Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]It may simply be the fact that these ladies are not merely quaint and curious subjects for street photography, but are first and always people. If someone stuck a camera in your face, and did it a hundred times a day, while you were going about the business of making a living, you too might get tired of it and wish to retaliate in some relatively benign and frankly humorous way. The problem I have with my own attempts at street photography is that, whenever I raise the camera to my eye I project myself to the other side of the lens. I do not like being photographed by anyone for any reason. I applaude anyone who has the forebearance to permit themself to be photographed repeatedly without some form of compensation and has the good grace to accept it each time. >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 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>QTY >> >>1 >>1 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > >