Re: public shooting

In a message dated 1/25/02 3:15:43 PM Central Standard Time,
ragowaring@btinternet.com writes:

<< You are obviously a very sensitive person who respects other peoples
 privacy. In some societies, taking a photograph of someone is to take a
 little of their soul.
 
 You must weave this into your work and work with this in mind. Something of
 great value will arise from it. I am sure that you have a great deal to
 say.
 
 Keep us updated with how you get on. "Look beneath the ant".
>>
I agree with Alexis ... Lisa, . I am not sure of your age , or your
experiences, but permit me to tell you a little of my humble beginnings, as I
can surely relate to what you have said . In the beginning, I too, was
intimidated or shy about shooting in public, many was the time I would take a
camera and let it sit with me, taking no exposures, soon I graduated to "
sneaking " shots in public, usually at some state fair, or public event where
people would naturally have cameras of their own eventually I raised the
camera to my eye and took the exposure simply because I did not want to miss
the shot..... Somewhere along the line someone began asking me what I was
taking pictures of, and I let them see in my viewfinder what I was finding so
interesting . Responses varied from WOW, thats cool, to why are you taking a
picture of that? I did find the majority of people interested though, and
simply the camera became my tool in part, for starting a conversation , to
fast forward , I now use pinhole cameras, AND large 4X5 lensed cameras, in
public,
and wouldnt trade my experiences , etc for anything .Now the only people whio
ask what I am doing are usually the police, as some of my work entails
shooting at night with long exposures of up to 30 minutes or more, and it
makes people a bit suspicious at times, to be "doing nothing " and given
recent events makes things a bit tougher, but I have gotten around that by
having 5X7 prints of previous work with me, to show ,and all seemed convinced
to date .

I know my commentary here has been a bit off topic of pinholes in a way, but
it seems a few are responding to Lisa, and where she is in her growth, all I
can say to you is, Lisa, keep going, take pics in your apartment /house,
show/share with the rest of the world what you see and experience , and that
will be good enough in and of itself, should you choose other courses, that
is up to you.
Good Luck..
Received on Fri Jan 25 18:32:54 2002