Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/09/14

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Subject: RE: [Leica] quiet cameras in cathedrals?
From: "Bob Walkden" <bobwalkden@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2000 14:05:08 BST

Hi,

no, I have no intention of asking permission in advance. I will exercise due 
common sense, courtesy and sensitivity to the situation and I won't take 
hidden, surreptitious or furtive photographs. I've photographed all sorts of 
rituals and ceremonies in different parts of the world, and never had 
problems with it. On occasions when people have not wanted me to take 
pictures it has, so far, always been sufficient for them to shake their 
head. Mostly though people are very welcoming and happy about it.

As somebody else has commented, humanistic photography is about 
understanding and communication. Empty spaces don't usually do it for me. 
It's about people living their lives.

Cheers,

Bob

>From: Jem Kime <jem.kime@cwcom.net>
>
>Bob,
>Yes of course I've enjoyed pictures like those you say, but the difference
>is that most of these scenarios would have been agreed beforehand. Furtive,
>surreptitious photography is unlikely to win any favours with the
>organisers of these events. Certainly events like the funerals of Diana and
>Kennedy are state occassions where one expects coverage, it must be hard
>for the close relatives involved to consider them as personal acts of
>worship.
>One could argue that ceremonies in public spaces are 'fair game' but I
>doubt that many participants would see it that way.
>
>And for your druid ceremony, are you planning to ask permission in advance?
>
>I've spent the last 8 years working in religious environments (including
>pagan) and never once considered taking pictures of people without asking.
>Of an empty church or deserted sacred site, sure, but where is common
>decency, sensitivity and politeness?
>
>Jem
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:	Bob Walkden [SMTP:bobwalkden@hotmail.com]
>Sent:	14 September 2000 13:32
>To:	leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject:	RE: [Leica] quiet cameras in cathedrals?
>
>Hi,
>
>have you never enjoyed essays about the rituals and customs of other
>cultures in magazines such as National Geographic? How about books like
>Beckwith and Fisher's 'African Ceremonies'? Or TV coverage such as
>Kennedy's
>or Princess Diana's funeral?
>
>I'm planning to photograph a Druid ceremony at next week's equinox. Is that
>wrong too? How about Cartier-Bresson's famous picture of the Muslim women
>in
>Srinagar? Or the innumerable pictures by the banks of the Ganges in
>Varanasi? Or Henning Christoph's 'Voudou'?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Bob
>
> >From: Jem Kime <jem.kime@cwcom.net>
> >
> >Mitch,
> >I have to say that for anyone to have the insensitivity to want to
> >photograph others in the act of worship beggars belief!
>[...]
>
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