From: Carl Weese (cweese@earthlink.net)
Date: 08/29/02-08:21:56 PM Z
Judy,
There is no such thing as a candid camera, and never was. The photographer
is always present, people always know. The worst cliche in the world is the
fly on the wall that ain't. There are no invisible photographers, thank
goodness.
People always ask you to take their picture. Bill Pierce and I once
discussed asking all our friends to contribute their favorite "hey Mister,
take my picture" (lack of PC noted in advance) picture for a book. We didn't
do it, but should have.
In 1990 I was a couple hundred rolls into a 35mm project photographing in
Kingston, NY, and a group of four girls, aged about 11 or 12, said "hey
Mister, take our picture". I shot several frames, one of which is among the
best pictures I've ever made. Ten minutes later I got hasseled by the cops,
because a neighbor called them to say a great big bad man was going around
the neighborhood taking pictures of little girls. Since that is _not_ in
fact a crime, and back then the cops knew it wasn't, I was allowed to go on
my way. I suspect today I'd have needed a lawyer to get my butt out of the
hoosegow. It's still a terrific picture. And the girls knew I was there, it
is their response to a viewing presence that makes the pictue, and the
instant response of the small camera was absolutely vital to the making of
this image: the other frames are technically perfect, but useless.
I know what the small camera is for. Invisibility isn't it.
---Carl
--
web site with picture galleries
and workshop information at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cweese/
>
> And my point is that there are differences -- gaps if you will -- that are
> absolutely overriding: The business of the presence of the photographer.
> And Sandy, I'm going to beat you up first chance I get -- I do NOT wish to
> be conspicuous, except for beauty, wit & intelligence -- at least in
> normal life. But as photographer, I wish to be INVISIBLE. I don't want
> pictures of people staring at the camera, or worse yet "posing." Even in
> early 20th century (one magazine I have notes) people changed their
> positions and stiffened the moment they saw the camera. (This from an
> article defending the "miniature camera.")
>
> That said, I have to add a footnote... Often, for whatever reason (my
> adorableness possibly) folks asked me to take their picture. They didn't
> expect prints, they just wanted to have their picture taken. And I always
> obliged. Some of these are among my most affecting "portraits" of Times
> Square. But I always told them "don't smile." That was crucial.
>
> Judy
>
>
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