The Human Zoo
I’ve been browsing my photos from a recent trip up the mountains to Nong Khiau and am growing progressively bored of looking at them. The primary reason for this is the repetitious ’scenery shot after scenery shot’ layout, with a random localised shot thrown in.
There are only so many mountain-and-stream photos I feel it worthwhile to put up on my blog, and so I think I’ll just post this one:
The sun sets over Nong Khiau (Kiow, Khiow, Kheau.. depending on who you ask!).
The reasons for this repetition are several-fold, with the primary one being mostly philosophical.
It’s highlighted by Matt’s comment on a photograph I took of some school children in Cambodia:
“Would love to see more pics of locals like this, but I know you like to avoid confrontation.”
Initially I smiled and shrugged, but then I got to thinking about what exactly makes me refrain from putting my camera in peoples’ faces to get those ‘local’ shots.
And the answer to that simple question came almost instantaneously.
I have resolved that we, as tourists, very often treat the everyday people of Third World countries like animals in a zoo; like freaks in a sideshow or moving, living characters in a natural exhibition.
I constantly see tourists sitting or squatting a meter or two away from a local person - who is going about their oft-monotonous every day task - with their camera pretty much stuck in their face, going click… click… click.
Visitors wander the night markets, sitting on stools to shoot frames of the people trying to sell scarves and trinkets, stools intended for people to sit and inspect their wares, only to glance at their photo-handiwork before walking off without even acknowledging the worker they’ve just been shooting.
Seemingly gone is any sense of discretion or a respect for the local person’s privacy. Every other tourist here seems to have a dSLR and a ‘mini-PC’; big cameras stuck in small people’s faces, pausing to review their photographs and then repeating.
And frankly, it embarrasses me.
This is why I’ve not got many photos in my collection of people doing ordinary things.
Occasionally someone would pose or instruct me to take their photo (young kids are often quite forceful about you taking their photograph! Now!) and they would smile when I show them the photo on the camera.
I think that is their main impetuous for asking to be photographed; to see themselves on the little screen!
Also noteworthy I reckon: I’ve had a few tourists pose and ask me to photograph them, only to then hand me a business card and ask me to email it to them..! This happened a few times at Angkor Wat etc in Cambodia, and mostly by Korean people it seemed.
My quotation of hourly rates was often met with a blank stare.
So anyhow, more often than not and due primarily to our lovingly frakked up social system in the West, I usually delete photos of very young children after I take them. Probably an over-reaction, but then I really don’t want a collection of photos of little kids to begin with.
I guess what this also emphasises to me, and is quite depressing in the realisation, is that I have not taken much of any photojournalistic worth during my time away.
For if content is photojournalistic in nature and also involved photographing people then I doubt I would refrain from doing so; children working in a lumber camp or mine; monks carrying out an interesting ritual; people living in destitution in the backdrop of a big city; child soldiers etc.
On the up side though is that I feel I’ve discovered a lot in regards to the way to travel and locate these sorts of stories, what gear to travel with to do so and how you must leave yourself open to spontaneity.
For example, two nights ago in Nong Kheow/Khiau/Khiow just on dusk, while I was photographing the sunset, two fishermen told me they were going fishing and that I could join them.
I had my big old D700 and lens around my neck, the boat was small and seemingly taking on water, it was getting dark, mozzies were swarming and I had no Bushman spray on me. So I chickened out.
In the same situation with a better prepared backpack (with water and spray), my OM4 film and digital ‘point and shoot’ cameras, some 1600 ASA film and a better understanding of some of the local language and customs I would have definitely joined them on their evening fish.
Similarly in Vientiane a truck pulled up next to me with a few dust covered stone masons on the back, along with a few half-completed Buddha statues. They looked at me and smiled, and I know I could have just jumped on the back and joined them wherever they were heading.
With more confidence and decisiveness, a better understanding of what I should bring and carry around, and more mobility (physically, damn knees), I would go about things very differently.
This will of course come in time and will hopefully lead to many more photojournalistic opportunities that I’ve currently experienced during this trip.
And that is where I feel this trip has been so, so beneficial and unbelievably fun; it has taught me how to prepare for the next one, on which I will learn more how to prepare for the next one etc etc.
Until then, though, I really don’t feel comfortable taking staged photos of people doing whatever they do as their day-to-day task, as though they exist in their country purely as a living and moving observation for the rich and a/effluent.
Along with not enjoying taking those photos, I don’t really see them as being overly important. They are often devoid of emotion and integrity, primarily serving well as holiday ’snaps’.
Most of all, and most importantly to me, I just don’t want to contribute to the Human Zoo.
Tags: human zoo
Scott
I believe you have intuited correctly on not taking snaps of people, at close range, as they go about their daily activities. Surely it is an intrusion into their private lives - would the photographer enjoy being “snapped” in similar fashion as they put together widgets on the production line? And, I sense that too many tourists (NOT travellers) fail to understand that they are actually guests in another person’s land.
It also seems you have learnt many, many valuable lessons in succesful travel, something you will undoubtedly enjoy for many years hence.
It is a continuing pleasure reading your blog (in particular) and viewing your stunning and thought-provoking photography. But then I would eb biased, wouldn’t I?
Yeah, I hear ya… I go through the same dilemma when I am traveling. Sometimes I have to take photos of people, but I always feel very uneasy about it as I know how much I hate having my picture taken. Your landscapes are very very beautiful though, I am seriously envious of the shots you’re taking.
