Is camera a Medusa's head?

Red and gray, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Leaf flower, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Red barn, originally uploaded by jiihaa.

Yesterday I finished reading "The Genius of Photography" book. It was revelatory, finishing with art photography and using photography in concept art. Today I started reading a book written by a Finnish professional photographer, Martti Lintunen ("Baabelin kuvat", images of Babel).

Lintunen has covered a range of things, from the starving and aids-ridden poor in Asia and Africa to the cream of the crop society, such as the British royal family.

The first chapter had several memorable quotations, for example the short discussion when Lintunen was finally presented to the Queen, given strict orders only speak when spoken to, and only give direct answers. "So you are the Finn?" the Queen said. "So you are the Queen?" Lintunen said. End of discussion.

Also, Lintunen was asked why his photos of the royal family were different than anyone else's. "I shoot them like horses. And some look like it also." That was the end of questioning about his secrets.

The key theme of the book seems to be the problematic relation of the camera to the world. Lintunen writes that he sometimes feels that he is carrying a deathly Medusa's head around his neck.

A very interesting book about photography, however only available in Finnish. I'll continue reading and perhaps post some more quotes here.

The photos here are from today, the theme this time is "gray, brown, red and white". Should be apparent in the photos.

Update: Another interesting comment of Lintunen, about the Fishermen on Stilts in Sri Lanka. Apparently there are a only a couple of men doing this thing in Sri Lanka, and they are pictured in all tourist guides and most magazine stories - and the fishing they are doing is not really fishing for fish, it is fishing for photographers.