"Extracts from Camera Lucida"

One comment that Barthes made, in the article that really got me thinking was that, "Now, once I feel myself observed by the lens, everything changes: I constitute myself in the process of 'posing,' I instantaneously make another body for myslef, I transform myself in advance into an image." The author dwells on this comment throughout the passage. After reading this quote, I thought back to our discussion in class about some famous photographs that everyone has seen; and where the photographer is in this scene. After Barthes argument about posing, I think of famous photographs, where the photographer had to have been in plain sight to the subjects. The photograph of the Vietnamese police chief holding a gun to another man's head, really makes me think whether or not the chief was 'posing' for the photographer. I would not go as far to say that the man that has the gun pointed to his head is 'posing,' because he shows a true sign of terror in his expression. I really do believe that the photographer was right there in front of these men, especially when you see the other two images that were taken before this image. Also, there is the other Vietnam photograph of the young naked girl running from the napalm attack. In this photograph the little girl had to have been running right towards the photographer. Obviously, these children running in pure terror, are not 'posing,' but what about the soldiers; or the one lighting a cigarette?

I am not at all saying that I always agree with Barthes comment. But it definitely got me thinking. And I know from experience, that when I see a lens pointing at me I 'Pose,' as would most people. As a photographer, this makes it incredibly dificult to capture a true photograph of a person.