August 1999
Ok, I´ll accept that it doesn´t quite measure up to Doisneau´s "Kiss", but I´ll guarantee that it wasn´t posed. In fact I only had seconds to set my exposure and distance when I saw this reflected in the window of a train at the next platform...spun around and got just one shot (OM 1, 24mm, F 2.8 @ 1/15, TMAX 400)
But it was also a reminder of the occasional difficulties of pointing cameras at people in public places. Some East-europeans are still a bit uncomfortable about this and will turn aside, cover their faces, or even object loudly.
Once, I was with a politician in a public gallery and was pounced on by a zealous security guard when my trusty (& rusty) XA emerged for a perfectly innocent snap "...verboten...etc" despite my protestations, and he proceeded to follow us throughout the gallery, literally peeking from corners and ducking out of sight if I looked back at him (all in the best B-grade cold war movie tradition). I was told that he was most probably one of the many "watchers" left over from the old regime here.
I´ve just purchased a Konica Hexar (not having the extra zero to make it a Leica)...but by all accounts the lens is superb, and it does quite fit the bill for street photography. Maybe a report on that later.
Meanwhile Summer continues to be beautiful, though I sometimes miss the mountains and the sea.
Tschüss,
Dean