Re: [Leica] on photographic seeing

["Bruce R. Slomovitz" <brslomo@erols.com>]

I recently visited Charleston, S.C. and while walking through the old market
building noticed the ladies selling the sweetgrass baskets.  Thinking that
this would make a good photo, I walked to the end of the building where
ladies were selling the baskets outside.  I raised my M6 to my eye, and
began to focus.  The ladies put their hands up in front of their faces and
make some comments which I did not catch.  This was two or three months ago
and I have wondered to this day why they reacted in this manner.  Is it an
economics issue?  Are they perhaps not declaring the income?  Or do they
perhaps regard picture taking as an intrusion?  Or would they object less or
not at all if one were to buy a basket?  If any of you can shed light on
this, I would appreciate it very much.

Thanks,

Bruce S.
- -----Original Message-----
From: LEICAMAN56@aol.com <LEICAMAN56@aol.com>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Saturday, August 15, 1998 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] on photographic seeing


>Dominique,
>
>It was with some interest that I read your critique of my photo "Charleston
>Sweetgrass Basket Ladies", which appeared on the back cover of Viewfinder
>Vol.31, number 2.  I took the picture while walking through the Old Market
in
>Charleston.  I happened to have my 24/2.8 M on the camera and I was looking
>for suitable subjects to shoot with it.  I happened to see these two women
>with their baskets spread out in front of them, with the baskets extending
>from their feet all the way to the curb on the street.  Perfect subject for
a
>super wide lens I thought.  I then composed and took the picture.  I was
quite
>pleased with the result and so was the Viewfinder editor, Roy Moss.
>
>Your comments on what would have made a better picture are interesting, but
>frankly not realistic.  Though these women do not like to have their
picture
>taken, they normally react by covering their face to the photographer.
This
>would not have helped the composition in my opinion. The fact that they
have
>not covered their face means they have not noticed me taking their picture.
I
>did take a second picture after this first one, and one of the women was
>covering her face! I prefer to work this way on the street, not being
>intrusive while making the picture.  The Leica M is the perfect camera for
>this. The women also will make comments such as, "I hope all your pictures
are
>out of focus!"  They would not pick up their baskets and run away as they
>consider the sidewalk their place of business.  Your other suggestion of
>showing a black child buying a basket is also not practical.  If you look
>closely at the baskets in the photo, you can read the price tags on the
>baskets.  The prices range from $45 to $70.  Clearly out of reach of the
>average person, let alone a child.  This would also have been manipulative
and
>intrusive to the scene.  You might also suggest that I waited to take the
>photo until something "dynamic" happened, but given the basket ladies
attitude
>towards photographers, I doubt a good photo would have been the result.
>
>As it is I am very pleased with the photograph.  In my opinion, street
>photography should be "found", without the photographer imposing on the
>subject and interfering in the subject's life.  Some people like this
>confrontational style, but I personally do not practice this in my
>photography.  I prefer to take a more passive role and photograph life as I
>found it, without imposing myself.  This is my style of photography, which
may
>be different from yours.  And differences are what makes life interesting.
>
>Thank you again for noticing my photo and taking the time to comment on it.
>
>Bill Rosauer
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