Disqus - Latest Comments for neilwade

Re: Hershey’s Chocolate World : Pennsylvania

neilwade — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:15:07 -0000

I grew up near Hershey and went to the park as a kid. I'm pretty sure it would horrify me too, if I went back now!

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:02:46 -0000

Well, one thing I've learned is that words really do matter. I'm sitting here sleepless, late at night, because some of you have made me feel like a terrible person for using the wrong words to try to encourage people to do a beautiful thing. All I wanted was for people to interact with people of different cultures more, to spread this thing called "Peacemaking" and then use their cameras to make it "Visual".

If you really don't understand my writing, I'll try to answer each of your questions, even though I don't understand why we're discussing this on this website, when they're mentioned on another site.

"NO! You stalk him!"
-if this reference, doesn't make you smile at the audacity, I'm sorry, it was meant to. I was trying to explain that you should find a nice background for the portrait, and rather than approach the person and then tell them to wait while you look around for one, you should look for one before you interrupt their day. I agree, if taken in its exact context, this is the worst thing I wrote.

"I’ve gotten on my hands and knees and begged… I’ve done little dances… I’ve pretended to cry… "
-I really did do all these things... once or twice each. If you thought that I meant to do this every time, I'm sorry, I didn't.
I got on my hands and knees for a woman that I had interacted with several times over three or four days. I was staying in a remote village in Shichuan, China and I got to know many of the locals. I saw her several times if I could photograph her and she always smiled and said no. It got to the point that it was a game between us and one of the last times I saw her I got on my knees and begged. She laughed and laughed... and never said yes. I never took her picture.
I did a little dance to impress some teenaged girls in Japan. They laughed and still shook their heads. I don't have a picture of them either.
I pretented to cry many times. Always for young children because I used to be a kindergarten teacher and know that kids always laugh when an adult pretends to cry... I have lots of these photos I could show you.

"The Mental Game" refers to what happens in MY head as I try to overcome my shyness in approaching people. I think that was clearly explained in the text..

"Hunting and Trapping"... Ok, I get it. And even though I live in a different culture than my own (Taiwan) and have had Taiwanese people tell me that they go places to watch and photograph foreigners (me), I've never been offended. I promise to change the wording on my site in the future. But for now I'm going to leave it to promote discussion.

I'm a terrible writer. This is the first time anyone has ever asked me to write for anything. I felt honored and excited to be asked. After writing, I asked IGVP if it sounded OK and if they wanted me to change anything and they had no objections. I thought I was doing something good, something that would help promote brotherly love in the world and help people communicate between cultures. I tried to write it in a fun-loving, light hearted way. I now regret regret taking time out of my very busy schedule to do something that I thought was right. I'm sorry.

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:39:00 -0000

I am really trying to understand everyone's objections, So let me ask you a question:

What you're saying is: If an Asian or African tourist (or anyone from a different culture (I'm sorry, I'm not sure what your culture is)) came up to you in your country and asked if they could take your photo, you would say no? Then, if they put their hands together and very nicely said "please", you would still say no? You would "hate" that this person from a very different culture wants to have a nice interaction and opportunity to share a moment with you?

I can't understand that. I would say yes the first time (And often do as I live in a different culture than my own and get asked quite often).

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:10:36 -0000

Agreed!

Here's the one I've been promoting the most:

2. We value our subjects by taking measures to interact with or involve them, and by treating storytelling and image-making as a collaboration.

Although I really like this one too!:

7. We ground ourselves in the humanity we all share when faced with differences, “otherness,” or bewilderment.

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:06:02 -0000

Thanks Trace! That's exactly the response I was trying to inspire!

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:54:27 -0000

Thank you Thomas! I think you are much better at saying what I'm thinking than I am!

Cheers,
-Neil

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:51:31 -0000

Hi Ray,
I'm not sure where you got the idea that I recommend throwing a "tantrum" or "holding people hostage," when all I do is recommend having a personal exchange, but I will clarify the "begging" remark (which was quickly mentioned on the other post, not this one)...

After getting up the nerve to walk up to someone on the street and ask to take their picture, it's all too easy for them to say "no" and you to say "ok" and leave. But what just happened? Chances are, they were scared to death of you and your big camera and their "no" was just a gut reaction to get out of a sudden uncomfortable moment (As is your reply of "ok"). I feel that asking a second time and showing them that they really are more important than a passing thought, can make them feel special and often, the answer the second time is "yes" (with a big smile). If that "yes" happens, you will end up leaving them with a lifelong good memory (and later send them a portrait that will last for life) instead of quickly walking away and leaving everyone with a bad feeling.

I never in my life would recommend "taking hostages" or "throwing a tantrum". All I recommend is to show your frightened subject that you have a sense of humor and don't mind acting a little silly to try to bridge the gap between the two of you! :-)

Re: Approaching People for Portraits | Blog | International Guild Of Visual Peacemakers

neilwade — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:35:41 -0000

Thanks everyone for the nice comments! I'm glad to see that this post has seemed to have brought up a little debate.
The obvious motivation I had for writing this post (and the one on my blog) was to get photographers to interact more with the people they see while traveling. I can't tell you how upset I am when I go to a touristy place and see photographers with 200 or 300mm lenses "stealing" portraits of locals as they walk by. The main point of the post is that you will give and receive untold rewards by having an exchange with your subjects and not to be discouraged by internal doubts about asking someone to take their picture.
I'm sorry if the tongue-in-cheek way I wrote the titles on my other post disagrees with you, but I'm not the most eloquent writer in the world, and I'll take it into thought as to how I word such posts in the future.

Re: Street Fashion & Japanese Pop-culture – Harajuku – Tokyo

neilwade — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:15:34 -0000

I love it. You gotta cut loose somehow!

Re: A Moving Sound – Visual Music

neilwade — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:51:58 -0000

Great pics. I heard about these guys (probably fro your last post) I'd love to go see them sometime!

Re: Light Your World in review and Photowalk 3

neilwade — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:51:10 -0000

Looks like you had a great time! Good work!

Re: Five For Friday – Noel Gallagher

neilwade — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:21:05 -0000

Nice shots.

Noel's looking quite old, eh?

Wait a minute... what does that make me?