I really enjoyed this podcast.

people watching and its various connected ideas is primary to a lot of my video work and art work in general.

for whatever reason, people, whether I know them or not, seem to have little trouble opening up and telling me all manner of intimate info about their lives.

that’s tangential to people watching, but just as important.

writing notes, scribbling ideas, all from observing the freaks I’m surrounded by has always provided me with a lot of material.

particularly when you get snippets or pieces of conversation. minus the context, my mind creates all manner of cryptic meanings.

as far as capturing it all, I really envy people like r crumb, or other cartoonists, who can sit siletnly in public and record these bits of madness without too much trouble.

but it’s not out of the question for people with cameras etc.
the cheaper the camera/phone etc the easier time you have usually. then again, sometimes a hefty pro-looking camera can help.

different tools produce different results.

whatever it is, the result is humanity. capturing and contextualizing these bits of humanity.

good show.

Anyway … people watching …

Yes I think you’re right. It’s a very interesting and broad subject. No shortage of material there.

You know, I think video blogging has really changed my perspective in this regard. Video blogging kinda makes you see things as moments in a bigger picture – you get used to getting to know people thanks to not one noticable moment, but thanks to a series of likely unrelated moments that give you a more complete understanding of each … and when you apply this to casual people watching it makes it all the more entertaining.

We all people watch often even if we dont really realize it at the time … but whereas before I only really took note of someone for what they were doing at the moment, now I often find myself looking for the bigger picture. Seeing passer-bys not just as “the guy who just tripped over something” or “the woman who is yelling at someone on her cell phone” but rather wondering about things like “where are they coming from / going to?” or “What sort of day inspired this hurried almost frantic pace into a Borders?” …

If anyone ever questions a vlog your making of people watching, I’d just say “Oh this is just an artistic experiment for a video project I’m doing … if you dont want to be included that’s fine.” For most people that would be enough. As long as the filming is in a public place and you’re not releasing personal information about people I dont see any problem with it.

I’m rambling … I’ll stop now and try out that skype thing later.