What we did last summer was go up to Pennsylvania over the 4th of July to take pictures of the Amish.  On one hand, the Amish are some of the most photogenic people on Earth.  In their straw hats and bonnets, pants held by suspenders, long dresses set off by aprons, riding horse buggies and scooters, they cry out with biblical purity and innocence.

On the other hand, the Amish hate having their pictures taken.  Something about graven images, idolatry – losing their souls.  So one needs to needs to be discrete.

My own camera has a reticulated screen: I can hold it at my waist and appear to be reviewing old shots while I’m firing away.  On the other hand, my point and shoot pictures are crummy: blurry and blown out.

Renee’s camera takes gorgeous pictures, but they are best taken using the viewfinder.  So, she is stuck with long lenses – and long looks when she is discovered.

We headed for Intercourse PA, then turned off onto the back roads that take you past the Amish farms.  You can tell them by the lack of power wires going to the homes, and the mile-long clotheslines stretched between a porch and a barn, draped with black trousers, very colorful shirts and dresses, and whitey undies.  There are usually buggies parked nearby, and horses near them.

We were on a country road when we saw a bunch of Amish on foot and scooters heading in one direction.  We went that way, to find a huge bunch of them milling around three circus-sized tents.  It turned out to be an auction to raise money for special needs.  And nearly all the people there were Amish.

Auctions were under way in two of the tents, where household items like Tupperware and tool sets were selling briskly.  The third tent was selling food: hot dogs, burgers, ice cream – just like we eat.  Guided by our stomachs and the swirl of activity, we chose Tent 3.

Cameras out of cases, caps off lenses – there was no hiding our intentions.  The multitude assembled there didn’t break out the pitchforks and torches, but they didn’t roll out a red carpet either.  They did usually turn away when they saw us.

I wandered around, camera at waist, screen twisted out at the ready.  Got lots of shots of mostly kids rushing around to the food counters.  Renee tried shooting from the waist, finally gave up and raised the camera to eye level.  People looked at her from the side, turned away as she faced them.  Finally a townie asked me to ask her to desist, that the Amish folk were becoming distressed.  We departed shortly after.