Portraiture is one of my favourite genres within photography and I like the Jewish mans idea of being responsible for the people you photograph. I also do a lot of street and documentary photography and I think this is a good way of thinking especially if you want to develop empathy for your subjects and the world that we inhabit. I might keep this as reminder that it is important to be responsible for all the people that we photograph. Maybe if we all felt that way then the world would fix its problems, as I believe most of the world's problems are actually created because people are not feeling this responsibility for others, the others that we spend our lives with whether we know them or not.
Alex, the ‘responsibility for my son’ part is hilarious! And I love those pics of your fam 🙏 The 80’s… I hereby christen: “Belle Époque Americana—with missles and MTV”👌
I always ask permission, although I've also been the person who doled out and collected the release forms on a movie set where a "behind the scenes" film was being shot simultaneously. I love taking distant, blurry photos of celebrities. Not for publication. I'm not a paparazzo, I just like the idea of a barely recognizable image actually meaning something to someone else. Whenever I've asked their permission, I never get a decently unintelligible shot. I've even tried, with a too-willing Sarah Silverman and Kevin Nealon, whom I came across while they were filming their own hike together in Runyon Canyon, to "do it in post." But it never works that way. My favorite photo in "my style" is a flash photo of Matt Groening's jowl while he was at a friend's book signing at the former Silent Movie Theater.
As for soul-stealing, I can understand being intimidated by the man in your story, but now at the age of 62 myself, and having dealt with many a believer and peddler of many a bubbemeise, I might have chanced it, depending on my prior agreement with the actual participants in the photo. That said, I am deferential to the subject's wishes, of course, and he was the lad's guardian, after all. But, then again, that gives him the final responsibility for his child's well-being, far more so than someone who exposed a few minutes of film with the kid in it. I mean, even Ha Shem must have a sense of proportion.
I was young, recently off the boat, and didn't have a sense of proportion myself.
I should have told the man I would be responsible for his kid for the rest of his days if he would let me film him being chased by his mom (who had no problem with any of it, btw). I wonder what he would say.
As for blintzes with liver, that can easily be arranged. Look me up next time you're in New York.
I love taking portraits but suffer from the same reservations as you. One thing I will say is that, in general, because of social media Gen Z seem more amenable to having their photo taken than prior generations. The only catch with this is the propensity to pose for the photo rather than allowing you to get a natural shot.
Thanks for your comment, SilverPerceptions. Yours is an interesting take on Gen Z. I thought that they would be more reluctant to have their photo taken because they know it might end up on social media or who knows where else. But perhaps you're right. I rarely take portraits of strangers; but when I do, I always ask for their permission. However, I never ask permission when they don't know my camera is trained on them. My inner critic Freddy thinks I'm terrible and dishonest. But I'm tired of being right and good all the time :)
I spent some time in Lancaster, PA, Amish country -- but was not into photography back then, and didn't face this conundrum. Since then I've done a lot of street photography and while I don't consciously exploit any of my subjects, I still prefer to photograph candid moments.
"He looked either 25 or 85, depending on the light", what a great way to describe anyone, let alone the man who was asking you whether you would be the steward of his son's soul for eternity.
The slow motion sequence of those two sounds fantastic, and a shame you were never able to create that scene.
Thank you for sharing this, Alex. I had a similar experience but this time it was in West Africa. Locals were weary of photographers having their portraits taken as they would unknowingly end up in postcards. Someone approached me and gave that message about “stealing one’s soul” whenever we pointed the camera at them. I always remembered it.
Thanks for your comment, Stella. This is really interesting and tells us how similar radically different cultures are. We're all drawing from the same well, and have been for millennia. :)
Portraiture is one of my favourite genres within photography and I like the Jewish mans idea of being responsible for the people you photograph. I also do a lot of street and documentary photography and I think this is a good way of thinking especially if you want to develop empathy for your subjects and the world that we inhabit. I might keep this as reminder that it is important to be responsible for all the people that we photograph. Maybe if we all felt that way then the world would fix its problems, as I believe most of the world's problems are actually created because people are not feeling this responsibility for others, the others that we spend our lives with whether we know them or not.
