The Best Part of Street Shooting is Returning

[Robert Watcher]

It's true - - - one of the coolest aspects of the work that I do of photographing the people of foreign countries - is returning and having them not only remember me, but provide huge hugs and considering me a friend. That is the case even if I have only met and interacted with them for a few moments.

My photography allows that to happen . . .

. . . I returned to the city of Granada 2 years later, after taking a few pictures of a family who lived in the area where we were staying for a two month stint there. Anne and I saw them outside their house and kind of snuck up on them from behind. We had no idea if they would remember us or not - - - but the response was immediate with hugs and crying.

The man Juan immediately went into the house and came out with his photo book full of family memories. He proudly opened to the pages where prints that I had given him where placed. One day two years earlier, I had asked to take a couple of photos of their family.

I then handed him my camera (as I often do) and had him take a couple photos of Anne and I. He had those prints as well in his book. Then he pointed the photo out of Anne and I squeezing in tight with funny faces, and implied that a great photographer (him) took that awesome photo of us, and laughed and laughed - really rubbing it in. That photograph was his favourite and he is proud that he took it with a professional photographers camera.

A few moments later we left. Some day in the future it will be time to visit again hopefully.

​

 

[Asher Kelman]

Rarely do tourists keep their promises and send pictures. In fact, in the digital age, rarely does anyone get to see something as old-fashioned as a glossy print for an album!

Glad you help to sustain the natural friendliness of the Nicaraguans who reach out to you. This helps dispel the spread of the ethos of the "Ugly American".

Kudos!

Asher

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

...This helps dispel the spread of the ethos of the "Ugly American"....

Nope, they know that Rob is Canadian.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Nope, they know that Rob is Canadian.

Really, Cem, Canadian is passed for American. I doubt most folks no the difference! Just think of how much education one needs to know these subtle distinctions! After all, George Bush's Yale education didn't prepare him for the fact that Africa was not just another little country, but an entire frickin continent and the Latvia and Lithuania were actually countries and not cities on the train to Moscow!

So you really think the dirt poor in South America actually know the make up subtleties of North America? Not the average folk!

When I was in Africa, one lot of villagers thought the superpowers were America, Israel and Russia - likely as those were the folk who visited and traded with then the most!

OTOH, in Turkey, more commonly, everyday people in Istanbul, for example, have some basic understanding of some Geography. That has been part of their survival! More insulated people are much less savvy!

So back to Rob giving real prints to his new friends - that gets credited to the USA, even if he says, "I'm Canadian!". After all, I can say I am Beverly Hillsian, and even then, they attribute my good or bad behavior, once more, to the USA!

Asher

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

No worries Asher, I was just joking. Hence the smiley.

 

[Robert Watcher]

Nope, they know that Rob is Canadian.

HeHeHe (or in Spanish JaJaJa) - yup I'm Canadian although I always chuckle when Nicaraguans I have come to know say to me "You are osmost Nicaraguense".

So you really think the dirt poor in South America actually know the make up subtleties of North America? Not the average folk!

LOL - a few might presume every white person is American (technically it's those from the U.S or Estados Unidos, as Nicaraguans are also American - and Mexicans are North American), but most Nicaraguans are in the custom of asking where you are from right off the bat. Once they know, they never forget. It seems they love Canadians for the most part. Lots of them are seen wearing Toronto Blue Jays caps and T Shirts and listening to Brian Adams, Avril Lavine, Justin Bieber or many other Canadian bands.

They know the difference. And most definitely the dirt poor know there is a difference between a Canadian, a European, an American and an Ausi - all of whom look basically the same. They might not care to know everything about those countries and probably haven't been taught such things in school or through osmosis, but I will heavily defend them and think it would be an insult to presume there is a deficiency in education or ability because someone is dirt poor. The Nicaraguan poor and less formally educated that I know are extremely intelligent, proud, skilled, savvy, hard working and detail oriented.

When it comes to tourism and the money that it brings in from visitors from the United States - - - like everywhere in the world, the Nicaraguan people in general love that part. That doesn't make it a good thing, people steal and kill and tolerate all kinds of injustices if they are going to benefit financially. But certainly it is the U.S. politics where most animosity comes from, not the U.S. people for the most part - - - - and most everyday Nicaraguans I think appreciate that.

But there is still an underlying negative sentimentality against the United States - and rightly so for how past foreign policy has crippled the country and contributed to the poverty of the Nicaraguan people. That certainly does not imply that domestic policy hasn't contributed as well. Previous governments as well as Sandinista governments running on the mandate of helping the poor and needy - contribute to the current poverty as well.

True - there doesn't appear to be an aggressive Anti U.S. sentiment - - - but even in 2015 it is visible in the city of Leon where Anne and I are living.

