no place for politics

There is no place for politics in my photography.

The fact that I may be a Labour Party and a Government supporter has nothing to do with my photography.  If I like what I see and feel like capturing that image, click!. If I do not like what I see, and feel like capturing that image, click!! Something looking good, looking not-so-good, and looking bad, are subjective conclusions drawn by people, and may be determined by the nature, more like the colour, of their day. So our photography really have nothing to do with any politics. I am a free agent and caption my photos as I wish. It is my decision whether or not to caption any photo. It is also my right to change, update and delete any caption, on any photo at any time and whenever I feel like doing so. When something is yours, you are free to do with it whatsoever you please ... up to a point.

I am not going to present any argument, legal or otherwise, nor entertain any discussion on the last sentence. Many essays are available if you know where to look, furthermore that is way outside the scope of this blog, and I am feeling roguish today, but this will be a short one.

My present photography viewed on Facebook is primarily to keep me busy. Retired folks need to keep themselves busy, real busy, and so out of trouble. From what I hear "dirty old men" can get into trouble quite easily. So, after working straight for 40 years or more, you just can't go home to sit down. Your subconscious mind may not take kindly to that. I am not going to digress into any metaphysical stuff, but if you had a serious and real interest in your personal development you should know where I am coming from. Unfortunately few if any businesses have any real concern for their retirees, because before you hit the door someone is already doing your redundant job for 27.5% or less. Maybe it points to Gandhi's "business without morality".

The appreciation of photographs anywhere has nothing to do with politics. No politics comes into play when we view a photo of the US President, but we know that millions did not vote for him to attain that office, but that has nothing to do with his photograph. Right? Irrespective of who supports the US President at home in the US, they all hold one view if I seek to have any view on the subject of his photograph, and they will go to war over that too. An "American is an American", no matter what they may say to one another in their boiler rooms. I believe that is a case of Country above Self ... but that is our SKN Motto, so the question is really "where are we on this?"

Early o'clock I recognized that nationals of SKN are appreciative of their Federation, above and beyond the brand of politics, propagated in some quarters here. So I decided to focus on bringing scenes, views and snapshots to albums that would help our nationals overseas especially to touch "home" from their desktop.  SKN is not like some countries with City webcams for remote viewing, but I am working with some people who can do that, and hoping that we do not get short circuited. You know how it is in these small islands with big people thiefing small people ideas. Anyway, my idea is to keep those persons interested abreast of what is happening at home, without my getting caught up in any local politics.

Unfortunately SKN is a place where politics seem to pervade everything. I am not sure if the politics is filtered down by design or the line staff is empowered to dispense their own brand of politics, as they see fit. I have been shooting pictures in St Kitts and Nevis since January 1968 and today was the first time that I got challenged and advised that I can not take pictures in my home land of St Kitts. I am not an upstart, so I will not like some people, "seek to break the law", if indeed it is, but instead I will seek to clarify and uphold the law.

If this is indeed the law we may as well shut down our tourism business as no one can take photographs of the most scenic and pristine areas of the country ... but wait a minute, just thinking about this, maybe this law only apply to non-tourists, like me. Black non-tourist. A couple years ago a Calypsonian warned in his social commentary that this day was coming, but maybe we did not expect to see it so soon. So it seems to me that the Tourists and Visitors can take any photograph wherever they want on the island, anytime but us the Black local residents and photographers may have to get special permission to do that ... and if they don't like your brand of politics, your goose is cooked.

Anyway I have a workaround plan to get myself a tourist ID that will allow me privilege like a 'WHITE' tourist, I am also contemplating using "AMBI" 24x7 untill I attain the look ... if MJ could do it, I can do it too.

What have we come to in SKN.

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