I hate smartphones/selfie-sticks and tablets (Page 3): Some folks take phones and tablets seriously. Reverse snob-ism for some. A good image is a good image.

Texcaster Loc: Queensland

Some folks take phones and tablets seriously. Reverse snob-ism for some. A good image is a good image.

http://mobilephotoawards.com/

Jessica Bloom, astrophysicist and viral photographer .

fullyexposed Loc: Illinois

I hate people that drive 3 mph under the speed limit, don't use their turn signals and don't understand how a four way stop works. We all hate something so you can either avoid it or just deal with it. I take pictures on my phone for memories, which is what these people are doing. I use my camera to try to capture a moment. If you don't like all the people in your way, South East Asia is the wrong place to go.

Racmanaz Loc: Sunny Tucson!

My question to you would be, are they getting better image results with their "fake camera's" than you? :)

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

If you are visiting all of those "landmarks" i.e. tourist attractions, scenic overlooks etc at the same time as throngs of tourists you are just another tourist. Serious photographers get the shots that made those landmarks famous early in the morning or just before sunset. Go then, especially early in the morning, and you'll be in a small select group of photographers instead of tourists.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

us with cameras can be just a pain in the ass.

AnnaZ Loc: SW Wis.

Selfie sticks should broken in tiny pieces and be consigned to the bowels of hell.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

You have made a very harsh criticism of a group of people who are enjoying themselves, you ought to learn to be more tolerant and keep your rants to yourself.

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

mcveed wrote:

If you are visiting all of those "landmarks" i.e. tourist attractions, scenic overlooks etc at the same time as throngs of tourists you are just another tourist. Serious photographers get the shots that made those landmarks famous early in the morning or just before sunset. Go then, especially early in the morning, and you'll be in a small select group of photographers instead of tourists.

If you can't get there during the "golden hours" of the day, then try to get a bit of a different perspective of the landmark. Other than that, just "wait your turn"....or buy a postcard...

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

CHG_CANON wrote:

You probably should just stay in your home ...

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

LoneRangeFinder wrote:

And hide under the bed.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

The late Susan Sontag's book "On Photography" included a number of observations on the tourist experiencing a place solely through the lens of a camera. Were she still alive it would be fascinating to hear her opinion on the selfie phenomenon. One of the stark differences between then and now is that the one with a cell phone, with or without selfie stick, needs no one else to help with the shot. With film or even a DSLR (prior to screens that flip up for the express purpose of selfies, an ugly word in and of itself) someone else was needed to take the shot. It was not unusual, particularly if carrying a camera, to be asked by someone or a couple to take a photo in front of a landmark or scenic view. Conversations sometimes resulted.

Whenever I am walking past the Franciscan Church in LJ a few people have dragooned others into taking a photo for them but many are unaccompanied and taking selfies with or without stick. Sontag noted the incongruity of experiencing a place through the lens of a camera. Is it different experiencing a place behind oneself on the screen of a cell phone? I do object to selfie sticks in places such as the steep narrow path up to Bled Castle where they were epidemic on Saturday. Then they are a hazard though I suppose if a stick were strong enough it could be used as a cane.

In August 2014 I was in Charles de Gaulle airport heading to Dublin. A group of young American students, either high school or early college, were in front of me. One young man won my admiration as he criticized the behavior of tourists in the Louvre. "All they did was push to the front of the crowd, take a selfie with the Mona Lisa, and then moved on to the next selfie. They didn't even look at it or think about it." That is one perceptive student.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

mainshipper wrote:

I’m just completing a month long trip around SE Asia and have just about had it with the throngs of smartphone and tablet snap shooters (not photographers) who clog every venue I visited. Personally, I have two iPhones and three iPads but rarely use them for taking anything other than something interesting like a sign or other local oddity and usually just for my records. I do, however, take the occasional selfie and may have someone take a quick tourist shot of my wife and I in front of something noteworthy. Other than that, I use my Canon 5D III with a long enough lens that I can breach the wall of smartphones in front of me. I do recognize that these “tourist” photographers have just as much right to take shots as I do but it’s the way they take those photos that drives me crazy. Here are my main issues.

1. They must always stand a long way from their subject so that the entire background is included. This means that for some length of time the lane between them is technically closed while the photographer (I hate to use that word) fidgets with the camera and/or the subject goes through several modeling poses so that the shoot can be completed. Inevitably, the shooter and subject change places and repeat the process.

2. With groups, everybody wants every picture taken with their camera which means that the particular location is closed for a while. Maybe someone should invent a selfie-stick that holds 4-6 smartphones so that they can get it done with one click.

3. In order to take a picture with a smartphone or tablet you must raise it well above your head in order to get a clear shot and in most cases a small adjustment with your DSLR will get you around them for your shot. The worst situation is the tablet user when they hoist what appears to be equivalent of a large sign up to take their shot. Sometimes I wish they would turn the tablet on selfie mode so they could see the annoyed people behind them. I attended a few cultural performances (water puppet show, etc.) and was steaming when a lady in front of us with an iPad appeared to want to video the entire performance and who was totally oblivious the attendees behind her.

4. Lastly, selfie-sticks are really annoying because they are not just used for selfies but for all of their photos. They walk around with a phone on a three foot pole and in large crowd it is just not that practical.

We unfortunately live in an age where everybody on the planet owns a device capable of taking pictures and where in the old days only people with actual cameras taking actual photos would be trying to get the perfect shot of something that they deemed important. Oh do I yearn for those days.

