RE: [Leica] kyle's lost his @#$@#$! mind - week 35

[Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com>]

It always amazes me how various people look at photos and intuit completely
different things from them.  Unlike John, what struck me was the simplicity
and directness of the photos, and how comfortable I thought the young lady
looked - given the subject of the pictures.

I'd hate to start second-guessing kyle's decisions here - he knows her and
knows a lot more about her situation than we do.  Of course the
circumstances are fraught with possibilities, but if we refrain from
shooting whenever we might affect our subjects - for good or ill - we will
be paralyzed.  Photographers in war zones face this potential every day, and
the unforseeable consequences of their actions are put in perspective
against the value of the story they bring back.  I think the story kyle is
onto here has the same kind of value, and warrants the same kind of risk.
Given, of course, that he has the young lady's committment to the project
and its message (whatever that may turn out to be).

Maybe this is an overblown analysis, based as it is on a dozen essentially
unedited pictures on the web, with no explicit statement of intention from
the artist.  I still think that this game is worth the candle, and more
power to kyle for having the courage to begin.

Paul


> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Collier [mailto:jbcollier@home.com]
> Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 5:55 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] kyle's lost his @#$@#$! mind - week 35
> 
> 
> I think I agree with MEM on this one. I would at least consult a
> psychologist to see what effect your photography might on 
> her/them. From
> your message, I can see you have a very strong connection to 
> the subject
> matter but your pictures are not showing that at all. She 
> does not seem to
> be comfortable with you there and everything looks stilted 
> and posed. Maybe
> you should hang out for a week or so with no camera.
> 
> John Collier