[Leica] photographing people and keeping your mouth shut

[kcassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy)]

alistair sed of www.armedamerica.org:


>I really like this project, though it is not one I could do (prone to 
>opening the old mouth too often I'm afraid ;-)

i've learned that very often being a "good" photographer has less to do with 
your camera skills and more to do with your people skills. which means 
knowing when to talk, when to listen, and when to keep your personal 
opinions quiet. i was asked, on numerous occasions what my own opinion was. 
i tried to asure people of two things, one, that my own opinion didn't 
matter and that two, i wasn't out trying to make anyone look foolish by 
selectively quoting them or posing them in a way that was unflattering; that 
i really was interested in their opinion and that i would present it as 
honestly as i could.

 if i've done this project properly, i've left judgement for the viewer who, 
as alistair points out, will bring many of their own opinions to the gallery 
with them.