Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/08/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Herbert Kanner OFFERED: Subject: Re: [Leica] Times Photographer Is Arrested on Assignment in NY > This is really a reply to Dr. Ted's post re going to a longer lens. He is > forgetting a law of nature, first formalized by a man named Murphy, which > in this case says that if you step back and lengthen the lens, a phalanx > of warm bodies will come between you and what you are trying to shoot. Hi Herbert, My dear friend! You are correct! :-) ..... HOWEVER not completely so! :-) I just didn't give all the details when one makes a long lens move as I partially explained! :-) In the case of this.... "probably flashing in the officers faces after being asked to stop?" my final details may not have worked, it being some time past 10 in the evening. ERGO: dark! Obviously requiring flash light? Or common sense and back off as requested. Obviously the "flashing photog" did not do so. ERGO? He got arrested! When he probably had a reasonable image of a nothing fracas in any event? AND HE BECAME THE STORY! Instead of the "real story!" Plain stupidity! Quite frankly from what was written... not by crew members! But in the news paper story. It seems the photog didn't stop. Instead of using his brain, he continued to flash & annoy. One would almost think he's just the type that gives all of us, as an ex. newspaper photographer I can say this.. ... "A BAD NAME!" But then has anyone seen further details on this story indicating exactly what happened? Now back to explain what one does in using a long lens... 300 or so! :-) All the details help don't they? :-) Obviously the situation requires "DAYLIGHT AND HEIGHT!" :) Sorry I left that out! :-) Police tell you to move or leave or stop? Your response quickly is... "Yes Sir!" And you are out of there fast before another shooter does the same thing. "LOOKING FOR HIGH GROUND! Or building to get a floor or two looking down on the scene.... and over the heads of the closing ranks of!" >>>>a phalanx of warm bodies will come between you and what you are trying >>>>to shoot.<<<< If you've used this trick a few times or many? 99.9% of the time you come away with some very story telling photos because you've gone to the "High Ground" while others miss standing about trying to shoot through the:........... as you explain quite correctly! >>>a phalanx of warm bodies will come between you and what you are trying to shoot.<<<< If the police tell or ask you to get back they do it for possibly more reasons than you are aware of? 1/ The shooter is a pain in the ass trying to get closer? ERGO? Putting himself in jeopardy. Or others? 2/ There might be a danger of an explosion? Cop trying to maybe save your life? But you don't know? 3/ Ambulances maybe arriving requiring all the open space they can get? 4/ THIS LIST COULD GO ON ?????????? Yes I admit I've run into cops who were a pain in the ass for no obvious reason. By the same token I've worked with and moved as asked simply because "he has been given orders to clear everyone out of here that you have no idea what that might be?" So move! Why stand and argue and end up on the back seat of a cruiser? And NO pictures?" There are surely two sides to this "Flashing photog and arrest?" And I don't believe we know them? Given I've way too many years covering in city and out situations with dozens of police and firemen, I figure they're doing their job and I don't need to be a pain in the ass simply because? "I'm a so called privileged member of the media....... "WHICH REALLY IS A CROCK OF CRAP!" Just quickly go look for the high ground, get pictures and "FRONT PAGE WITH A CREDITLINE!" KISS! Regardless of what some folks may think, "It's much easier to keep it "KISS SIMPLE!" Than being a pain in the ass and no pictures! Common sense attitude is all it takes! Then you use your eyes for what you have them for! "SEEING AND SHOOTING INTERESTING PHOTOGRAPHS!" Front page is always a nice tribute to your ability to see and shoot neat photos! cheers, Dr. ted :-)