Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Sessoms" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Some preliminary observations from my trip
From: "Ken Waller"
I also learned it does no good to compose your shots. While you're doing
> so, the machine gunners will knock you down and trample all over you
> ruining whatever composition you might be attempting.
I've done alot of workshops with up to 12 participants & yeah a few are
a**holes but most are considerate & the pro made sure we all got our
turn.
Thirteen participants including the organizer, who is an instructor where
I go to school.
He put the trip together kind of ad hoc. He wasn't really leading a
workshop or anything like that, nor is he a trained tour guide. He spent
most of his time marshaling resources to get the group from one place to
another.
Did he add photography to the title or was it billed as a tour?
I would have at least brought the situation to the attention of the leader -
he could then make a general statement to the group. Depending on how they
reacted, I would have adjusted my actions accordingly.
There were 7 participants under age 25, 3 participants in their 30s, 2
participants in their 40s and me, over age 60. The trampling was all done
by the under 25 set with one exception - one of the 40+ y.o.s was
menopausaly belligerent, or at least acted that way.
In my experience, age had nothing to do with those being A**holes, neither
does the sex of the A**holes.
IMO it just the way some people are - inconsiderate and ill mannered.
The other 40+ y.o. was the mother of one of the under 25 set, and not
actually a photographer.
OTOH, the price was incredibly low - $2000 included round trip airfare,
lodging, ground transportation and all meals ... although you could opt to
go off on your own in some locations & not eat with the group, which I did
a couple of times. If the organizer did make any money off the trip, he
earned it.
I'm not sure what was your motive for going (sightseeing, photography etc),
but nevertheless, if the trip is ruined because of the actions of others
then the 'low' price you paid is insignificant.
The times I opted out were because I was just too tired and didn't want to
try to keep up with the group. There were adequate facilities near the
hotels & I could catch up on my rest. I was (and am) still recovering from
my surgery in November. Which also means I'm not as nimble on my feet as I
normally might be.
We mostly rode city buses or the subway and took overnight sleeper trains
between major cities.
Or we walked. That only got to be a strain when we had to walk a fair
distance carrying our luggage getting to a bus stop or subway station when
we were going to/from the train stations or hotels.
I don't think I really missed anything the times I opted out, because I
ate at a McDonalds once while they went out to a Hooters, and the other
time I got some kind of tofu & pork dumplings from a street vendor who was
within a block of the hotel.
I did get up early in the morning several times to find a McDonalds so I
could get American style coffee, but I always made it back before the rest
of the group had managed to even drag themselves out of bed.
I enjoyed the trip despite some of the less pleasant aspects, but I know I
didn't get as many good photos as I hoped to get.
Sorry to hear that.
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