random thoughts about photography

i have this teacher named yosef cohen. he may not be the most liberal minded when it comes to photography but he does provide interesting insight. i remember saying that i "shoot" pictures rather than i "take" pictures. yosef then proceeded to kind of chew me out on my choice of words saying that i do not shoot but take or record things. i think it was also in his class where someone talked about how a photograph is a gift. it is offered to you to take. otherwise it is stolen. this is interesting because i have never come across this mentality in the states while studying photography. the photo students always nonchalantly used the word shoot or take. it is true, i think, that a photograph is a gift that has been given to you, especially if you work with people. it is a reward to getting to know the subject better. if one just barges in, demanding good pictures, there will surely be none. moreover, it's difficult to say if this mentality would inherently provide the best pictures. then this discussion goes into the intent of the photographer and whether the subject is being manipulated. etc etc etc. photography has always been an heated subject with many theories in approval of the medium and many more ready to tear it to pieces.

perhaps i should adopt this method and see where it takes me in photographing jerusalem and/or israel.