Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/08/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> > In a message dated 8/11/03 7:59:32 AM, bdcolen@earthlink.net writes: > > << Does anyone think that these photos - again, with the rarest of > > exceptions - inform anyone, help anyone? If they don't, then the already > > pathetic subject simply becomes camera club fodder for the photographer. > > "Hey, look at this cool photo of this bum - aren't those shadows across > > his face meaningful?" >> > > BD, Bob Rosen opines: > > Maybe the photo is a sign of respect, a recognition that a human being, no > matter how alienated from society is part of it. > > br Bob -- I need to somewhat disagree As you probably know I am constantly on the street photographing strangers. I see a lot of photographic fodder; homeless, obese, disabled, crippled and otherwise handicapped. There are many, many good photo opportunities for me, but, there is something that stops me from taking their picture. I just cannot take advantage of some persons disadvantage, I cannot feel the pain that their disadvantage has drawn me toward them. If I was shooting some sort of documentary that would be different, but, what is my (and most others) Street Photography? It is a hobby. It is something that I do to try and feel the different moods of people, to show that there are all kinds of flowers in the garden, that life is a rich pageantry. I just prefer to not take advantage of somebody's disadvantage. sl - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html