On Thu, 03 Apr 2003 05:31:59 GMT, Gary Eickmeier <geickmei@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

>Neuman - Ruether wrote:

>> No... Guess I still have more respect for the ceremony

>> (and its "furnishings"), than some...;-) In this area,

>> I have shot Quaker weddings, Ba'hai, Indian, Unitarian,

>> Jewish, Catholic (and most other Christian variants,

>> including strict Lutheran [as in, "We Lutherans do not

>> believe wedding ceremonies are photo 'ops' - there

>> will be NO photography during the ceremony!", though

>> I had permission to stand still with a video camera

>> off to the side...;-]), etc. ceremonies, plus various

>> combinations of the above and others (my favorites were

>> a Catholic-Jewish-military ceremony, a Ba'hai-Christian,

>> and a Quaker wedding...), in locations ranging from very

>> formal environments to the ends of docks, in cow-pastures,

>> at waterfalls overlooks, in peoples' back yards, etc.

>> But in all of these, I respect the environment created,

>> and treat the ceremony (and its parts and symbols)

>> with respect...

>All right, you've got me hanging on this one. What on earth would be

>disrespectful about putting a camera in the altar? How do you shoot

>your weddings? Especially with SIX cameras? And NONE in the altar?

>Gary Eickmeier

With permission (not always received), I place unmanned

small cameras (no lights!) in back and/or side areas

of the area around the altar at the walls, out of sight

(or with minimal sight, using flowers, fake ivy, etc.

for concealment) on clamps or light-stand poles AWAY

from the ceremony area (exception: the Jewish enclosure,

when possible - otherwise there is no view at all), and

most definitely not on the altar (table). So, where do

you place your camera? On top the bible, for elevation?

Next to the communion cup? In front of one of the candles?

Do you obscure the view of the cross, if any? If the

officiant chooses to read from the rear of the altar,

must he look over the camera? When blessing items on

the altar, is your camera included in the items blessed?

Does it appear, when the officiant is praying, that

he is praying to your camera? We want to know...;-)

OK, here comes my "surprise" camera-position story:

I had been warned that the Rabbi was strict about cameras

and positions, so I introduced myself, and asked where

I should stand with a camera. I was immediately led to

"the only good place to catch the action" - which was

smack in front of the altar (but behind the officiant

and couple in the enclosure, with the usual crowd at

the edges). This would have been fine, but the altar

was on an elevated platform in an apse that was brightly

lighted by rows of spotlights concealed behind the

arch in front of the apse - and the rest of the chapel

was dark. I was the "brightest" and highest person up

front, dead center of the action...! ;-) Weird...;-)