Getting off a tourist bus for the first stop of the tour can be a revelation to the touring photographer. By simply observing the cameras his companions tote and what pictures they take, you can place them on a spectrum of touring photographers. At times, it’s hard not to exaggerate their actions and intentions. So, with some exaggeration, here are a gallery of touring picture takers as characterized by the cameras they bear.

Camera Type: Cell Phone

Example: iPhone

The camera takes marginally acceptable photos, but it serves in a pinch

User: The Incidental Recorder

His cell phone is his only camera. For some, it is part of his strategy for traveling light. For others it represents a fortunate tool that is present when there is something they really want to record. My wife and I use our iPhone cameras to send a daily image back to our children instead of postcards or phone calls. A fair number of them are taken while one of us is drinking beer.

Camera Type: Ultra Compact

Example: Canon Powershot SDs

The camera is a small point-and-shoot with a 3X zoom.

User: The Shirtpocket Shooter

He uses it  whenever he sees others taking some pictures or whenever, everybody is let off the bus for a photo opportunity. In a few cases, some are still using film. Those who have a digital camera may be flustered by all the choices and settings that are available. He never has the manual, so the camera settings must be figured out between stops.

Camera Type: Compact Point-and-Shoot

Example: Fuji Finepix E900

This camera fits in a small camera pack or pants pocket, but most of the time it hangs around the neck. It has around a 5X zoom and may have image stabilization.

User: The Authenticator 

He uses it at every stop, monument, vista, or event to take a picture of a companion in front of every monument, vista, church, or historic marker. If there is more than one companion, then the pictures of all permutations of photographers and photographees are taken. This provides a record that he and his friends were at this place. Once this type of photographer is identified, you need to shoot in the vicinity with one eye on this group. That way you can take some shots without the group appearing in every picture taken at that site.

Camera Type: Prosumer/Superzoom

Example: Panasonic Lumix F28

The camera has a large zoom range (12X and above) with an optical rangefinder, image stabilization, and built-in flash.

User: The Documentor

He is the first one off the bus and shoots anything and everything. He will run up stairs, climb towers, and hang over precipices to get a shot. There is hardly anything that he won’t shoot, except posed pictures in front of popular monuments. At times, he drives his companion bananas by trailing behind the group to get “one last shot.”

Camera Type: DSLR

Example: Nikon D3

The camera uses an array of separate lenses from wide-angle to telephoto. The images are the best that can be captured, if the photographer knows what he is doing.

User: The Semi-Pro

In contrast to the Documentor, the Semi-Pro moves slowly and deliberately due to his gigantic backpack of paraphernalia filled with tripods, flash assists, and lenses the size of large salamis. Once he has set up his tripod he will use his $5000 array of equipment to take an inordinate number of shots using every lens in his pack.