Monday, August 10, 2009

Peanut report

The 'peanut princess' and her young protege at yesterday's game
I nearly forgot a couple of photos taken during the football matches at Olympic Stadium Sunday afternoon. The 'peanut princess' is always present at the games and does her rounds in the main grandstand throughout the matches. She only carries bags of peanuts on her rounds but hosts a wider selection of goodies on her table just inside one of the entrances to the grandstand. Yesterday she was accompanied on her rounds by her protege who was supplying cold bottles of water. Sounds like a good marketing plan to me, peanuts make you thirsty and the water quenches the thirst. That's teamwork. The 'peanut princess' continues to be the most popular seller at the ground and its easy to see why. I almost look forward to seeing the 'peanut princess' as much as the football and I know I'm not alone.
The 'peanut princess' doing her rounds of the main grandstand

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Andy, does she know you've been taking pics of her? lol I know it's all in good fun but so stalkerish dude haha. Reminds me of that British noir Peeping Tom with a bloke looking at women in the streets of London through his lenses :) If you're seen that movie, you'd realize it's so funny that you're a Brit and you're talking random pics of girls ;)

I do photography too but I never felt comfortable enough to snap a pic of a stranger without asking them. When I had to do it once for a photo class, I like did it while pretending to shoot something else. So creepy hehe

August 10, 2009 6:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

After the "drought" of the last few days, an exclusive with PP was most appropriate. But I'm still waiting for an interview with her. It seems we'll have to wait a bit till Mr. Brewer overcomes some pangs of conscience over showing PP in all her beauty in his blog. Good effort anyway! - Dexter

August 10, 2009 8:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the story has resumed, and I follow again... - Sary

August 10, 2009 8:58 AM  
Blogger Andy Brouwer said...

Dear Anon,
you raise a very good point and one which I've been arguing with myself about for a while now. Candid or street photography opens up a can of worms as far as I can see. Taking photos of people without their permission is one of those borderline activities that can be viewed as okay by some or very bad, an invasion of privacy, etc by others. For me, I feel both sides of it at different times. I've been wrestling with this notion for a while now, especially in the case of the 'peanut princess' and have come to a final decision.
The voyeuristic style views of the 'peanut princess' will now cease, for good. I have given her more exposure than most and whilst its been tongue-in-cheek exposure, and all in good taste, I think enough is enough.
I realise the 'peanut princess' fan club will holler and howl but that's my final decision. No turning back.
The 'peanut princess' has appeared for the final time.
Andy

August 10, 2009 9:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope I didn't affect your decision to stop taking pics of her :) maybe well all good things must come to an end and the end is a beginning of something else. I'll keep on eye out for what's next.

p.s. Andy, don't feel lonely on taking pics of random people on the street in srok Khmer. I just checked my hard drives and have a bunch of pics of random girls I took on my ride around Phnom Penh before I left in Jan. My friend wonders why my pics of my trip back home include a bunch of random girls on the street in telephoto :P

August 10, 2009 2:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I reckon this Anon's comment was written by no one else than Andy Brewkter himself, in an attempt to attribute to others his ragged excuses to post no more pics of the Peanut Princess. It evidences a Quaker-mentality, a self-indulging character with no consistency or moral fortitude whatsoever. - Alain

August 10, 2009 11:35 PM  
Blogger mythicaldude said...

While it is considered polite to ask permission to take a photo of someone it is not required under the law in most civilized countries. Also asking permission will definitely change the type of photo you wind up with - i.e. it won't be very candid.

In America (I know, not so civilized, yet a good example) it is a protected right of free speech.

Anything or anyone out in public view is fair game and while they might not like it you are well within your rights to take a photo of complete strangers, even cops (police). Most cops know this here and just grimace (or smile sometimes as the case may be) as you shoot away at them.

The principle is simple fairness. If you don't want your picture taken then don't go out in public. If you do go out in public then you are fair game. Someone may take your picture or someone may exsercise their free speech in other ways, for example by standing up on a soap-box and saying something like "Hun Sen is a dirty rotten theif, a criminal and a disgrace to the Cambodian people."

You may not agree with what someone has to say, but they have the right to voice their opinion. That is the price you pay for having the right to voice yours.

So get out there and shoot a stranger today.

By the way thre same goes for buildings and other things in public view. If you can see it you can take a picture of it.

Exceptions are certain government facilities and of course if you are on private property. Then you do not have the right to take pictures of anything you see and may be reasonably denied permission to do so by the owner of the property.

Also at hospitals, even public hospitals, the right to privacy trumps the right to free speech and you masy not feel free to shoot away without asking for permission first.

Personally I'd look at it as a great opportunity to start a conversation with the 'peanut princess' and I hope'you'll allow me to accompany you to a game someday soon so I can meet her and take some nice posed photos.

Yeah, she's the gal for me!

August 11, 2009 12:06 AM  
Blogger Andy Brouwer said...

Steve Goodman - the man for whom street photography is more than a hobby cuz he's so darn good at it - weighs in with his considered thoughts. Thanks Steve.

Alain meanwhile, needs to lie down and take deep breaths or else he'll give himself a heart attack.
I quite fancy those quaker hats :-)
Andy

August 11, 2009 9:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi guys, you have missed the point altogether; Alain, take it easy mon cher - I had anticipated all that, its no surprise. Besides all that's been argued by the civilized guys who are into the legislation and the ethics of taking candid shots, posting pics of the PP affects someone else's image, an absent lady friend... After all, he is entitled to do whatever he fancies in this space. It just happens that the Peanut Princess no longer passes by his "window to the world". He will pursue the clouds' motif Eric is so fond of, and from time to time we will be served variations on the theme. Better fall from the clouds than from a 3rd. floor... - Dexter

August 12, 2009 10:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Mythical Dude
I couldn't agree more with you. Shes the gal for me too. I'll be switching to your blog as my favorite one from now on. Cheers! -Hugo

August 12, 2009 10:37 AM  

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