Have you started filming yet love?

Living away from home can make it easier to recognise the values of your own culture. And one thing I wouldn’t have noticed in the old days when I took everything that English people do for granted is that English people are so nice.

When I took Vlad out on its first outing on boxing day, I stopped to photograph a church in Edale. A couple walking up the road approached, stopped and asked if I had started filming yet. I liked that they thought my Hasselblad was an old fashioned cine camera, but more than that I was shocked by how nice they were being. If I had started filming, I’m sure they would have waited until I’d got my scene.

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And on this trip to the UK at Easter I smiled to myself every time a walker passed and said “good morning”. It never happens out in the dunes in Holland. It was a busy day. I smiled a lot. No one passed by without acknowledging us.

And later when I set up my tripod and rolled out my 20 foot cable release across the footpath, the other hikers just smiled politely and gave me a wide berth so they wouldn’t disturb my shot.

~ by Debra on March 29, 2008.

Posted in Hasselblad, Photography, Travel
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

5 Responses to “Have you started filming yet love?”

  1. [...] 12/52 To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player. F.decorate(_ge(’button_bar’), F._photo_button_bar).bar_go_go_go(2370370369, 0); F.decorate(_ge(’photo_notes’), F._photo_notes).notes_go_go_go(2370370369, ‘http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2370370369_25e317bf23_t.jpg’, ‘3.1444′); View ronet’s map Taken in Bakewell, England (See more photos here) 53°11′ 24″ N, 1°44′ 45″ W53.189878-1.745839 English people are so nice.  [...]

    12/52 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! said this on March 29, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  2. You’re right, it is nice that people still say hello - not everywhere, but certainly if you go walking. I also find carrying a camera is a talking point between fellow photographers - this happens far more now that V1M has the DSLR, no-one gives the compact a second glance. People are generally very nice and try to keep out of the way if you’re taking a picture :)

    Denise said this on March 29, 2008 at 7:33 pm

  3. Thanks so much for your tears on my blog. I hope sometime to bring you laughter as well.
    Vermont in the US has friendly people like that, in fact, and English woman visiting was amazed to see the similarities in countryside and friendly people. No shortage of respect and support for creativity.
    Be well,
    Kip

    kip de Moll said this on March 31, 2008 at 5:16 pm

  4. Once again, another reason I miss the UK. Memories…

    Jeremy Osborne said this on April 1, 2008 at 2:01 am

  5. Denise - it’s interesting that people react differently to a compact and an SLR. When Vlad is not on its tripod it came become quite invisible (if only it was silent it would make a great stealth camera.) With a toy camera like a Holga, people tend to give a wide berth if they notice. (Why is that grown up woman pointing a squirty camera at me?)

    kip - though I don’t know Vermont, I do find Americans to be a friendly bunch. Good to hear that there is a healthy respect for creativity.

    Jeremy - me too!

    Debra said this on April 2, 2008 at 12:01 pm

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