I’m just completing a month long trip around SE As... (show quote)

In most of your situations I have found that by studying the subject I can usually see a better shot angle than most of the tourists, because photographers have been trained to do so. Or, I just wait my turn and get a better shot 90% of the time, again because I am trained. Or, I arrange with my tour to arrive early to the places I WANT TO SHOOT. A little PRE PLANNING goes a long way.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Canada 1978, Rockies, Athabasca Glacier Information stand. Whole show was ruined by Japanese taking photos of the slideshow with SLR's and flash. Times haven't changed!

insaneo Loc: Byram, ms.

kb6kgx wrote:

1. They must always stand a long way from their subject so that the entire background is included. This means that for some length of time the lane between them is technically closed while the photographer (I hate to use that word) fidgets with the camera and/or the subject goes through several modeling poses so that the shoot can be completed. Inevitably, the shooter and subject change places and repeat the process.

Yes, bugs me, too. Everybody has to be in every photo. I don’t need to see myself in the photo. I know I was there because I took the #$#@$ photo!!!! I’m not in a single one of my vacation photos with the exception of some of the cruise pix where they have someone from the ship getting you as you come off the ship.

2. With groups, everybody wants every picture taken with their camera which means that the particular location is closed for a while. Maybe someone should invent a selfie-stick that holds 4-6 smartphones so that they can get it done with one click.

Now THERE is a great business idea! A Multi-Phone Selfie Stick!!!! Get yourself on “Shark Tank”!!!

3. In order to take a picture with a smartphone or tablet you must raise it well above your head in order to get a clear shot and in most cases a small adjustment with your DSLR will get you around them for your shot. The worst situation is the tablet user when they hoist what appears to be equivalent of a large sign up to take their shot. Sometimes I wish they would turn the tablet on selfie mode so they could see the annoyed people behind them. I attended a few cultural performances (water puppet show, etc.) and was steaming when a lady in front of us with an iPad appeared to want to video the entire performance and who was totally oblivious the attendees behind her.

Unfortunately, they don’t realize how ridiculous they look holding up those huge things that way. No, they are NOT aware of their surroundings or who might be behind them trying hard to see around them.

4. Lastly, selfie-sticks are really annoying because they are not just used for selfies but for all of their photos. They walk around with a phone on a three foot pole and in large crowd it is just not that practical.

Selfie Sticks are EVIL. They are Tools of The Devil!

“…in the old days only people with actual cameras taking actual photos would be trying to get the perfect shot of something that they deemed important. Oh do I yearn for those days…”

Yes, sometimes the old ways were the best.

1. They must always stand a long way from their su... (show quote)

It's weird but 2 of my granddaughters have cell phones. One a 9 yr old?? the other 13. My son put them on his plan. Anyway both are consumed in the selfie thing. Why don't they just look at themselves in the mirror? Because it's a toy for them to play with! They get enjoyment looking at what they look like with some of the outrageous filters on the phone and of course just the bare minimum of them in ridiculous poses. I'm talking about tons of photos! But it gives me plenty of ammo used to pick on them with. LOL. The oldest thought she wanted a real camera (I guess she figured it'd make her a better picture taker). I bought her a canon g12. She's used it once. Not enough time in her teenage life to learn how it works. One day maybe. I think that people use those gadgets mainly out of convenience. You know light weight, easy to use. You just have to live with. At least they're taking photos right? P.S. Grand kids live with my wife and I. I yearn for the old days to. Love the multiple phone stick thing!!

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

mainshipper wrote:

I’m just completing a month long trip around SE Asia and have just about had it with the throngs of smartphone and tablet snap shooters (not photographers) who clog every venue I visited. Personally, I have two iPhones and three iPads but rarely use them for taking anything other than something interesting like a sign or other local oddity and usually just for my records. I do, however, take the occasional selfie and may have someone take a quick tourist shot of my wife and I in front of something noteworthy. Other than that, I use my Canon 5D III with a long enough lens that I can breach the wall of smartphones in front of me. I do recognize that these “tourist” photographers have just as much right to take shots as I do but it’s the way they take those photos that drives me crazy. Here are my main issues.

1. They must always stand a long way from their subject so that the entire background is included. This means that for some length of time the lane between them is technically closed while the photographer (I hate to use that word) fidgets with the camera and/or the subject goes through several modeling poses so that the shoot can be completed. Inevitably, the shooter and subject change places and repeat the process.

2. With groups, everybody wants every picture taken with their camera which means that the particular location is closed for a while. Maybe someone should invent a selfie-stick that holds 4-6 smartphones so that they can get it done with one click.

3. In order to take a picture with a smartphone or tablet you must raise it well above your head in order to get a clear shot and in most cases a small adjustment with your DSLR will get you around them for your shot. The worst situation is the tablet user when they hoist what appears to be equivalent of a large sign up to take their shot. Sometimes I wish they would turn the tablet on selfie mode so they could see the annoyed people behind them. I attended a few cultural performances (water puppet show, etc.) and was steaming when a lady in front of us with an iPad appeared to want to video the entire performance and who was totally oblivious the attendees behind her.

4. Lastly, selfie-sticks are really annoying because they are not just used for selfies but for all of their photos. They walk around with a phone on a three foot pole and in large crowd it is just not that practical.

We unfortunately live in an age where everybody on the planet owns a device capable of taking pictures and where in the old days only people with actual cameras taking actual photos would be trying to get the perfect shot of something that they deemed important. Oh do I yearn for those days.

I’m just completing a month long trip around SE As... (show quote)

Take the road less traveled next time.