[Leica] When in doubt ask photographer

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Mark the Rabiner said:

>> Somebody standing in a room with a camera is like a Hippo in your
kitchen.<<<

Now Mark mon ami,

You know that's not true if the photographer knows his craft! Or he or she
are people folks who can slide into any level of society or group wherever
you wish and they become one with what's there.

I mean what your saying is, the surgeons deep in the chest of a patient with
the heart open wide are conscious that I'm in the OR with them? And they
play a role?

I'm sorry old buddy, you maybe right if you were one on one in a kitchen and
someone making pancakes, but there are situations where you or I can be as a
photojournalist and the people we're photographing don't have a clue we are
in the vicinity or that we're even alive.

>> But a still camera is thought of as so low key as to blend in.

That's not been my experience and observation.<<<

Well then that's unfortunate for you as my experience has been quite the
opposite. One on one in a Prime Minister's office, a crowded room of
socialites or as I mentioned, open heart surgery operating rooms! And many
other similar situations in North America, the Soviet Union, Israel and the
far east! Including down under New Zealand!

When I'm in the same area there isn't any indication by anyone I'm in the
company. Maybe we move about differently, maybe I watch the eyes and move
when the eye line isn't in my direction. There are so many little nuances of
moving in a crowded room or one on one without drawing attention to ones
self that allow one to move undetected.

>> I think people learn play the game of"lets ignore the photographer while
we all pretend we're doing real things" but its just a fun game their
playing.<<

I suppose there are times when this occurs, but you can't lump everyone or
every situation into the same category because it just doesn't happen that
way.

>> Even in those insipid documentary's real life real time whatever with a
whole house bugged with micro robot cameras in the corners of the ceiling<<<

Now you're talking about an entirely different situation and I agree with
you in this description. But this is something like high noon and midnight
in how people re-act under entirely different situations.

Sorry to disagree with you my friend, but years of documentary photography
under almost every situation imaginable I've learned one can blend in and
not be seen nor heard while capturing absolute candid images. Be they
cowboys in a bunk house, the operating room, a ball room of socialites,
Prime Minister or President and mother's about to be. You can be there
unseen and capture the moments. 

I might point out that of the near two hundred birthings I've photographed,
I've yet to have a mother tell me she was aware I was in her presence during
the delivery! Think about that when you say people act given the camera is
present. :-) :-) 

Your good buddy,

ted

 

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca@leica-users.org
[mailto:lug-bounces+tedgrant=shaw.ca@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Mark
Rabiner
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2008 6:46 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: Re: [Leica] When in doubt ask photographer

 

You can pretend you don't know its there. But there's no ignoring the

peanuts on its breath.

We don't have to pose pictures to alter behavior.

The fact that all behaviour changes when a motion picture camera or video

camera is in the room is a given.

But a still camera is thought of as so low key as to blend in.

That's not been my experience and observation.

Even lowly "event" photographers know this.

All eyes are on you at all times. They're just looking the other way.

 

 

everyone at all times are "on".

 

Me I wake up at night open the refrigerator  the light comes on and I'm good

for 20 minutes. The old soft shoe. Patter song. Few jokes.

 

Don't I look just like myself?

 

Mark William Rabiner

markrabiner.com

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Leica Users Group.

See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

 

 

-- 

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition. 

Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1221 - Release Date: 1/12/2008
2:04 PM