Re: [Leica] Photographing in a certain coffee place

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

Thanks, Ted - Well, when early on we were discussing what one "owes" ones
subjects when doing documentary work, and various kids talked about 'being
sympathetic," "showing them as they want to be shown," etc., I stopped them
and said that the ONLY thing they owe their subjects is honesty - I
explained in the syllabus, which is on line, means "honesty in your vision;
honesty in what you tell your subjects about your project and its purpose;
honesty in your approach to your subject; and honesty in what you present to
your viewers."

Aaron approached it that way, and it worked...and, btw, he asked permission
of the customers to shoot them before he shot....so what he got also shows
that if you ask someone if they mind, they usually won't, and they will
quickly forget that you are there photographing them.

B. D.
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2002 9:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Photographing in a certain coffee place


> B. D. wrote:
> >>My student approached the manager, told the manager what
> > he wanted to do, and the manager gave him permission. Could it be that
> > asking makes the difference? ;-)<<<
>
>
>
http://web.mit.edu/21w.749/www/Students/aaronmihalik/finalproject/index.html
>
> B.D.
> Damn what a brilliant thing to do!! Ask politely and yee shall receive!
:-)
>
> Why my goodness that's so simple it's no wonder all the complainers of not
> being allowed to take pictures in Starbucks never thought of it. Or if
they
> did ask, it was for no apparent reason.
>
> Think of it this way.... someone comes on  my property to photograph my
> flower gardens and I see them wandering about taking pictures without
asking
> and the chances are I'm going to ask them what the hell they're doing. And
> or "get the hell off my property!"
>
> However, if they come to the door and ask, "can I take pictures of your
> garden it's beautiful floral etc etc etc"..... I'm going to say, " sure."

>
> So why wouldn't it seem reasonable to ask permission to photograph the
> inside of a coffee house? I mean asking quite often yields a great number
of
> photo opportunities than sneaking "snap shots" that generally are
> meaningless exposures of film in any event.
>
> If one takes the time to see what B.D.'s student did with permission, they
> might learn something about photojournalism and shooting an essay when one
> asks permission.
> By the same token sometimes asking begets you nothing..... live with it,
> move on and find something equally enjoyable as a subject.
>
> Those shooting with a sneaky look to their actions beget re-actions from
> their subjects because the subject sees a sneaky something going on, so
shut
> it down and throw them out! Ask and yee shall receive, sometimes..... not
> always. But on average ask and the chances are it'll happen. Is that too
> hard to understand folks?
>
> However, if one is shooting a news event or topic and being told to move
on,
> much of the above goes out the window... other than asking first!
..........
> and if that fails, use your photographic brain, long lenses and circumvent
> the situation and shoot from a distance.
>
> B.D. please tell your student damn fine job and keep it up!
>
> And this student has shown and taught what's possible when one uses their
> brains instead of the sometime sneaky methods of street or inside coffee
> houses methods!
>
> Folks it comes right back to....."KISS!"
>
> ted
> www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant
>
>
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