I very much like your philosophy Frank. I'm often too timid to ask if a photo is OK. I am not a timid person (as you've probably noticed) ;-) , but I don't want them to think I want the photo to make fun of them or show all my friends what a "wierd" person I saw. I need to get over some of this. When I saw this photo it made me feel very fortunate for what I have and where I am, I think it might kindle the same feelings in others. While I feel some street folk are there of their own doing, some are not. I think one of the wonders of photography is it can show things to people that they wouldn't ordinarily see, or **choose to see**. I simply need to get up the courage to ask. That will happen when I am 100% certain that my *reason* for asking is not just the selfish desire to get a "neat photo", but a desire to share something I've seen (and felt) with others. That famous National Geographic photo started quite a thread recently that talked about such motives. Photography is very common now, but still very powerful. It can amuse or entertain, do great good or harm. They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and a picture worth a "thousand" words! Quite a marvel that shutter button.
Sorry to ramble on so but I seem to be waxing philisophical the last few days. Now where'd I put that wax............ Don > -----Original Message----- > From: frank theriault [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 8:24 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: Vivitar 19mm/3.8 > > > --- Don Sanderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Is there a story behind "Have a Safe Happy Sunday" > > Frank? > > Interesting shot. > > > > Thanks, Don, > > There's not much a story. I was walking by the > fellow, and when he saw my camera, he asked if I > wanted to take a photo of his pennies. I pointed the > camera at the words formed by the pennies, but I > wanted to get him in the photo, too. I'm pretty sure > that he didn't realize that due to the very wide > angle, he was in the photo as well. He kept looking > at the ground, and I started taking photos. Finally > he looked up a bit (but not right at the camera), I > snapped one more time, gave him a buck, had a short > chat, and left. > > That's about it. Like most people in his position > that I talk to, he seemed a pretty nice fellow, and > was quite chatty. Told me that I didn't have to give > him the money just because I took the photos, I told > him the two weren't connected (which was true) and he > seemed satisfied. > > I should mention that I rarely take photos of "street > people", as most of the time I feel it fairly > exploitive. If they ask me, I will sometimes take > their photo - but not always; only if they're > interesting. > > After I talk to interesting looking street people, > I'll sometimes ask them if I can take their photos, > but I always respect their wishes. > > The very odd time I'll take a stealth photo, but > that's only if there's something very compelling about > the image - same test as when I take the photos of > anyone else. > > Glad you found this one interesting, Don. > > cheers, > frank > > > > > ===== > "The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. > The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer > > ______________________________________________________________________ > Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca >
