Looking in my Rearview Mirror: Is it Okay to Take Pictures of the Amish?

Our refrigerator is full of leftovers from a wonderful weekend of good eating. I like when the fridge is full and the meals are quick on week day evenings.

After dinner tonight and some puttering around the house we went over to our Amish friend's house to visit them. He is the one who I talked about awhile back, he had his one foot and ankle all smashed and is now at home healing up. We try to visit them once a week, but we missed last week because we were ....too busy.

Sigh.

But we made it over to visit them tonight and we had a couple hours of good conversation, first out by their porch swing and later when it cooled off we went indoors and finished our visit in the warmth of their home.

I uploaded a few more pictures that are in my camera for you to enjoy.

I want to say, I read a comment on someone's Facebook page where the person commenting made the point they believe it is disrespectful to take pictures of the Amish when one knows that they don't like to have their picture taken. I always hesitate and generally refrain from taking pictures of the Amish for that reason. When I'm in that situation of getting ready to take a picture of an Amish person I remember how I felt sitting in the buggy and a tourist type would stop alongside the road and would snap our pictures. We would try to hide in the buggy so they couldn't get us and I still remember that feeling today...that feeling of being stalked and hunted down and having my picture taken against my will.

In today's world, I see many Amish taking pictures of each other and their children, especially the ones who have cameras in their cell phones. A lot of Amish are much more relaxed about having their pictures taken, and will even purchase disposable cameras to take along on vacations so they can take pictures. There are still the more strict Amish out there who are very much against it and probably have that stalked and hunted feeling when someone is trying to take their pictures. It is always best to be careful and not be too blatant about the picture taking when one is out and about, but when the opportunity is good and you can be discreet I think it is okay to do so.

Just my opinion.

I don't like to take pictures through windshields, but in this case, you get a picture through the windshield. Amish folks walking to church and going to to church via the horse and buggy. The walkers were carrying a Tupperware container of cookies and the folks on the buggy offered to take the cookies off their hands and bring them to church with them on the buggy. How nice.

The Amish eat a light meal after church, the hosts of the church service provide deli meats and cheeses and bread and the ladies of the church will bring cookies or pies along so that not all the baking lies on the shoulders of the hostess to get ready.

I love this picture.

These two goats were anxious to get my attention, they sure had a lot to say. I wished I knew what they were trying to convey to me.

Baby twins. Cuteness Inc!

Mr. Wonderful wanted me to get a picture of this graveyard.

It is on his home farm and his father and his brother both lie here.

There is a shot of his home farm through the valley.

Again, through the windshield and I could not get a clear shot at all. So bummed, but I had to show you anyway. This was so cute as a button...the little guy peeking around the corner and the little gal in the back looking out at us. It was...Cuteness, Inc!