted to bring his camera so we could test out the lenses too. (Like why wouldn't I want to test them on mine??)

men and long lenses - its a mine is bigger than yours thang.....

It reminds me of those "lurkers" at weddings who say, "I'll send you a disk of all the photos I took so you can include them with yours for the couple, (or better yet, in the album)" Like wtf?

Some people have no clue.

My wife and I were shooting a wedding back in April and we arrived at the world's most popular spot for wedding party pictures (in StL anyway) in advance of our wedding party (who had to make a potty stop along the way). While waiting for our wedding party I started chatting with another photographer who was there waiting for HER wedding party (she was actually 2nd shooting). Her wedding party showed up before mine so the battle for positioning in front of these fountains / reflection pond was won by the other party. The other photographer didn't have a 70-200 (and the distance between camera and subject -- separated by the reflection pond was probably 100 feet or more) so I offered her mine. She said hers was up at the top of the hill (where the reception was being held -- about 200 yards away) so she accepted my offer. Her voice wasn't very loud and her wedding party couldn't hear her instructions very well over the sounds of the fountains. So...I yelled out her instructions and the wedding party could hear my voice over the fountains. After she got her shots, we traded back lenses and exchanged business cards.

Two days later I got a VERY nice e-mail from the primary shooter (a high-end local shooter) who thanked me for loaning her 2nd shooter the 70-200 and for helping direct the wedding party. The note was sincere and heart-felt.

The way I see it...we're kinda all in this together...I'd rather help someone out and have them remember me for being generous than ignore them and never know who I am.

Just food for thought...

I agree with Dan here. It may have been an awkward exchange, but I don't think you can label the guy weird or a pyscho based on that simple exchange. Perhaps the guy was just interested in what you were doing and was looking for a way to start a conversation? That's what it sounds like to me. He might have been better served by starting a real conversation, and not...well...leading with his long lens.

awww, poor guy... he has to try alot harder than that!that's totally how it felt to me.. I can TOTALLY appreciate that and love the working together sort of vibe. In my situaltion, though, he never tried to introduce himself. He was literally standing behind me while I was shooting. Close enough that he had to move out of the way when I stepped back to my bags and changed lenses. If he had said anything at all, even "hey, mind if I look over your shoulder?" it would have felt less creepy. I'm all for being outgoing and connecting with other photographers, but it's hard for me to excuse myself from a paying session to start talking to another photographer. My goal was to keep my connection strong with the couple. Interestly enough, there was a bridal party taking pictures at the same location, but he wasn't with them... at least it didn't seem so.Haha! Don't get me wrong, I didn't think he was a psycho... weird? perhaps. I would have loved to connect with a fellow photog, but I think it's important that we choose the right moments to connect. I think it's important to respect the connection a photographer is trying to nuture with his/her subject. In the middle of someone's shoot isn't the best time to start networking.

I would have said, "gimmie that thing!" Why rent when you can borrow?

Guys POV - he probably liked you. When I first saw my wife I would have let her borrow my (insert whatever I owned at the time here). Come on now! What more could a guy have to offer than an L lens?

well, I would definitely take equipment over flowers, I suppose

I was thinking that too... he probably was feeling you a little bit... and was trying to think of something clever to say, and when he couldn't come up with anything... he offered his lens...

I work in the nursey and I see the same thing with little boys trying to share their crayons with disinterested little girls... some men never grow outta that phase. LOL

Wow, Dan... Just goes to show - you never know. That's awesome for you, but I probably would have been a little weirded out by the posted situation myself.
I had some old dude in Yellowstone a couple of weeks back trying to get in front of me at a spot so he told he that there were a couple of Buffalo across the lake... And yeah, dude, they are everywhere. Nice try in trying to get me to move I guess, but people do the strangest things. I think he was being nice, but you never know. LOL.. That was my WTF moment for the day until I got to Old Faithful when some other dude with a P&S blatantly walked right in front of me where I was positioned in the front area. I literally had to say "You aren't really going to stand in front of me are you?" his response was "I am just trying to get positioned" to which my reply was "I have been trying to get positioned here for the past half hour, maybe you should try another spot." I admit I really didn't need a shot of Old Faithful but the you know what came out in me because it was just RUDE. Some people just don't get it!!!!

- And, no, Meredith. I would so not offer my glass to a total stranger. LOL!