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Rapport
and Respect |
March
3, 2001 - Otavalo, Ecuador |
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Otavalo
is a tourist center
in Ecuador. The indigenous people of the region produce
exquisite handicrafts, particularly textiles and clothing.
Beautiful stuff that they just about give away, considering
the time invested in each piece. |
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I didn't
have much fun in Otavalo. Even though the people are distinctive
in their attire, customs and looks, I didn't get many
good photos. The people don't want their picture taken;
they just want too sell you something. Of course I am
generalizing and of course the people outside of town
tend to be much friendlier. |
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Saturday
is Market day in Otavalo when everyone sets up shop
on the streets in a certain section of town in anticipation
of all the shoppers, tourist and resident. Very
early Saturday morning is the animal market just
outside of town. The attraction for tourists, me
included, is the photo opportunity. The only things
for sale there are farm animals and the occasional
llama. To find the location I was told to look for
someone on the street walking with their pig or
cow; that's where they'd be headed.
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It was an interesting scene, but I felt very separate
from it all, with no business there but to gawk
and take photos of people who didn't want their
picture taken. It's not hard to understand how they
feel. It's not much different than celebrities who
are hounded by the press and whose privacy is consistently
under assault by the eye of a camera lens. |
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Why
am I telling you this? This issue has been heightened
for me by some email correspondence with someone writing
a guide for photographers. He asked me about laws of regulations
governing the photography of indigenous people. I'd never
heard of such a thing and I told him so. Apparently something
of the sort is happening in other parts of the world.
If it is indeed happening, I think it is a good thing.
Princess Di deserved respect and privacy, as does Arnold
Swartzenegger. And so too, indigenous people. People in
general do not appreciate a camera in their face and not
knowing what will become of their image. |
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I don't
like taking pictures of people who don't want them taken.
It drains me to try. It is not my nature or personality.
It isn't fun upsetting people and I wouldn't want someone
doing the same to me. Don't get me wrong, it's not that
I have never taken a picture of an unknowing subject.
I have and I do from time to time. But sneaking around
and possibly upsetting people isn't fun. |
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The San
Blas Indians of Panama are another visually and culturally
fascinating group. They have devised a commercially viable
policy to deal with the influx of shutterbugs. A buck
a click. And they are serious about it. If you took their
picture, you OWE them a dollar! The picture sucks because
they stood there like a statue earning their fee. But
I think they are well within their rights to demand a
dollar. More power to 'em.
What about me and what I do? Would laws protecting the
rights of indigenous people prevent me from doing what
I like to do? I don't think so. It's about rapport and
respect. Any such law would not prevent someone from allowing
someone to take their picture, but hopefully prevent photos
taken against their will. |
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There
was actually someone in Otavalo who wanted me to
take a picture. She was a very sweet older woman
who ran the Los Angeles Pension. I liked her little
place and she asked me to send my friends. A place
with a drab gray entrance that opens up into bright
and beautiful murals everywhere. Friendly, clean
and secure. You can't ask for much more for two
dollars a night! |
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