[Leica] Monochrome album from Reykjavik

[hlritter at bex.net (Howard L Ritter Jr)]

My wife and I have been in Iceland for the past week on a tour sponsored by 
Sky and Telescope magazine for the purpose of viewing the aurora borealis 
while visiting some of the highlights of this exotic and beautiful country. 
We?re staying on for a few days to see the capital, Reykjavik, in a little 
more depth and perhaps to take a day trip to somewhere we hadn?t been on the 
tour. We did a lot of walking today and this evening, and saw a few things I 
thought worth picturing. I had anticipated this, so I had my MM around my 
neck.

Please have a look at my album: 
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/hlritter/Reykjavik+in+Mono/ 
<http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/hlritter/Reykjavik+in+Mono/>

(An album of auroral photos will soon follow.)

C&C appreciated, as well as picks of favorites. I have a strong preference 
for one of the images, but I?ll save revealing it until I get votes from 
some others. Hint: It?s an image with subtle humor, a serendipitous 
juxtaposition and Decisive Moment aspirations.

And I?d like to hear what others think about something I did on the walk 
today that seemed very natural, although I?d never done it before. I found 
the view from the outside in at several bars and restaurants tempting, so I 
just prefocused and took pictures through the window, sometimes putting the 
lens hood flat against the glass to eliminated reflections, and pushed the 
shutter button.

I immediately realized that I have mixed feelings about taking pictures this 
way. It has to do I think with the hard separation between photographer and 
subject, with denial of agency to the subject to respond or have a say in 
the matter. It feels too impersonal, too sterile and risk-free. You might 
say it?s like shooting fish in a barrel or hunting on a private game ranch. 
On the other hand, I did get some scenes that I like well enough to publish 
in the LUG Gallery. 

I wonder how others feel and whether any of you have taken opportunities to 
do this. I?d appreciate hearing your thoughts on it.


?howard