Thanks for the link, Rob.
I admire the engagement he has with people, something I've managed to do and enjoy doing, but it's so destination, culture and religion dependent.
India was easy, Morocco far less so.
Yes, he has a nice and easy manner and gives no sense of nerves or fear. I’ve been thinking about that for a while, and I wonder if it has something to do with nationality/origins. There’s a sense that I get that folks from the first world may be carting around a bag of complexes - even perhaps guilt from a subliminal feeling of national superiority (when abroad) that could make them hesitant to go straight out and make the shot: the fear of appearing arrogant and entitled, perhaps.
In our own patch, we should feel more confident, but often can’t because of that damned matter of motivation: we know we are being intrusive and yes, voyeurism is at the heart of it; I can’t honestly think of another driver. Photography is a strange bird. I think that it suffers more than, say, painting, from self-doubts, doubts about whether it truly is an art or simply a craft. Maybe it doesn’t matter much to most people, but I am aware of several big photographic names going out of their way to disown the mantle of artist - Peter Lindbergh was one such. I see it reflected in the stupidity of so many published “artist’s statements” to be found in photographer’s websites: you look at the photos and can see nothing that matches the hype. I don’t think this modern world lends itself much to honesty.
