taking photos of strangers

Photos of Guests at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

Trees offer shade away from the row of umbrellas at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

You can learn a thing or two from Nucky Thompson, and one of the things I learned from Boardwalk Empire is when you can afford to tip well, do so at every opportunity. It makes everybody happy around you, which in turn makes your life, especially while on vacation, all that much better. It ensures a front row seat to sunsets. All-day snorkel rental. Excellent spa visits. And even when there is nothing for you, as an individual, to gain personally, it is still good karma to tip well. Workers who depend on tips need the income.

Like the other day I received a bribe, most likely a RESPA violation, from a security company. They offered me a $200 gift certificate if I would encourage a client to sign up with them. Granted, the service was already in the house, and they did offer to give the “gift card” to the client if I so desired, but it makes me wonder how many agents said Hell Yes and never looked back. I offered the opportunity to the client along with the gift card, if she so desired. Not my decision to make. Not my house to secure, but what a racket.

Most people never stop to think about anything at all. They don’t wonder what’s behind the marketing that is delivered to them via cookies on their computer, they don’t wonder about the sincerity behind screwball offerings that sound too good to be true, which is why they can sell timeshares, and they don’t tend to consider their own privacy.

I discovered when I was lounging near the pool at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel that people walking by would never know I was taking a photo of them when I held my iPad in front of my face because they automatically assumed I was reading a book. For the most part, I was, as I finished Margaret Atwood’s Stone Mattress, and I adored every story. I love her attention to detail, which lends much authenticity. Then I started on the Secret Life of Bees, and that’s when I recalled the documentary my friend, Myrl, suggested we view, Finding Vivian Maier, an older woman who shots tens of thousands of photos of ordinary people and it was remarkable.

However, I still shot a few photos of people walking by, completely oblivious to the fact I was taking a picture of them. There is no flash. No click like you get on an iPhone. It is silent. That’s kinda creepy when you think about it, but below are those photos of guests at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, by Elizabeth Weintraub:

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

Guest in purple swimsuit strolls past lounge chairs in the shade at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

guest in orange at hapuna beach

Hotel guest in orange shirt passes lounge chairs at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

hapuna beach prince hotel guests

Guest in green shirt passes lounge chairs in the shade at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel.

hapuna beach prince hotel

Shirtless guest in blue trunks and hiking hat passes lounge chairs at Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel

 

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