Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/16

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Reassuring the public (now way off topic)
From: "Dan Post" <dwpost@email.msn.com>
Date: Sun, 16 May 1999 10:03:17 -0400

Tim-
Thanks....!( never off topic!)
I and my Leicas thank you from the bottom of our little shutter crates! ( on
topic)
Dan



- -----Original Message-----
From: Tim Atherton <timphoto@nt.sympatico.ca>
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Date: Sunday, May 16, 1999 1:09 AM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Reassuring the public (now way off topic)


>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
>>
>>
>>
>