Alice Meets the Model
There are tons of model shoots in the park. It’s always very weird for me to watch. The model goes through about 40 expressions per second; the photographer keeps urging her on with phrases like, Great! Love it! Mouth a little bit open! Beautiful! etc. And then a hair stylist rushes in and does something; and then the guy with the reflector gets into the shot by accident; and it goes on and on with thousands of clicks until a bunch of people huddle over the camera and agree that they’ve got it - whatever it is. I believe this was for a hair product, but I’m not sure. Eventually the photographer told me to stop taking pictures at which point I turned towards some kids waiting patiently to get on Alice and then the mother jumped between me and the kids and told me to please not take pictures of the kids. And then a downpour opened up and everyone rushed off leaving me alone with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the dormouse.
« Essen
Comments
Comment from dave
Time: May 21, 2008, 10:34 am
Shooting children - as you say - God Forbid. The over-protective guardians. Sometimes, as I walk away I think of the famous Levitt shots of children; or HCB and the kid with the baguette. Can you imagine parents yelling out the window at them - hey - don’t take shots of my kids. No. And it wasn’t like that when I was a kid. I understand the fear - but it does get in the way sometimes.
The model photographers are arrogant. They’re paying for the model’s time. But jeez - it’s a public spot and I could stay there all day and photograph if I want to. Anyway - there’s so much paranoia in the air these days. Pretty soon my cat is going to be asking for a signed release.
Comment from Rex Lisman
Time: May 21, 2008, 11:17 pm
Amazing that a photographer, shooting in a public space, told you to stop shooting…in a public space. Hey, he probably uses pirated software and music, in his fancy flash slideshow, without permission from the artist.
I shudder to think what Helen Levitt would do if she were shooting these days.
Comment from Phil Brown
Time: May 21, 2008, 10:16 am
God forbid don’t take pictures of the children! I wonder when this particular moral panic will end. I suspect no time soon, probably not ever. Interesting that the photographer told you to stop taking pictures, as if that spot was a private studio for the duration of their shoot.