• 
• Dec 10
• 1

Domo Arigato, Mr. Tripodo

I did some street shooting here in New York over the weekend, getting some b-roll footage of shopping/consumerism. I took a break to get some lunch, and when I sat down at a table, I stood my camera tripod up and leaned it against the wall of the restaurant. While I was eating, a little boy probably three years old walked up to my table, staring at the tripod. It was about the same height as he was, and he was really fascinated by it.

Then, cautiously, he asked the tripod, “Are you a robot?”

The tripod did not respond.

“Hi there,” I said.

He looked up at me for a second, then back at the tripod.

“Are you a robot?” he asked it again.

“Yes, he is a robot,” I told him. “But he’s taking a nap.”

“Ohhhhh,” the boy nodded. He stared very intently at the tripod-robot for another minute, then his dad came over and got him and they left.

-Gary