Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/08/19

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Subject: [Leica] The Nature of the Beast
From: Afterswift at aol.com (Afterswift@aol.com)
Date: Sun Aug 19 15:14:41 2007

In a message dated 8/19/2007 2:49:27 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
lug-request@leica-users.org writes:

The  
street photographs that get the most accolades seem to be those in which  
the 
photographed subjects do not show awareness of the photographer. I  always 
find that unsettling.

Why is this? Is there some  philosophical basis, or is it just habit?

Brian
------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian,
 
It's been my experience that in street photography the scene  is changing so 
rapidly that there isn't time to relate to the subject in formal  portrait 
terms. The fact is that I use a preset Leica or -- Minox 35  -- with a 50 or 
35mm 
lens. I never focus for fear of missing the vital  moment. Usually the 
subject is doing something that involves him or her or  it to the scene. If 
you 
delay shooting you miss the action. And,  remember, the light is constantly 
changing as well. 
 
In effect, street work is not portraiture. It is really news  or an 
existential form of art photography. The only control the photographer has  
is his 
innate ability to swiftly respond to a dynamic  environment.  
 
Once the subject is aware of the photographer we're back  to human interest 
and a form of interview reporting. The moment of revelation is  lost. The 
subject is popped from the living stream of time and place and  becomes -- 
as 
usually happens -- a mere self-conscious actor, with  artificial emotions 
and 
appearance. 
 
Best,
Bob  






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