Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/01/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 02:48 PM 1/13/2008, you wrote: >Everybody following this discussion here should ask him/herself: if a >photographer moved into your house for a week, then was positioned here and >there at various times taking photos of your daily routine and activities, >would the photographer ever disappear into the background of your lives >(except, of course, when you are asleep, passed out drunk or otherwise >insentient)? > >Emanuel Lowi I don't think anybody who is claiming that it's impossible for someone to forget that a photographer is there has ever been really, really busy or involved in a task. I know that the people in Central America forget that I'm there. I can tell you of many cases when I'm sitting quietly in a dark corner and startle someone if I suddenly move or make a noise. Neighbors come and leave without ever realizing that I'm there. Don't forget, it's very dark in those adobe houses. That's why I have to use Leica lenses! The women are too busy making tortillas, fetching water, building fires, feeding children, cooking - and the men are too busy farming - to pay any attention to me sitting quietly in a dark corner. They've told me many times that they have forgotten all about me and they usually apologize for neglecting me. When I used to teach school, I would sometimes have observers come and sit in the classroom for various reasons. When they were first there, I would be nervous and self-conscious but as soon as I would get into teaching and involved with the kids, I would truly forget all about their presence. Busy and involved people tend to focus on what they are doing. Have you never been so involved that you are oblivious to what's going on around you? Tina Tina Manley, ASMP, NPPA http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/portfolio