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Alan K | all galleries >> Galleries >> Hanging Out In My PAD 2012 > 20120111_1114886 Rule 39 (Wed 11 Jan)
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11-Jan-2012 AKMC

20120111_1114886 Rule 39 (Wed 11 Jan)

Dolce And Gabbana, Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

Rule 39 is "There's no such thing as a coincidence".

This newly married Japanese couple appeared to be posing for photographs but I couldn't figure out where the photographer was. I then spotted him on the next level above, looking down from the balcony with a big, chunky black Canon and what I'd wager was the 70-200 f/2.8 IS on the front.

(Which I could have done with myself since, as you can see, the E-P1 does not like low light or an ISO higher than about 200 before things get quite grainy.)

I had PAD candidates for the day which were technically vastly better, but decided to go for this one anyway given the coincidence of these two doing their shoot right outside the Dolce and Gabbana store only a couple of days after I read this article.

More than a thousand people protested outside a Dolce and Gabbana store in Hong Kong on Sunday after the Italian clothing store allegedly prevented people from taking photographs of its shop front.
The protest followed reports that a Dolce and Gabbana security guard had stopped a photographer taking pictures of its shopfront from the pavement outside.
More than 13,000 people had protested over the incident on Facebook.
People gathered Sunday outside the fashion brand's flagship Hong Kong store taking photos while some carried placards denouncing the store's actions.


It could just be a coincidence since I'm fairly sure that these two were Japanese, not Chinese and would be unlikely to be making a point in relation to that incident. But then, maybe they're photographers themselves and are making a point on that basis. After all, Rule 39...

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David Sands11-Feb-2012 00:34
great snap
David Sands11-Feb-2012 00:34
I was recently almost arrested in the City of Chicago for taking pictures of "secure infrastructure" Known as the SUBWAY. After the incident- which the police were called- I pulled up the "rules" via my iphone and almost smashed it in the train peoples face: Photos are ALLOWED in ANY public area.... Photo rights are fading- Stand up for your rights!
Marisa Livet16-Jan-2012 15:27
This photos is a meaningful candid and tells a story, as for D&G and the riots of Chinese photographers, well I’d like everybody could take photos of public places, when they respect people’s privacy, even though I’m not sure to fully understand what taking pictures of shop windows with advertising posters taken by professional photographer has really to do with good amateur photography.
I don’t like interdictions and I’d be glad people didn’t need interdictions to know by themselves what is better avoiding to do, but if I really had to fix an interdiction in photography, then I’ d forbid the use of powerful tele-photo lenses on beaches to steal from distance and unnoticed photos of unaware ladies taking sun.
Ann...12-Jan-2012 10:56
I like your thinking here. People are getting so "precious" about what they think others should and shouldn't photograph. I really hope that the couple were posing there to make a point!
RC11-Jan-2012 20:46
Great capture in a difficult position! I had not heard about that story, but very interesting that you happened across this photo shoot after reading that news!
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