Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Shooting Back
While recently traveling through Indonesia, I encountered on more than one occasion, people that were as interested in photographing me as I was them. This was rather new for me - and I found the interest in me from the Indonesian people rather curios and hard to explain. It also wasn't only me they were interested in photographing - Seth took on an even greater aura of "celebrity." If anyone has any thoughts or explanations I'd be interested in hearing them posted here...
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5 comments:
Actually, I'm a little surprised that you haven't been "shot" more often. (I'm assuming that you're using the 8x10).
When I'm working with large format in the streets, people seem to photograph us quite routinely. There are those who simply snap without approaching us, and others who ask permission. Some folks are nice enough to send us copies, which I find touching. Of course, the large format is somewhat of a conversation starter, especially in Europe. People usually assume the camera is an antique and ask if it makes pictures as good as a digital. (I find that touching as well, only in a different way).
Bob Kalman
Hi Richard. I think it's because of Southeast Asians' fascination with Caucasian features/Caucasians. Go to the Philippines and you'll get the same reception.
People are interested in people. And if they are talkative then they ask the questions. It's really simple. It happens to just about everyone in Indonesia.
You are interested in them and they are interested in you. the sequence is something like this, Who's this big guy taking our picture? Where does he come from? Where's he going? What's his name? What's his religion? How much does he earn? Is he married? Does he have children? Where does he live? Is he a movie star? Does he like spicy food?
And if they were more interested in Seth - he must be taller and more glamorous.
What questions do you think of when you take somebody's picture? Do you ask the questions or do you just think them?
Could it have been your tattoos? A friend of mine recently traveled around that part of the world, and got some questions. His arm is covered in ink.
Glad to see you had a good time in Indonesia. My girlfriend and I (though more so my girlfriend) had the same experience with Indonesians photographing us and asking us to be in pictures with them. The phenomenon seemed to increase the farther away we got from the city center in Jakarta - in rural regions, less touristy areas, etc.. basically places where it's less common to see white people. I think that the American cultural influence (Hollywood, fashion, tv) gets Indonesians, who have a different sense of etiquette, excited to see white people (bules), and thus they feel compelled to get snaps. Maybe your tattoos added to their fascination. In any case, I think it's fun and interesting. Typically, the Indos buzzing around with cell phone cams are all smiles.
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