Gerry, I also appreciate your work and post. IMO, much of what we have of significance, we owe to people with a thick skin and who listen to their own voice.
It's good (even great) work; it's important work; it stimulates the mind and forces one to confront aspects of real life - even if not one's own real life; it opens us up to what it means to be human on this planet right now in all its variations, especially facets we might not know about (and in some cases might not want to know about). And through your journey we each get to learn something - if we are open to it.
As for those who are worried about getting caught with it on the work computer - don't look at it at work. That's not what they are paying you for, is it?
For those who are offended no matter what - your feelings only tell you about you, so rather than blame something or someone else for your discomfort, why not search out the reasons for your reaction (I know - a bit too Pop-Psychology, but not entirely invalid).
And you know what, you person(s) who are so offended? I'm personally offended by cute kid pictures. No, seriously, I am. I can't stand seeing the things. I don't tell people to stop posting them or whine to the Moderators or Sean that there should be a special hidden gallery for them. I ignore them. Try it. Once you get a little practice you'll no doubt be surprised how well it works.
Joe
Art doesn't have to be just "pretty." Art that challenges is just as important.
Here's my question: would these pictures be any less potentially offensive to some if they were of biological women? If not, why not?
Gerry, I have found your photos challenging to view, but only in that they made me think. Right from the first few you uploaded I found myself thinking, what is that person's (in the photograph) life like? How did they come to be there? What do they think and feel?
Please keep on posting.
Sure you are. But that's part of photography as an art form. And a great part of APUG with its diversity of image content.Should I stop posting the images? Am I offending people on the site?
If you have to ask this question, maybe you should just stop taking them! My point is that you can't let this kind of petty crap alter your work. You can't even consider it. The only person you should listen to is a professional photo editor. Send them to a documentary photo mag. and ask them what you can do to improve. The worst that can happen is no response. You need cajones and a will of steel if you are going to photograph and publish a subject that some people might not enjoy. You can't go asking if you should stop publishing, especially a bunch of strangers on the Internet. I am just as offended by bull$hit commercial photography that perpetuates stereotypes as the people are offended by your work. They need to just suck it up and hit the "back" button on their browser...or go live in China.
I find you work challenging, but then it should be given your subject.
You have posted a very interesting and in many ways important series of photographs. Please do continue to share your work.
I actually want to see your work, to the point where I'm considering re-subscribing.
As has been said, photography isn't always about rose gardens and sunsets. Challenging is good. Half the time our cameras are a PITAp) why shouldn't the images they take challenge us too?
Gerry-
I'm really glad you wrote your statement of "why" earlier in this thread. I disliked the images you were posting because I lacked context for them, and without the context, I felt they were exploitative. That said, I would never ask you to take them down, because there is nothing wrong with them. Now that I have a context for the images, I understand the background and it doesn't create the same misgivings. They do not appeal to me aesthetically, especially the latest series with their Weegee-esque quality to them, but that is a style critique, not a reason to stop posting. Keep on doing the work you believe in, and keep showing it.
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