Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/02

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: Re: [Leica] Re:Photographing Photographers
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@home.com>
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000 10:27:34 -0800

doug nygren wrote:
 > >Photographers who do not like to be photographed are like jokesters who
> >don't like having a joke played on them. Shame on them. They can intrude
> >on others' lives for money, but do not want to be intruded on
> >themselves. The rules apply to others and not to them. Such people are
> >to photography as whores are to love.>>>>>>>>>>
 
 Greg Locke responded:
>   I guess I can take that as a personal insult and total disregard for an
> entire profession.
> If people on this list are willing to condemn the legal, medical,
> accounting and other professions with total abandoned it should not be a
> shock to here statements like this about professional photographers.
> 
> Why does there seem to be so much pent up bile with so many of members of
> this list?>>>>>>>

Hi Greg,

I don't know that there is "so much bile pent up" as generally the
comments have been inrelation to some A..s H..e photographer putting his
hand over anothers lens preventing him from taking a picture.

It wouldn't surprise me that during your many assignments,  you've had
someone put their hand up in front of your camera to void the exposure,
particularly when it maybe someone of ill repute or of political nature
they want to hide their face.  Been there, done that many times. And
that's different.

Those are a given circumstance we've all, at sometime, run into and goes
with the territory of being a photojournalist, particularly on news
events.  However, this is one photographer going to take a picture of
another photographer and being stopped.  And why would one do this to
another in the same profession,  stop the shot from being taken?   Unless?

The photographer in question trying to stop another from taking his
picture ....... wasn't a real news photographer at all!  But one of the
"security guys" playing news photographer and could have been recognized
as an intruder in the media ranks.  Or, as in politics, one side plays
this same game of "dummy photographer" acting as news photographer only
to try and get embarrassing pictures of the opposition.  And they sure
as hell don't want to be identified!

But for one news photographer to stop another from taking a picture of
him while they are both shooting the same event is stupid, IMHO. I've
photographed the brethren for years and never run into  "don't take my
picture!"  And be assured that if it were to happen, I'd shoot the guy
just for being an a...h..!

doug nygren wrote:
<<<The rules apply to others and not to them. Such people are
> >to photography as whores are to love.>>>>>>>>>>

Although this is rather strongly worded, I think the intention is
somewhat appropriate. :) Although my description is more fitting.  he's
an as... h...e!
 
 Greg Locke responded:
> I guess I can take that as a personal insult and total disregard for an  entire profession.>>>>>

By the same token I don't think he meant it the way you have taken it,
that we are all who'es! I see it as the guy who shoots whomever he
likes, then stops another photographer from taking his picture isn't
necessarily a whore,  I think it's more a case the guy is being just a
plain everyday a..h..!

But to each his own and as usual I wonder how we get off on these topics
when they really have nothing to do with a Leica!   But then of course,
I don't help matters by writing this. Now do I? :)

ted