As for preparation & spontaneity… I think in some way we are also similar (probably through conditioning in the army) as I am also one for trying to prepare for every contingency. I think risk taking is absolutely crucial to the success of a lot of photographers, journos and others. Sometimes we need to weigh up the potential rewards with the actual (not imagined) likelihood of disaster/worse case scenario and then take the plunge. I’ve had a few discussions about this with a very successful war photographer PJ mate of mine… I think he’s nuts, but he’s obviously more in tune with his ‘instincts’ than I am with mine, because he goes to some pretty risky places and manages to come back safe and sound with a lot of exceptional shots, almost every time.
Interesting reading your comments about the “Human Zoo” attitude - it was also my experience of travelling in India and Nepal where tourists would quite intrusively snap pictures of people going about their local business, or of maimed beggars in the streets (getting quite close and personal). I like your rationale and it’s also, partly, mine when travelling.
However, I think that there is possibility of some compromise — and this is where you can get implicit permission/acknowledgment to take photographs of locals, by their being comfortable with your presence and with your photographing them. It takes a lot more time, though, and is not something to do if you are “sightseeing on a schedule” as it requires returning to the same spot/s again and again with and without the camera, or just waiting in the one spot without taking any photos but engaging with the people, up until the point when they are comfortable with your presence and the presence of your camera.
I think this is why you were able to take photos of the schoolkids in the village (as there was a context for your visit), but, rightly so, shy away from being intrusive and just snapping away at people doing their daily chores/work.
Very true Seng, I experienced that in Cuba and also in a couple of small ‘back’ sois in Bangkok that I spend time in working on a personal project documenting the change. But I am always a little hesitant and uneasy. Having time does definitely help to lower the barriers, real or imagined.
One’s temperament also makes a difference I think. I think that whilst some people are boorish, insensitive and will click away regardless, others just have the knack of charming/disarming strangers in an instant are able to get fantastic portraits very quickly. Mark Roy is one of the latter IMO. Hell, when we were in Bangkok, complete strangers were even offering him their motorbikes to test ride.
In my defense, I treat the citizens of first world countries much the same.
Wow, did I trigger this stream of consciousness? It is great that you picked up on what I was thinking when I wrote that comment. I myself shy away from asking people if I can take a photo of them, despite the fact that they happily pose pretty much every time. Kids are easy, but I don’t like imposing on people who are ovbviously engagedin conversation or otherwise going about their business.
I saw a documentary of a PJ who was travelling through Cambodia (if I remember correctly) and he didn’t mind asking people every now and then if he can take their pic. I was amazed how much of the atmosphere the resulting photo captured (that’s for you, Seng!) despite the fact that the subject was aware they were being photographed.
I feel for you man, and I know what it would be like to get home and feel good about respecting people’s privacy but at the same time thinking you might have missed out on some great opportunities. I say try it just a few times, and treasure those few photos. I have only met you once and can therefore say with confidence that your first impressions don’t come across as someone who is “in your face”, and I think most people will see that off the bat. And that’s a valuable quality for a photog.
matt
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Scott,
I so agree with you on the perspective of taking ‘tourist’ pictures of locals [I have resolved that we, as tourists, very often treat the everyday people of Third World countries like animals in a zoo; like freaks in a sideshow or moving, living characters in a natural exhibition.] As a rule, I seldom take any pictures of people but I did find myself doing some of that on the streets of China in Loudi. I did however take my time and watch them first and then motion to my camera asking via pointing if it was ok to take the shot. I was pleased to get those up close and personal images as it provided such great color for my memories.
Love the image of Cambodia! I have some missionary friends who have lived in China for 8 years now and work with an orphanage near Phnom Pen! I plan on making another trip to China next year and hope to hit Cambodia then!
Blessings from Texas,
Scotti G
Scott, interesting thoughts. And it wouldn’t hurt a few tourists to think this through. Just because someone has crossed some artificial geographic boundaries it shouldn’t mean they can leave their ethics (or, indeed, basic manners) behind.
Spiro, yes, I think there is a definite difference between a ‘tourist’ and a ‘traveller’. A traveller is curious about the places she engages with. Whereas a tourist sees each country as a commodity, a recreation, a thing to ‘do’ or to ‘buy’.
I’ve never been comfortable as a tourist and as a result have not seen a lot of the world. I always prefer a good reason to be in a place (such as work, family, friends) even though i love travelling. And even now, having been in Cambodia for nearly six months, i’ve yet to ‘do’ Angkor Wat. I may get there eventually, but while in Australia I never rushed out to see Uluru either. Though i got there eventually too - on assignment for a knitting magazine, of all things.
Photographing people? Most people don’t mind being photographed. Some love it, but some hate it. I always ask first. Even without a great command of the language, it’s easy enough to ask. You get the person’s attention, point at the camera, point at them, and raise your eyebrows or ask “OK?” People understand; they’re not stupid. If they say no, thank them and move on. Sometimes they say no, but smile and look shy. You might want to engage them further. Sometimes they can’t understand why you would want to photograph them; it’s just modesty. These people are often more fun and rewarding to work with.
With modelling (and this applies generally) the people who are most photogenic are not the ones who are the best looking or the most beautiful. Beautiful people can often look ungainly and even ugly in a photograph. It’s people who love the camera and who enjoy themselves who always look good. Unless you’re shooting gritty, provocative photorealism, getting people to engage with you, to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves ALWAYS produces a better result.
Jules - thanks for the suggstion that i’m very good at disarming strangers, but IMHO i think a bit of army training would leave me better equipped for that.
Keep on firin’
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