RE: [Leica] Reassuring the public (now way off topic)

["Tim Atherton" <timphoto@nt.sympatico.ca>]

Dan,

I don't know if I can find it, but if I dig really deep into my old boxes I
can find a good Greek (biblical/hellenic?) primer and let you know what it's
title is. Even helped me to learn some once - and Languages just aren't my
thing.

Tim A


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Dan Post
> Sent: May 15, 1999 7:06 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Reassuring the public
>
>
> Paul-
> Not a bad idea, and you might offer to give them a signed print
> if they seem
> apprehensive. I know that many PJs use a polaroid snap as a gift
> to reassure
> subjects in foreign lands- I saw where some NG photographer did it and was
> nearly covered up by children who wanted their photgrph made!
> Getting to meet the folks there might help- if it is a
> 'neighborhood' park-
> the same families probably frequent the same areas; then once you
> are known
> to several people, you should become an accepted part of the
> scenery, as it
> were.
> Let us know how it works!
> Dan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Chefurka <chefurka@magma.ca>
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Date: Saturday, May 15, 1999 8:49 PM
> Subject: [Leica] Reassuring the public
>
>
> >I hope some of you will have helpful suggestions about resolving a
> >situation that many amateur street photographers face in their work.
> >It's about the concern that parents have when they see some stranger
> >snapping pictures of their children in a public place.
> >
> >I'm strictly amateur these days, and I've given myself the assignment
> >of producing a photo-essay on the human activities in a local
> >river-edge park, to be shot in evening light during the summer.
> >
> >One of the features of the park is a very popular play structure -
> >slides, ladders, swings, climbing tubes, all set in a sand pit -
> >basically a kids' heaven.  Of course, such a setting is a natural for
> >shooting our future captains of industry at their least
> >self-conscious.  And this is one of the things I did this evening.
> >
> >However.
> >
> >I discovered that it's not the 70's any more, and some parents are
> >very concerned about a strange man with a couple of Leicas snapping
> >pictures of their kids.  I was not approached directly; my wife told
> >me about a man who had expressed to her his apprehension about my
> >activities.  I went up and spoke to him, explaining my amateur status,
> >emphasizing that the photos were for my own enjoyment and that they
> >would not be published anywhere.  He said that basically he didn't
> >know me from Adam, and had no way of knowing whether his son's
> >pictures might appear next week in some scuzzy L.A. publication.
> >Ultimately he accepted my expressions of good will, and nothing more
> >came of it.
> >
> >I understand his concern, however, and want to do something to address
> >it.  As I see it, I have two choices - find some way of allaying his
> >fears, or stop taking these sorts of photos.  Obviously I'd rather try
> >the first option.
> >
> >As I see it, there are two ways of allaying concern - talk to people
> >either before the fact or after the fact.  Before the fact doesn't
> >work in this situation - I can't single out a child, find their parent
> >or guardian, get permission, return to the situation, and expect to
> >get any kind of spontaneous photo.  So that leaves me with figuring
> >out how to alleviate concerns that are expressed to me either after
> >the photos are taken or during their taking.
> >
> >Tonight I tried relying on my honest face, my obvious lack of guile
> >and my willingness to speak to the concerned father.  While this goes
> >a long way, it will not satisfy everyone, and I have no desire to be
> >assaulted over my hobby or have my cameras damaged through an excess
> >of protective zeal.
> >
> >The best idea I've come up with so far is a business sized card. It
> >would have printed on it something like the following:
> >
> >My name is Paul Chefurka
> >My address is 1020 Barwell Avenue, Ottawa
> >My telephone number is 613-829-2651
> >I am an amateur photographer - taking pictures is my hobby.
> >None of my photographs are intended for publication.
> >
> >I could hand this card to anyone with concerns, to supplement my
> >honest face and guileless demeanor :-)
> >
> >Has anyone here used a similar technique, and if so does it help?
> >Are there any other suggestions about how to defuse this potentially
> >unpleasant situation?
> >
> >Paul Chefurka
>
>
>