Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Hmmm... here is an idea, take a similar shot as one she is taking, make sure she sees you, then while she is watching, review the shot on the LCD, and smile broadly and nod your head, regardless of how the image came out.... Let her approach you to ask how your shots are doing and go from there.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

:-D :-D :-D

joe west Loc: Taylor, Michigan

if she asks, tell her other wise let it go

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

uhh, some might take that as smirking, Don.
I'm always more direct.
But she probably wasn't a social person anyway. :?

Flash gun! BOING!
Maybe that was something that peeved her?

MarkD Loc: NYC

Generally if I think someone is having a photographic problem that I think I can help with, I'll offer to help. As long as some are appreciative I'll continue to do so.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I will give an opinion only in cases where I am asked, or in cases where the photographer is about to do something that might endanger themselves, their equipment, or others. (Pardon me sir, but I really don't think it is a very good idea to try luring that bear cub closer with that granola bar!)

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

How about this....Smile and ask, "What settings do you recommend in this situation?" You just put the ball in her court to open a dialog or blow you off. Either way, you'll know where you stand and take it from there.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Now why waste a good opportunity to get some exclusive news video?
Caught on Video! Film at 11! :lol:

Dr.db Loc: Central Point, OR

:) I was gonna say, maybe just do what I do instead - shoot a crappy picture of somebody shooting a crappy picture...

Tourist captures "worst light ever!" at Bandon, OR

tdekany Loc: Oregon

I am guessing this was in Oregon? Wouldn't it be very unusual for someone to be mean to you because you wanted to be helpful?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Actually, for Bandon, that's not bad light. My last trip there, the fog was so thick, I lost my wife - and I was holding her hand.

As to the question at hand, the suggestion about asking if she if she was getting any good shots is an excellent idea. Asking just about any question which offers the other person the opportunity to control the future of the conversation is a good way to empower the other to start a dialogue or tell you to MYOB!

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I don't mean to sound snobby here, but is it not possible that the snarly faces had nothing to do with her having trouble with her shots, but rather were her efforts to communicate "You guys are distracting to heck out of me while I'm trying to concentrate. Please keep it down" or "Dangit. Why do you keep popping off that flash right when the fish I'm shooting is where I want him"?

Maybe she knew exactly what she was doing but was just dis-satisfied that her results were not matching up to her vision. I have had sessions like that, and the last thing I want is for somebody to jump in and start making suggestions, especially when they have no clue as to what I might be trying to do.

heyjoe Loc: cincinnati ohio

yes i agree,just ask her, hows it going,that is a good ice breaker

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

You can never tell with situations like that. If she did not want help she might get miffed. Or you could have actually helped her.

If someone asks me for advise, say a perfect stranger, it is an easy choice sure I'll try to answer their questions or offer alternatives. But if they seem like a buffoon pseudo-professional, I'll just watch them do it wrong and laugh to myself. Occasionally if they seem to act like they know what they are doing yet obviously to me they don't and they seem all into themselves with their subject or model and they don't look to mean I may say something glib. For example I once was watching someone photographing a family group in front of a very interesting arched entry way -- I had been photographing it as an architectural subject earlier. I walked over and said "It would probably look better if you did not shoot it straight in but at an angle." They were dumfounded and said nothing. Diagonals are a basic compositional technique to create dynamics. This structure also had three openings so standing in front of one and showing the other two behind at 90 degrees would have been interesting. Also ever seen someone using reflectors in front of a model when the sun is also in front? That is with both the sun and reflectors behind the photographer. Weird, what are they thinking.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yes, I've had that happen, awkward! But in the end we both learned something. I've had that happen more with watching someone working with Photoshop or Lightroom. Especially with Ps there are usually 7 ways to accomplish the same thing yet no one masters all of them.

A couple times I watched and waited a while before saying anything and that was good because my first impression was wrong and I did eventually figure out what they were trying to do (even though it was certainly not the way I would approach it), so I did not comment.