In the Field: Photo Blog by Richard Wong

Photography field reports by Richard Wong. Richard’s work has been published in magazines, books, advertising, and offers fine art prints of his work. Images may be licensed as rights-managed stock photos by contacting Richard directly at Richard@rwongphoto.com or (626) 422-6151. California stock photography, fine art prints, photo blog: www.rwongphoto.com

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

Posted on | October 7, 2008 | 14 Comments

North Lake Sunset, Eastern Sierra, California North Lake Sunset, Eastern Sierra, California

If photographing the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek was peaceful, North Lake was an entirely different experience. At North Lake you could hear a pin drop from across the lake but that was the problem here. It is too popular for it’s own good. You can hear fishermen from across the lake, figures that are just little dots in the viewfinder, and worse, the shoreline attracts some obnoxious photographers apparently.

I had my gear balanced on top of this rock for about 15 minutes or so shooting photos when another photographer (retired hobbyist) who kept trying to chat with me and this other photographer, asked me if I had gotten my shot yet. To paraphrase, I was like I’m not here for just one shot. So he has the nerve to ask if I could move out of his way so he could use his “ultra wide angle” lens. And this guy was standing on the rock about five feet to my right! His view was basically the same as mine. Though I was a bit ticked off at his request, I decided to be nice and moved. Well the other guy (F/T pro) claimed that I was in his way now never mind the fact that he was standing about ten feet BEHIND us. No kidding dude, I was already “in his way” before that probably. Who knows, maybe he was trying to photograph my butt, you never know. So I moved again.

In hindsight, I should have responded to the hobbyist that he should use a different lens then if it is too wide to use effectively. I tried to be accomodating to them and yet I got no respect in return. The pro ended up taking my original spot once the other guy got his shot and never left that spot until after dark. From that point on, I didn’t really say anything to either one besides a few short responses to their questions. From what little info I knew of the pro, (a bit of an arrogant one at that) I looked up on the internet and found out who he is. He teaches workshops so I was a bit surprised that he was such a jerk. I guess if you aren’t a paying customer then he reserves the right to disrespect you.

All the other photographers I have shot with in the past have been respectful of each other’s personal space but these two certainly didn’t have that. If someone is in the spot that I want, I would never ask them to move, I’d find a different spot or come back at a different time. All I know is that if I encounter the same situation again, I won’t be as nice the 2nd time around.

See more of my Eastern Sierra photos.

Category: Bishop Creek Canyon, California, Eastern Sierra
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Comments

14 Responses to “North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon”

  1. T and S
    October 7th, 2008 @ 6:24 am

    Awesome landscape shot and a nice writeup to go along with it

  2. StockPhotoJourney
    October 7th, 2008 @ 6:51 am

    Richard, can you move your blog it’s in my way! :-)

    Great shot and good story. Pretty sad when photogs have spots they think are there own.

  3. Brian Auer
    October 7th, 2008 @ 9:01 am

    Wow man, what a bunch of morons. People will never cease to amaze me.

  4. Dennis
    October 7th, 2008 @ 4:07 pm

    Very Nice Image.
    I would of got mad to. Don’t know if I would of moved.

  5. Richard Wong
    October 7th, 2008 @ 8:43 pm

    Thanks guys. You’ve got a bigger backbone than me Dennis. :-)

  6. Jim Goldstein
    October 7th, 2008 @ 9:45 pm

    First amazing photo. The lighting is great and you nailed the exposure. Second its best to stand your ground if you’ve found a good spot, but it was very courteous of you to move. I always find it surprising that people lack such basic courtesy even when out in the middle of no where. More power to you for taking the high road.

  7. LeannGreene
    October 8th, 2008 @ 1:31 am

    My new favorite RW photo! Stunning to say the least.
    I think you have new insight for the next time someone acts this way. I honestly can’t say how I would respond. The most discouraging is how they set up roots after getting you to move-not the same as getting in a shot and rotating like courteous people would.

  8. Gary Crabbe / Enlightened Images
    October 8th, 2008 @ 8:35 am

    Yeah, Stunning photo. Great Job. And as fer the jerky Pro Photog, I’m goin’ on record to say, “It weren’t me!”

  9. Ron Niebrugge
    October 8th, 2008 @ 12:40 pm

    That is an awesome photo Richard – looks like you had a very productive trip!!

    Bummer story – I hate situations like that – I would so much rather be at a place where I’m the only one, but that isn’t always possible. If you are sure who it was, I would name names.

    Ron

  10. Richard Wong
    October 8th, 2008 @ 8:47 pm

    Thanks guys. This was my first trip to North Lake so I didn’t even realize that it was popular.

    Leann: Whatever response you come up with in that situation, try not to swing a tripod. :-) In this case, they had an entire shoreline to pick a spot, its not as if me being there or not should have affected their composition. It sure didn’t affect any of mine other than get under my skin. Btw, this image was taken after I moved.

    Gary: Definitely not you. Though he shared your first name!

    Ron: You know, calling people out has crossed my mind but I think I will save it for future material. Though it is tempting to get #1 on Google for the guy’s name… As for the other guy, I guess I’ll have to troll through Flickr some day and see if he’s on there.

  11. Richard Wong
    October 8th, 2008 @ 8:49 pm

    Oh yeah, thanks Jim as well. The high road is definitely the best way to go in many instances. There will always be another day for karma.

  12. Ann Torrence
    October 14th, 2008 @ 10:43 am

    I believe the quality of own’s character is reflected in one’s photos. He might have had your spot, but you took your humanity away with you. Too bad, sounds like he could have used some.

  13. Richard Wong
    October 14th, 2008 @ 1:27 pm

    Thanks Ann. That is true. We can’t control other people’s actions but we can do the right thing for ourselves.

  14. North Lake Revisited | In the Field: Photo Blog by Richard Wong
    November 1st, 2009 @ 6:08 am

    [...] you were following my blog last year then you might remember my unpleasant experience at North Lake. I opted to skip sunrise at North Lake with the photographers I was traveling with in [...]

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