Hear, Hear! J Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 26, 2016, at 2:41 PM, Brian Walters <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well, I find it odd behaviour - but I'm an old grump, anyway. > > But they're not hurting anyone so, if it makes them happy, let them get > on with it. > > > Cheers > > Brian > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > Brian Walters > Western Sydney Australia > http://lyons-ryan.org/southernlight/ > >> On Tue, Sep 27, 2016, at 12:08 AM, Igor PDML-StR wrote: >> >> >> This morning someone sent me a link to a brief blogpost on Cnet, which >> got me (re)evaluating - (re)thinking certain aspects of photography in >> our lives. The photo was of a crowd in front of a famous politician >> waving >> at them, while most people turned their backs and taking selfies of >> themselves with the famous people being the background. >> (The link is below, but first the thoughts.) >> >> Over many years of taking photographs, sometimes as tourist (i.e. in very >> touristic places, etc.), - I've been offered by others (friends, >> relatives, bystanders) to take a picture of _me_. ... or rather of >> _me__being__there_. >> Not that I was against those (and sometimes I did want some picture, >> especially with friends or family), but I was not particularly ego to get >> those. I wanted to take some interesting (at least to me) of the views >> from that place. >> One of the repeated questions/comments I had (usually not from close >> friends or relatives who already knew what I am after, but from more >> distant friends): "Why do you need those? - See there, they sell cards >> with this view already printed." >> >> Why was/am I taking those photos? >> 1. I enjoy _taking_ them and >> 2. I enjoy looking at them later, as they remind me of good time I had >> there. And often, aftre many years, I remember the photos I've taken even >> without looking at them: they are a connection for that place, person, >> event. ... even though I might not be in those pictures myself. >> (As an aside, - I appreciate the fact of being in some of those photos >> more now, as my daughter is growing up, - so, that she can see her dad in >> those photos too.) >> >> Now, getting back to the conclusion quoted in the Subject of this >> message. >> Yes, selfie is the fad du jour [is that tautology?]. >> To this date, most of the selfies I've taken are with my SLR (with a >> tripod or a mirror help). But I don't want to judge those people who >> enjoy selfies: to each of his/her own. And to some extent, those people >> aren't that much different from those stranger on the street who are ego >> to pose for you even though they are never going to see that photo. (This >> was a very frequent situation with kid groups in Japan.) >> >> >> My understanding of the said blogpost is that someone is trying to >> question of how polite it is to take a selfie with a famous person (and >> hence turning one's behind to her/him) as opposed to piercing >> with your eyes and listening. >> >> That brought to memories yet another story. Long time ago, one >> famous Russian poet wrote a song that was "thinking" about a family >> being photographed in front of the monument to the famous Russian >> poet Alexandr Pushkin. The idea was based on the juxtaposition of the >> timelessness and greatness of someone whose fame survived the test of >> centuries, and "todayliness" of the concerns and that-minute problems of >> that family. I remember that a friend was thinking that the author was >> criticizing the family, and that that type of photo was awkward or even >> ridiculous due to the contrast. While I understand that point of view >> (and I personally do not like taking photographs of people (and myself) >> specifically with someone's _personal_ monument), I never felt >> comfortable with that criticism. And I've always thought that the song's >> author was just bringing up the contrast as a way to highlight the >> simultaneous distance and closeness of the great and small, old and >> contemporary, timeless and transient. >> >> But back to today's photo, here is what I am curious to hear from you, >> deal PDMLers: >> As photographers with different preferences, views and reasons to take >> photographs, what do you think about what is shown in the photograph >> discussed in that blogpost? >> (Please, let's not digress into a political debate about the specific >> politician, so, let's keep the political comments on mute.) >> >> Here is the blogpost in question: https://goo.gl/VC5fU3 . >> >> Thanks in advance to all who will respond. >> >> Igor >> >> >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and >> follow the directions. > > > -- > -- > > -- > http://www.fastmail.com - Accessible with your email software > or over the web > > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
