Musings of a Lost Paparazza Career

[F, Calla & Luca]

Our monthly assignment is to photograph strangers and I learned a lot in one day. For a long time I've been contemplating my next life stage if I retire completely. I now know that being a paparazza is not the career for me. We had debated in our group discussion if taking pictures of strangers was OK. The consensus was photos are OK in a public place but you can always ask.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/august-assignment-portrait...

My outing started off with a bang, literally, as someone ran her car over a curb ripping some things from underneath.

My observations were as follows. If you ask someone if you can take their picture they ask some more questions. I felt obliged to be truthful and the fact that it was for a photography group on a dog site did not allay any fears. Luckily it all stayed friendly, unlike some paparazzi encounters.

So, I tried to be surreptitious and not raise the camera to my eye. This is a sample of what I got. What did I think, the camera needed to be angled at 90 degrees from my cart? Never mind all the out of focus, just plain bad shots I got that actually included people.Some from my car,while stopped at lights, were awful too.

I went to a well known countrywide store since it was where I could see many strangers. I am not mentioning the name, although you can figure that out in a jiffy, so maybe they won't ban me for life.  It also, being just over the border in New York state has a very diverse population. There are many Hasidic Jews who shop here. I find the culture interesting and tried to be respectful. I learned that although they may have good connections with God they spend a great deal of time on their cell phones.Throughout the store I saw Hasidic men, not women,on their cell phones. They often dress their children in the same outfits, perhaps since they tend to have large families it's easier to identify their own family.  I am not using my images here since I don't want them on the front page of DK but these images are already distributed on the web.

And I think that maybe cleaning supplies are the main reason folks go to this store, it is a main reason for me. It seems we are obsessed with cleanliness, which as we have been told is next to godliness. Often think I have bought a lifetime supply of something and yet one day I need to return and buy more of that thing. Good genes I guess.

As part of my mission, I got photographic evidence that Karen is right when she says never buy dog treat from a big box store. Made in China. There were many more. Yet why do I sometimes but food for me in this store : (

And things can get subtle, like this treat manufactured in The USA with globally sourced ingredients

The good news was that since I was preoccupied with taking photos, finding evidence for the food group, thinking about a blog and being stealthy, I bought far less than I usually do. I also learned once again that writing a blog, while trying not to hurt anyone's feelings and yet attempting to be funny is a lot of work. My hat's off to those who do it regularly, you know who you are.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Donna, yes I agree on both observations.

[Donna K & Quincy]

F, I am relieved that wasn't your car and I'm also relieved that there were no fisticuffs involved. It is a bit uncomfortable photographing strangers. :>) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

It wasn't NYC. I live not far from the border from Rockland County, NY. No street performers, No movie stars I know of although Helen Hayes and Rosie O'Donnell used to live in Nyack. No crowds except the shoppers. Just suburban everyday stuff. So when you arrive we can go to NYC : ) 

[DJ & Chance]

Love this! The photos are a great addition to the narrative--felt like I was there.  "Globally sourced materials"--good grief, what deceptive labeling tactics will they come up with next.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

You went to NYC and took pics of Hasidic Jews and cleaning supplies  :)   Bless your heart, but maybe I can offer a suggestion for your career path.

What or Who could you possible photograph in NYC?   Movie Stars!   Street Performers!   Crowds.  Movie Stars, Street Performers... Okay, so Costco could have had those too. 

Next time, I want to go with you. I think it would be a total blast with both of us driving around with the lenses sticking out the windows.  Paparazzi Doo