Photographers work hard.  We carry heavy gear.  We hike long distances.  We brave the weather.  We walk in darkness.  Let's not spoil all that hard work of other photographers.  Let's remember our manners.  One morning early, long before sunrise my family and a family friend went shooting the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, California.  It was dark and cold.  Before long we made it to our intended shooting spot.  After exploring the area and looking at various angles and shots I decided where I needed to be.  I started setting up my tripod and gear.  It was getting lighter.  The sun was going to appear any minute now.  Before the sun appeared another "photographer" appeared.  This photographer also surveyed the scene, looked at various angles and shots and decided where she needed to be; right in front of me!  I politely asked her to move.  She moved a little but was still in my shot.  I politely asked her to move.  She moved a little but was still in my shot (no, the last two sentences were not repeated by accident).  I actually had to speak to her three or four times.  She eventually made it out of my shot just to stand right in front of our family friend.  By the time she was out of the way the sweet light was gone.  She had ruined my shot.  Lesson 1: Let's remember our manners.  Lesson 2: Parking right in front of other photographers who got there first is bad manners.  Lesson 3. If you want the spot get there first.

          Pro photographer Don Smith (http://www.donsmithphotography.com) and other photography friends of mine and I went to shoot the famous Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah.  Walking uphill to this arch with heavy equipment is not something you wish to do if you are not going to get the shot.  By the time the light turned sweet there must have been 40 or 50 photographers.  As we all were just about to start shooting up walked Rambo.  He was tall and built like a tank.  His shirt was off.  He walked right up to the arch, stood under it and started to pose while his girlfriend snapped away on her little point and shoot.  Now what do you do?  Nobody was going to confront this hulk.  His motto in life was probably: "Well, if you are not smart you have to be strong."  Eventually, some brave photographers started to shout at him.  Not that it made a difference, he just kept on posing until he was done.  He casually walked off in no hurry, at least in no more of a hurry than those who shouted at him.  Here this guy was ruining the day for 40 to 50 photographers who walked some distance with heavy gear and high hopes.  Lesson 1: Let's remember our manners.  Lesson 2: Posing in the very scene others have come to shoot is bad manners.  Lesson 3: If you plan to forget your manners make sure you are very strong.

          I was shooting in a canyon.  A storm went by causing a lot of wind that blew sand in all over the place.  There was a larger opening and I was the only person in that space.  I had just setup my tripod when in walked a nationally renowned photographer and his crew.  The entrance to the larger space was rather small and that was were I was setup.  He almost bumped me (literally) out of the way as he entered the space with his crew.  He surveyed the scene for a few moments and proceeded to place his tripod right in my space.  He was in no hurry for apparently the light proved ephemeral and he was mesmerized by his connection to the place.  He was shooting away while his assistant fed him with sheets of film.  While he was engrossed in his own shooting his paying customers stood around without guidance.  I just stood there when after what seemed to be years later he was reminded of his transgression against me.  He instructed his paying customers to get out of my way since I was there first but he just kept on shooting.  After I voiced my displeasure he irritatedly picked up his tripod and stepped aside.  I shot one shot.  The second my shutter went click to conclude the shot he plunked his tripod right where it was and started shooting again.  He mentioned who he was (as if that makes a difference) while his attitude and body language suggested how privileged I was to meet the “King”.

          To insult me and put me down he invited me to peek through his camera to see some “real pro photography”; inferring that I was “just another” worthless irritation of a photographer bothering his majesty.  I did not say it but I should have said: “I guess that makes me a pro to because I already saw that shot before you came, that is why I was setup right here.”  He was still shooting when I left.  His customers just stood there; he did not speak to them or help them.  For the longest time he just acted as if I was not there, and that after he almost ran me over when he stormed into the larger space.  He just did not care and did what he pleased.  He did not apologize or realize his wrongdoing as I was the one causing him irritation ...  Lesson 1: Let's remember our manners.  Lesson 2: Setting up in someone else's shot is bad manners.  Lesson 3: If you cannot remember your manners, don't tell people who you are.

          This is a shot from that shoot:

Happy shooting and please be nice ...