Respect for people.

[alistair.o]

Good analysis, Brian. On one hand some of the 'displays' are not particularly attractive nor well presented, but a few of the images are quite powerful.
So here's a question from a philosophical point of view.
Does the result justify the means? Or is it self-indulgent?

How are you going to get the end without the means?

 

[_larky]

It's a great photo though.

 

[alistair.o]

A little self indulgence? Personally, I don't believe so. Why did I take it? I had no choice. Let me try to explain.

I have a choice whether I want to photograph pornography (for example) and I certainly don't; I can photograph animals (other than the wife's cat) but I don't want to. An artist can paint in oils, some only paint in water colours. Some artists sculpt and other beat metal.

Some days I ask myself what I am doing on the street. I have been in cities (as many have) in sub zero temperatures and pouring rain etc But I am never happier than when I am on a city street with a camera. Yesterday, in Birmingham, I was threatened and abused. The threat I totally ignored and the abuse I turned into bon hommie through a gentle answer.

A little self indulgence? You Choose...

 

[_larky]

Why do I always start threads that end up in arguments? Am I the antichrist?

I've decided that when people say these things, that we should have respect, they they mean what they mean and they understand what they said. I may not, nobody else may ever understand them truly, and they in turn may never truly understand my meaning of the word. So I'll leave it at that.

I have respect for people when I'm shooting, I think, but I have no way to describe what I mean. And you'd not understand it anyway, as I'd not understand your way of showing respect.

The sun is out, time to walk with a camera in hand...

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Well I am just glad that we do not have a trend of RFF street photographers Flashing and photographing the expressions on people's faces.

Oh. I forgot. RF Photographers never use a Flash for their pictures.

 

[Chris101]

Not that it matters to me, but the people in this photo look disgusted that you took this photo... perhaps they though it was disrespectful?

Perhaps they were, but I'll bet they were also angry that someone recorded the fact that they had opened the grocery store to pedestrian traffic before they had cleared the ice from the walk leading to the door. If my own experience with this same corporation is an indication, then the manager is there to secure a waiver of liability from the victim before he leaves the premises.

Thus it is very respectful - even helpful - to the person who slipped.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Perhaps they were, but I'll bet they were also angry that someone recorded the fact that they had opened the grocery store to pedestrian traffic before they had cleared the ice from the walk leading to the door. If my own experience with this same corporation is an indication, then the manager is there to secure a waiver of liability from the victim before he leaves the premises.
Thus it is very respectful - even helpful - to the person who slipped.

Well Chris, that's one interpretation, and one that's obviously coloured by your experience. To me, it looks like the person who has fallen was using the implement now lying in the gutter and which, to my uneducated eye, looks rather like an implement for clearing snow from paths and driveways. Thus my assumption is different from yours - that this person was engaged in clearing the snow in accordance with some prior arrangement and has slipped and met with an unfortunate accident.
Maybe he was running late and was hasty - who knows?
But three out of the four people in the picture look startled and/or concerned (not angry) by the presence of the photographer which probably means that his demeanour at that moment was not a positive contribution to the situation.

Anyway I don't really want to reignite this thread. Some people are obviously OK with a confrontational approach and others are not. Bit like religion, really. Best leave it at that.

 

[Luna]

Well I am just glad that we do not have a trend of RFF street photographers Flashing and photographing the expressions on people's faces.

Oh. I forgot. RF Photographers never use a Flash for their pictures.

What?







As for the art student who would flash people and draw their reaction. Was it the actual art student who got his/her feelings hurt by his subject and then needed counseling?
If this is so, I fail to see what the problem is. The project was obviously more then he/she could chew.