Re: [Leica] Private property and buildings

["SonC (Sonny Carter)" <sonc@sonc.com>]

You have to remember, Ted, that being Canadian in South Louisiana
alone makes you a suspicious character.  You'll recall that the way we
got Cajuns  (Acadians) is that they were kinda pushed outta that
country up there.

Of course, here in Natchitoches, (Northwestern Louisiana)the oldest
city in the Louisiana Purchase,  we're descended directly from French
Colonials, and so we're far more cordial to you Canadians (even the
non-French variety!)

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

Regards,

Sonny
(Grandson of Angie Cardozier)
http://www.sonc.com






> Jim Laurel wrote:
> >>> It's disturbing how many of us have had these experiences,
especially in
> the US.  I'll add my stories to the fray.<<<<<<
>
Ted wrote:
> The disturbing part of the related experiences for me is,  "that
they have
> taken place in the United States of America!" This is the country
seen by
> nations of the world as the complete country of freedom of citizens
and yet
> we've read many tales of how those "free citizens " appear to be so
paranoid
> of cameras and pictures being taken.
>
> My own "challenged by" took place in a fishing village near New
Orleans a
> few years ago, took me completely by surprise, that for a moment I
feared
> some injury the way the chap was going on. My only momentary saving
grace
> was, I showed him my passport and drivers license with my pictures
and I was
> a visitor to his country and taking tourist pictures.
>
> It calmed him for a moment as he read,  then responded.... "you
government
> guys can fake anything you want, get the hell out of here!"
>
> So it was game over, I high tailed it out of there.
>
> Many of us who've traveled abroad and even in some of the most
troubled
> countries have never had similar experience while shooting. Not to
say some
> haven't, but as we see here most of the comments reflect an attitude
in the
> US of, "fear, paranoia or what?" by it's residents when a camera is
pointed
> in their direction, even though they are not the centre of
attraction.
>
> As your incident in Seattle. Quite amazing!
>
> > About four years ago, I was photographing a street corner just
opposite
> the
> > Seattle's Pike Place market.  I wasn't photographing anyone in
particular,
> > just the crowd scene.  Next, this woman comes running up to me
screaming
> > "What right do you have to take pictures of Native Americans?  You
should
> > ask permission!  You have no right to disrespect Native Americans
like
> > this!"
>
> I wonder if USA members have any idea why ?  And please guys, this
need not
> become some bashing thing.
> ted
>
> Ted Grant Photography Limited
> www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Laurel" <JimLaurel@earthlink.net>
> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 8:32 AM
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Private property and buildings
>
>
>   I looked at her quizzically, and asked her what she was talking
> > about.  "What Native Americans?  I'm just taking a photo of the
street
> > corner."  She became even more irrational, which made it hard for
me to
> > understand her, but I did manage to catch that her father was
standing
> > across the street, near the corner.  I could barely see him, much
less
> tell
> > what he looked like, but she persisted.  I just told her she was
out of
> her
> > mind and walked away.  I left her there, cursing.
> >
> > At Dave Harvey's photojournalism workshop in Santa Fe, most of us
got
> kicked
> > out of at least one place or another for taking photos.  A Danish
friend
> who
> > was taking the class happened to see a police officer stopping a
car for
> > speeding.  He rushed over and asked the driver of the vehicle if
he could
> > take some photos.  The guy consented, and Claus started shooting.
The
> > Police officer immediately tried to shoo him away, but Claus
countered
> that
> > he was aware that US law permitted him to photograph the scene, as
it was
> on
> > a public road.  The officer knew he was right and let him
continue.
> >
> > I've always found the US a difficult place to photograph.  Many
people are
> > quite paranoid and assume the worst when a stranger takes thier
picture.
> >
> > --Jim
> >
> >
> >
>
>