India again
New work from my India negs 2010. I'm going back to India next year because I love the essence of people relaxed in their environments. I used to be able to record NZlanders like this - but not now. Our society is screwed up with fear.
The very people who happily thumb through photo books in shops, looking at others with facination - fear the photographer in their midst as a sneaky creep.
The other day I was stopped by the police (the first time in my life) while I was taking photographs in a public place. "Someone had complained I was looking sneaky with my little camera. Other photographers were Ok with their big professional cameras" - said the policeman.
Even after 40 years If I ever doubt what I'm doing I'll go home and look at my library of street photographers. Cartier-Bresson for example immediately re-charges my batteries, and I'm a believer again.
Mr Plod was OK ("just doing my job") when he saw my book, which I often carry around with me. But what has changed in our society?
3 Comments | Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 11:09PM
Reader Comments (3)
Julian, you may recall I pointed out to you last year The Australian newspaper Rex Dupain article (2010) on this very thing. Paranoia is indeed the theme of today :-)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/not-a-good-look/story-e6frg8n6-1225930635070
remember the ancient wisdom "life on life's terms" or "live and let live" simply get on and live life to the full, or as Katherine Mansfield so beautifully put it, "listen not to the voices of others but do the hardest thing for you" :) http://flavors.me/kiwicafe#_
Plod was not 'doing his job' as he says. He should have been fully aware of the legislation regarding photography in public places - you should not have even been approached.