Re: If you aren't paying, at least be courteous.

In defense of the gentleman who started the other thread on the Chama Chasers, I suspect that the event which triggered his post was just the last straw in a long list events over time. The charter had been planned for a long time, we'd spent a lot of money, we'd been blessed with a great train and great weather, and we were just getting started. That was the first shot of the charter, so the impromptu fly-by was the last thing he was expecting.

Matthew has been a friend of mine for several years and is an awesome photographer. When something doesn't go right, he's usually the last to say anything or complain publicly. He's a pretty quiet guy. He shares his images frequently on this board, so that those who can't travel can still see the NG through his lens. He's spent a ton of money on charters over the years and has also helped mentor other photographers who are less experienced. He also doesn't seem to mind when the less-gifted among us follow him around. As another of my colleagues once put it: "Following Matthew around is like having someone hand you the answers to the SATs. You still have no idea what the hell you are doing, but you're getting great results."

We all sometimes get cross when another person messes up a potentially good shot....and guess what? We all get over it too.

/Kevin