Prominent in the La Casa de Cultura there is the famous painting of Ronald Reagan rifle in his crossed arms, sitting on the shoulders of a Nicaraguan peasant woman who has slit her wrists with the blood dripping. Henry Kissinger and Caspar Weinberger as jesters look on.

http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/photo/painting-of-ronald-reagan-sitting-on-high-res-stock-photography/149693648

Then in the main Centre of Leon where everyone gathers, the Revolution Museum (owned and run by many soldiers from the revolution and Contra/Sandinista war during the 80's) contains the brutal feelings of some with the words of "Bush Genocide" and "Enemy of humanity" spray painted on the walls. There has been no attempt to paint over or cover up this graffiti.

​

 

[Robert Watcher]

After all, George Bush's Yale education didn't prepare him for the fact that Africa was not just another little country, but an entire frickin continent and the Latvia and Lithuania were actually countries and not cities on the train to Moscow!

I am most certainly not ANTI-U.S.A so take this as a personal observation, and not as a disparaging remark please . . . one of the qualities that I have noticed in most "Americans" whom I know, is that they know relatively little about anything other than their own country and what goes on in it. Maybe one of the limitations of being the most powerful nation on earth.

For the most part Canadians and many Europeans whom I have met, actually have quite extensive understanding about what goes on around the world and know many details about countries outside their domain. For us as Canadians, learning the geography and politics of the world and even learning to memorize all of the states of the U.S - was an integral part of our primary education (no need to go to university for that). Why? Because our leaders of education feel that it mattered. We are neighbours.

Canadians and Americans have such close ties and yet the fact is that Canadians know a lot about the U.S.A and "Americans" know very little about Canada.

Want a good laugh - check these vids out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHON2Zub_2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ereFbjh4z1U


Talking about George Bush understanding of Canadian politics, Canadians chuckle at this (the Prime Minister at the time was Jean Chrétien not Mister Poutine):

https://youtu.be/ereFbjh4z1U?t=7m58s


Don't worry though - Canadians love Americans and the rest of the world. Although Quebecers don't necessarily love Canada LOL.


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[Asher Kelman]

Talking about George Bush understanding of Canadian politics, Canadians chuckle at this (the Prime Minister at the time was Jean Chrétien not Mister Poutine):

https://youtu.be/ereFbjh4z1U?t=7m58s

I am almost at the brink of getting caught, over and over again. Sometimes I'm asked, "What do you think of "so an so's" photography?" Or the the casual remark might be, "Doesn't it remind you of the photography of Peter Gravin?" or some other name I've never heard of before!

My caution is to declare ignorance. "I'm sorry, I have never heard of these folk. Tell me about them."

I am certain about the few things I know and comfortable in being a declared an ignoramus on many things people might expect an educated fellow to be fluent with.

However, for a Presidential candidate, it's much harder to declare complete ignorance of the name of the Prime Minister of our massively important Northern Neighbor. A more candid candidate could have answered the reporter's question, "The prime minister of Canada? Never met him. That's one of there first matters on my agenda. Frankly, right now, I'd want their Hockey players working for my administration!"

One cannot ever quote something as fact one is not sure of independently. But one can trick ordinary folk any time of the day!

Asher

 

[Robert Watcher]

However, for a Presidential candidate, it's much harder to declare complete ignorance of the name of the Prime Minister of our massively important Northern Neighbor.

Almost makes a person think that they don't care, doesn't it. Of course not making the effort to know, is not unique to any person or country.

I personally work very hard at getting to know basic things like people's names when I meet them. It makes them feel warm and fuzzy - like I care. Even without our meeting each in person, I know and address you as Asher and likewise you to me as Rob. Feels like we know each other doesn't it, even if we really don't.

But the effort is worth it and far better than you being addressed as the guy that runs the photography forum, and me as the photographer who takes pictures in Nicaragua. To not acknowledge when we should know, is either to be ignorant or arrogant or lazy - or at least could easily be construed that way.

It always makes me feel so good when I am in a country like Nicaragua and have met someone briefly and when I return months or even years later, they recognize me and sometimes even remember details. The lack of that kind of interest, always irritated me in Canadian businesses when I would shop for camera supplies and gear regularly and spend thousands of dollars each year - and when I entered the store, It was like I had never been there before.

I agree with your response of "I haven't met . . . I'll have to do that . . . tell me more". At least it is still showing interest, especially when it motivates learning and remembering. That said, these TV shows are just that Entertainment, heavily edited and with a commercial agenda. But it's fun for us Canadians to be entertained with.

Hopefully you can do better than these guys (2015 article) LOL: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/03/24/americans-answer-basic-canada-questions_n_6933488.html


But then there is the reality check for all of us Canadians about our own country 3/5:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/historica-canada/canadian-citizenship_b_5989400.html?



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