And the picture becomes a game
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Click on the photo to see the series.
I stayed for several days already in a Nepalese village and I stayed in a small Guest House (which was more of a homestay than a "hotel") held by two women, Loxmi 79 years old and daughter of Tiza a fifty year. I was incredibly received and stayed with them three weeks to observe and learn the lives of Nepalese farmers.
In the middle of my stay, I organized a little "photo shoot". I already had the picture in mind a few days before and I told my two models the day before that I like to make a picture of themselves in their kitchen during their "tea break" daily. Tiza Loxmi and seemed quite enthusiastic. Was an understatement.
The next morning, I left all my gear: The device, mounted on a tripod, remote control (not to keep an eye glued behind the case and communicate more easily with the models), and the ultimate, a reflector to "lead" the dark parts held by an assistant. It was enough for my two budding stars will take the game and work to readjust their dresses, their hair rearrange, hide unsightly fold, as models of real pros
.
The meeting at length about ten minutes at most, in an atmosphere of jokes and laughter!
The portrait photography and "humanist" things are not easy. For me, it's never easy to get into people's privacy and their aim a camera under the nose. When I photograph a person, I still have that modesty brings me lots of questions: "Is what I did not bother with my pictures, I do not abusing its time, it must Tired of having all the time took pictures ....
It is recognized that in areas frequented by tourism, some people are highly sought after for portraits and not always the most sensitive (There are even many, many shocking behavior from some photographers but I think ... c is another matter) and become quite reluctant to the idea of being pulled yet another portrait again.
But sometimes, the picture may become a game and fun for the photographer and the (s) model (s). Taking his time, forging links, complicity, people gain confidence and become more relaxed. I think the quick installation of all equipment there is also a little, showing that it wants to make a serious picture and the best possible conditions, the models feel honored by all the attention and ask without hesitation. In any case, what I felt in making this meeting and a few others. It goes without saying that in this case, send some prints to people photographed !!!!! If they play the game, he must play too.
Overall I am satisfied with the result because the photo is what I had in mind as soon as I saw the kitchen, but I'm especially pleased with how this session is held and the atmosphere there was.
As I said a little earlier, I am a bit "obsessed" with ethical issues and I sometimes have difficulties to overcome my shyness. This session gave me great motivation to repeat this kind of experience and made me realize that the photo could be a game and a source of good humor, without being experienced as a constraint or voyeurism. It depends (again) how it's done and how we approach people.






