Boys and Their Toys

[semrich]

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It wasn't much different when I was growing up, we had "cowboy guns".

R-D1, lux 35, 400, 1/90

 

Thanks for looking,

Richard

[mgcd]

Richard - This image is certainly successful, on some important levels.

 

Like you I had my share of "cowboy guns" but somehow they really looked like toys. This one looks real. I did not think much about the subject until my brother told me, many years ago, he did not want his children to play with toy guns. My brother and I always played with toy guns when little. The world has changed, our generation has lost its innocence. Having seen too many children "play" with real guns, since then, I find this image unsettling, even troubling. Today, I know that I would not let any child of mine play with toy guns.

 

Cheers,

[uulrich]

Hi Richard; You know that I admire your work. On various occasions I put my positive remarks. I commented your work and judging it as great. The images you posted were very welcome to me, pleasing and appetizing. Even more you are able to capture the mood on street markets and other scenes in or around Istanbul; really good stuff.

 

I've found myself held at gunpoint some time ago. You got your son a toy gun. And a toy gun for boys still is. In a real world with real guns, it's the individual who pulls the trigger. I am sure and confident you let your kid build up strong morale views and I am sure you know what you're doing. Though I would like to see kids handling a camera rather then an Mini-UZI myself I am not in the position to give anyone any advice. I am left to just wonder around to make observations.

 

As far as you picture is concerned it could have been everywhere. This image is certianly different to the ones you posted before. In a different context it could have been a real UZI in a violent scene, maybe even somewhere were I have been before.

[uulrich]

Richard; after all, I think you posted this one to make us rethink; your image is very provoking.

[vic vic]

richard - ya indeed a very godo photograph, and beyound of your project of street photography. provoking as uwe says.

 

i also was playing wars when child. later strategies (and not only playing) when adult. but u see - i hold camera now :-)))

and so i will teach my children when i have them later. tennis ball, football are great games and very healthy as well :-)) camera is very funny for kids too. guns... well, in some parts of the world u still need them not only in the name of idiology but also to protect your contry, but if needed the kids will learn using it in the appropriate time when they also know that this is far from being a toy.

[jmr]

Richard,

 

a thought provoking picture indeed.

 

Buy the lad a C-Lux and let's all see what he can really shoot

[semrich]

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Conrad - The world has always been troubling, even more so these days because we have almost instant access to it via multiple venues. I knew this photo would be thought provoking because of the authentic look of the toy and the boys sideways, downward glance, and possibly wondering about why I was shooting him with my camera as he was just walking down the hill. If this photo helps people to decide not to give toy guns to play with, good!

 

Uwe - In addition to my comments to Conrad, I appreciate you complements about my photos, its seems like I may be progressing out of what I consider my "beginner status". It was very recently I felt compelled to document the people and activities I encounter in daily life here in Istanbul, and also to record the "street enterprise" of people doing all manner of work to earn a living.

 

I have my camera with me all the time, and many of the photos you have commented on are taken during our daily coming and going off of the island we live on during the summer.

 

This photo is just another kid I saw while walking up the hill toward home, I don't know him, it's the same for the photo's of the other kids I have posted. I expect he would be as cute and engaging without the toy gun and wondering why I was taking his picture, a complete stranger and a foreigner at that.

 

Victor - Let us all visualize a time when there will never be an appropriate time to learn to use force for protection or ideaology.

 

This will be the first time I thought that I was doing better with my tones, and I post a thought provoking composition.

 

John - And a better world it will be if they could only learn to see, perhaps a camera would help.

 

Richard

[uulrich]

Hi Richard; somehow I got the impression it is your son. I thought the small triangle on the shirt shows Youth Hostels Assoc UK. With your name and the triangle on the boy's shirt I draw a wrong conclusion. I stand corrected. You just captured a scene in Turkey while you were passing by. So still it is an original 'semrich'....? After your words it seems it is. :-)

 

Now that my wife (from Russia) and I (from Germany) living in Scotland I 'virtually' raise my glas of Scotch (a Scotish Whisky). Maybe someone has a glas of Vodka somewhere around...? Perhaps Richard w/ a glas of Raki as he is in Turkey at the moment; Conrad, (do you read me ..?) If you're in Canada try a Canadian Whisky but you may be soon in Indonesia and I don't know what you can get there - all the best. Viktor, some kosher stuff, Vodka might do..? John, who is somewhere south the border and I don't know how you guys survive but perhaps you can find some appropiate...? ;-)

 

Let me quote Richard:- '[..]... a better world [...] if they could only learn to see, perhaps a camera would help.'

[vic vic]

ya richard - with any readings of strategic maps, we here always have a great hopes that one day we will not need guns at all, and always ready to give a chance for it - sure.

 

uwe - scoch is great - chivas especially :-)) im not religious person so not realy bothered about kosher. "jew" in my view and also most of the modern israel state is "nation" and not only religion:-)

so cheers for peace among all nations. i also prefer to be a "dreamer" in john lenons words, even if it looks sometimes naive. after the guns and the noise of bombs is over we keep on being what we are deep inside - "dreamers" :-)

[lambroving]

Hmmm... Is he thinking of working in an airport?