Responsibility and sensitivity please.

Cameras give us the opportunity to capture unforgettable moments. We need to use that power with responsibility ans sensitivity.

I was really troubled when I reviewed next week's TV Guide which showed a picture of actor Ryan O'Neill at the back of Farrah Fawcett's hearse bidding a final farewell to her. This was an extremely private moment, yet, in the same photo, apparently right next to Mr. O'Neill was *another* photographer, pressed up against Mr. O'Neill and the hearse, trying to get one last photo of Ms. Fawcett's casket.

To that photographer, and those like him, I have to ask, "was it really worth it?" There are such things as telephoto lenses that would have given you your picture (not that I believe it was necessary - the family had been very accommodating to the press and the public), and you wouldn't have intruded upon Mr. O'Neill's final good-bye. To photographers who behave in such a fashion, I can only say shame of you.

Remember to be responsible and to show sensitivity when taking photos. It really shouldn't be that hard to remember we are human beings and to act accordingly.

Fireworks!

Last night I thought I would run the Sony DSC-H20 through its paces for fireworks! I am uploading my pictures as I type. It was interesting to be able to take photos or movies of the fireworks (I did both).

The DSC-H20 has a fireworks setting (select scene on the dial, and then on the view screen, and then numerous choises show up on the screen - select fireworks).

I will say, that while taking the movies of the fireworks, I thought from the view screen, that the fireworks were not as crisp as I would have liked, but we will have to view the moview to see for sure. Also, the shutter speed/exposure time for the fireworks setting was very long. It was a bit disappointing in that the screen showed "capturing" and then "processing, probably for close to 20 seconds each time I took a photo. That's quite a lag when one would like to take fireworks in rapid succession. Although I was set up as a "human tripod" (sitting on a cement stoop, elbows tight to body and on my knees, given the exposure time, and, despite the super steady shot, it became apparent, that, in order to take excellent fireworks photos with this camera, it would be necessary to use a tripod.