Eastleigh 100 line up of steam trains

I tried my best to avoid getting in the way of someone's shot, but the problem is that there's so many taking one at the same time, it was impossible not to annoy someone. I sometimes get annoyed if someone gets in the way, but at best I let it pass, and at worst I complain under my breath. But one thing I never do is shout at the person(s) who get in the way, as they have just as much right to be there as me. I am also lucky in that I can take as many as I like with my digital camera. Even with the crowds, I managed to get some decent photos of the three Bulleids next to each other on Saturday, and to be honest, I treat the other visitors as a record of how popular the event was. But it is not cricket to bawl and shout at people just for standing in an inconvenient place. Locomotive sheds were had fitters and crews milling about, so what's so different about Eastleigh 100?

 

Given the above comments I'm surprised that there weren't more photographers eating their cameras for lunch - certainly if I had been spoken to as described they would have been.

 

I found generally on the Saturday that people were generally co operative and polite, with most people taking turns and getting along fine.

I think some people need to learn that an open day is not a photo charter, and for some people it is a rare chance to get up close to locos that they don't always get the chance to.....

One question I had was how come 850 needed step ladders for visiting the cab but the Bulleids seemed to have an event free weekend letting Joe Public use the steps?

 

Interesting.. I was there on the Monday from around 1100 to 1330,having a leisurely look round all the locos and I did not at any time hear or see ANY remotely nasty confrontations from photographers or indeed anyone else. The whole atmosphere(on that day anyway) seemed extremely relaxed and friendly.It was also notably easy to wander around without it feeling unpleasantly crowded. Maybe I chose the day when the "appalling photographers" were absent?!

 

I dounno about you but i was told on atleast 2 occasions to " move out my shoot" atleast 3 times .....The reply on all three times is one of which i can not repeat on here .

 

I was there on Saturday. I took quite a few photo's & NOT ONCE did I ask somebody to get out of `my shot'. I feel that as a photographer & enthusiast It is wrong to paint all of us with the same brush. [-X A little patience goes a long way. For the record I travelled 4 hours to get there & it took the same amount of time to get back!.
Here are my pics from Eastleigh: http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh154/StinkerArse/Eastleigh 100/

 

Before you go off on your high horse and claim i was only there to see the very small amount of steam there . i was infact photoing as well and i can prove that with this .... http://www.bbc.co.uk:80/hampshire/conte ... y.shtml?24

Still told them were to stick it though . camera or no camera.

 

We had a great time there on the Saturday - but our experience of being shouted at and being called various fairly obnoxious things, despite trying to be considerate and trying to give windows of opportunity to photographers - has left both of us doubtful whether we'll bother with another 'works' show.

We, like the dozens of other non-obsessive public and photographers had waited so frequently to let people have their staged shots, it started to get ridiculous. It was as if an exclusion zone was set up around the diesels in particular. In some cases by lunchtime, it was impossible to walk along parts of tracks. I was even yelled at by people behind the chainlink fence on the Eastern border of the site! I thought the point of these things was for everyone to enjoy the stock - and actually get up close to have a look at them.

I'm considerate, I enjoy amateur railway photography and I know that others went there to get some phots of their favourite engines. But some of them really should stop being so selfish and let everyone enjoy the things they have all paid equally for. After all, there was an early-bird entry if they wanted a staged, safari-style portrait...

 

I suppose it's extremely rare to have this opportunity of photographing at ground level,on the otherhand these gentlemen of a certain age and fanaticism,which it is,like collecting cigarette cards where you have the perfect picture,are very much geared to wanting that static pose to add to the collection.

Anyone that stands in the way has the full force of insults-but these guys should also realise the engine was not built to be photographed for their benefit,but built for the community and serve the general public.Engines and public go together,the odd person looking adds to the make-up of the picture.

Of course this fall on deaf ears in a world they live in...it is like children in a world they come from where they barter amongst their friends for the best shot.Tit for tat,they wouldn't own up to this fact.

All the pictures I've seen on this website I would say,have'nt you ALL done well.Who cares about the odd person in the picture,so what.I'd throw in the odd dog or camel,and perhaps a few dancing girls if I had my way.

 

For every grumpy old man there will be an appallingly behaved youth. Age has nothing to do with being well mannered. Treat everyone as you yourself wish to be treated!

Cheers
Alan (Grumpy old man)

 

I was in a gallery of photographers trying to photograph Manston and Can Pac on Saturday. I was being patient and just waiting for the opportunity to take a photo. I was so appalled and embarressed to be in the line of photographers beacause of the way one or two were shouting at the general public that I walked away. I went back later and got the shot I was after.
Some of these people should take a real good look at themselves. Its an open day for heavens sake. If they want a mastershot then go to an operating railway and get a lineside pass!!
Not being ageist , I know there are some right planks of all ages, but the ones that I walked away from were in there 50's and should know better. [-(

 

when i said that, i was just using the old men as an example, there are of course friendly old men as well, and yes i know that there are apallingly behaved youths (you just have to listen in at school to hear what people did at the weekend to know that), however i am not one of them.

 

As I see it, there are 2 (main) groups who 'give the hobby a bad name' - the 'grumpy old men' shouting at people for walking near their camera, and the complete insects (forgive the bashers' term used on this forum for want of a better description!) stood on platforms screaming at every 66, HST, etc that passes, dribbling at the sounding of any horn, etc etc.

There is nothing that can be done about either, unfortunately.

 

I must say, when ever I got shouted at my hearing suddenly turned incredibly bad. But there were a few people who asked nicely.

 

Any news on the MHR loco move today? On time?

 

You should think yourself lucky...

In Poland there much more physical.

At Chabowka this German fella had a hand pumped Duck Horn which he blared at this photographer to get out of the field (he was at one end of it and wanted the whole field clear !)...
the guy ignored the duck horn, whilst the rest of us laughed at this german guy next to us swearing in German, until he went to his car and got out a shot gun and fired it into the air !!!
At this the photographer and all of us decided to let him have the field to himself.

This year in Wolsztyn, this Polish guy saw a guy in a red shirt and the crowd screamed obsenities at him, until he got the message, that is until the next time and the next time.. until one Polish guy got up walked up to him, grabbed his tripod and floored it, smacked him in the face and walked back.. It got the message across ok and he went... the Security guard watching just shrugged his shoulders at the guy and turned his back.

 

Was all this photographer problem on Sat/Sun. I don,t recall any problems on Monday. I found if I was lining up a shot people were polite and held back a moment & I politely acknowledged them. I didn't hear any shouting or abuse.
I though it was a great day & well worth the money. Railways aside, the highlight for me was a little girl who spotted Lord Nelson "Wow Mummy, a steam train" ran up to the loco with head held back, hands on hips, spoke to a guy then ran back to Mum "Actually Mummy it's a steam locomotive & it's very old like you!!"
Mum laughed and they both walked off with smiles on their faces. A great moment and proves that an Open Day is for everyone not just the enthusiasts.
Steve

 

I think the key to it is that in all walks of life you get people with the social skills of an amoeba, so it is hardly surprising that a movement like railway preservation with its many different interests is going to attract some who are impolite and ill-mannered.

I would hate it though if people read this thread and got the impression that Eastleigh was overwhelmed by rudeness and people had a bad time because of it. That would be a travesty to how good an event it actually was, and to the hard work put in by so many people in the preparation and excution of it. It was quite possibly the highlight of my preservation 'career' to date, and I would love to know that other people enjoyed themselves as much as I certainly did.

How about hearing a bit more positivity about things, and recognising those with whom we are currently concerned for what they really are?