RE: [Leica] Human Traffic

["Dan Honemann" <ddh@home.com>]

Ted,

Sad, but true.  What _is_ it about Americans?  I wonder if shooting in the
south would make a difference--folks tend to be more socially interactive
with strangers down there.  Or on the other (west) coast.

Or Vancouver, BC!  Do you do much street shooting there?

I wonder how HCB would have fared in Baltimore.  Maybe he learned not to
care, or maybe Parisians are more tolerant of artists; myself, I can't bear
to impose myself (or my camera) if it is perceived as invasive.  I'd make a
lousy photo-journalist.

Dan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Ted Grant
> Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2000 10:15 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Human Traffic
>
>
>
>
> Dan Honemann wrote:  to Johnny Deadman's advice in shooting four rolls
> to overcome shy shooting on the street.
> >
> > Thanks for this advice, Johnny--it's truly helpful.
> >
> > My hunch is that it is easier to street shoot where there is a higher
> > density of human traffic; there's less attention to any one person,
> > including the one with the camera.  Baltimore traffic tends to
> be sparse,
> > save for certain times/occasions.  DC is a bit thicker.
> >
> > I'll give your experiment a try.<<<<<<<<
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> Johnny's advice is an interesting method in the UK. However, from past
> experience in doing street documentaries in the US,  people there
> (obviously not all of them)  seem to be more challenging to a camera
> pointed in their direction, even on a crowded street.
>
> I'm always open, quick and never sneaky shooting this stuff, because if
> you're not, you can be in deep trouble if you appear doing something
> nefarious.
>
> I've had several people stop at the same time with..." Hey you!  What
> the hell are you taking my picture for?" and none of them actually in
> the frame at the time of the exposure, but the camera was in their
> general direction.
>
> Even being as open as all get out, the next thing you know you have
> several conversations all at the same time, yet none of the people are
> related, just all asking the same question and demanding an answer!
> Often one person more belligerent than the others.
>
> You might find you'll be over your shyness "very quickly" in four rolls!
>   But it might take 44 rolls  to get over feelings of being intimidated!
> :-)
>
> ted