Alex, Thanks for sharing this idea, Michael
Thank you, Michael. I appreciate you comment. And I'm glad you liked the post.
Wonderful Alex.
Thank you, Charlie!
I concur…
If someone says they don't want to go back to the 80’s
They either aren’t old enough to know what they missed
Or are lying
Glad you feel the same way, sir. Singing in the shower to https://youtu.be/XcATvu5f9vE?si=cFXRR0GFpVK6hF8N is enough reason to start working on a time machine.
Alex, the ‘responsibility for my son’ part is hilarious! And I love those pics of your fam 🙏 The 80’s… I hereby christen: “Belle Époque Americana—with missles and MTV”👌
Thank you, Timothy! “Belle Époque Americana—with missles and MTV” That's perfect! Exactly what it was :) Money for nothing and your guns for free.
Liver blintzes? That I'd like to try.
I always ask permission, although I've also been the person who doled out and collected the release forms on a movie set where a "behind the scenes" film was being shot simultaneously. I love taking distant, blurry photos of celebrities. Not for publication. I'm not a paparazzo, I just like the idea of a barely recognizable image actually meaning something to someone else. Whenever I've asked their permission, I never get a decently unintelligible shot. I've even tried, with a too-willing Sarah Silverman and Kevin Nealon, whom I came across while they were filming their own hike together in Runyon Canyon, to "do it in post." But it never works that way. My favorite photo in "my style" is a flash photo of Matt Groening's jowl while he was at a friend's book signing at the former Silent Movie Theater.
As for soul-stealing, I can understand being intimidated by the man in your story, but now at the age of 62 myself, and having dealt with many a believer and peddler of many a bubbemeise, I might have chanced it, depending on my prior agreement with the actual participants in the photo. That said, I am deferential to the subject's wishes, of course, and he was the lad's guardian, after all. But, then again, that gives him the final responsibility for his child's well-being, far more so than someone who exposed a few minutes of film with the kid in it. I mean, even Ha Shem must have a sense of proportion.
Thanks for your comment, Jeff.
I was young, recently off the boat, and didn't have a sense of proportion myself.
I should have told the man I would be responsible for his kid for the rest of his days if he would let me film him being chased by his mom (who had no problem with any of it, btw). I wonder what he would say.
As for blintzes with liver, that can easily be arranged. Look me up next time you're in New York.
I love taking portraits but suffer from the same reservations as you. One thing I will say is that, in general, because of social media Gen Z seem more amenable to having their photo taken than prior generations. The only catch with this is the propensity to pose for the photo rather than allowing you to get a natural shot.
Thanks for your comment, SilverPerceptions. Yours is an interesting take on Gen Z. I thought that they would be more reluctant to have their photo taken because they know it might end up on social media or who knows where else. But perhaps you're right. I rarely take portraits of strangers; but when I do, I always ask for their permission. However, I never ask permission when they don't know my camera is trained on them. My inner critic Freddy thinks I'm terrible and dishonest. But I'm tired of being right and good all the time :)
I spent some time in Lancaster, PA, Amish country -- but was not into photography back then, and didn't face this conundrum. Since then I've done a lot of street photography and while I don't consciously exploit any of my subjects, I still prefer to photograph candid moments.
"He looked either 25 or 85, depending on the light", what a great way to describe anyone, let alone the man who was asking you whether you would be the steward of his son's soul for eternity.
The slow motion sequence of those two sounds fantastic, and a shame you were never able to create that scene.
Thanks so much for your comment!
Yes, I regret that I got intimidated by that nice man.
I should have just accepted the responsibility for his kid and let the chips fall where they may.
Thank you for sharing this, Alex. I had a similar experience but this time it was in West Africa. Locals were weary of photographers having their portraits taken as they would unknowingly end up in postcards. Someone approached me and gave that message about “stealing one’s soul” whenever we pointed the camera at them. I always remembered it.
Thanks for your comment, Stella. This is really interesting and tells us how similar radically different cultures are. We're all drawing from the same well, and have been for millennia. :)