Get It And Get Away
Don’t linger. Something bad always happens when you linger.
I spend a lot of time on the periphery of what I want to make photos of. Standing away from the action, observing, watching, calculating, waiting until the moment is ready to appear.
Then I quickly move to where I’ve decided I need to be to make the photo. Often that place is where I’m not allowed or a spot that requires permissions or attendance by someone of authority.
The intent is to get the photo you wanted and then quickly retreat to a better position where permission isn’t required. Don’t get to the spot for your photo and linger. You are going to get yelled at. If you act as I suggest the person of authority will have just started to express their objection to your position but be held back because you are no longer there.
Linger and get called out. Quickly make the photo and get away. The worst that will then happen is a stern warning about where you were and not to do it again.
That is perfectly OK as you’ve already found the second and third locations where you don’t intend to linger and will soon travel to both for photos.
Another part of this “don’t linger” ritual is to not make eye contact with the authority figure. Eye contact is the opening act of a dialogue you don’t want to have. You can’t ignore the punishment, but you can avoid it as long as possible.
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