Should I Stop Posting Images?

[gerryyaum]

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.

thick skin...yes...I had a wonderful 3 hour telephone conversation with Jock Sturges once and he talked about that. The need to have passion/devotion for what you photograph and to dedicate yourself to that vision. As everyone here no doubts knows Jock had his own problems with certain forces which he overcame to create his great body of work (In my opinion! am sure others might have alternate opinions!)

 

[Jeff Kubach]

I wouldn't say the photos are offense and if I were you keep on posting. Who ever doesn't like the photos, don't view them.

Jeff

 

[gerryyaum]

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

Thanks very much Joe. I posted the quote the wonderful quote from Howard Thurman on my blog.

 

[gerryyaum]

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?

That is an interesting point. I know that when I tell people here in Canada that I am doing photos of lady sex workers I get one reaction and when I am say I am doing photos of ladyboy sex workers I usually get a different reaction.

 

[gerryyaum]

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.

Great! I am happy to give those people a voice and help others think about their lives. I want to go back many times and meet and rephotograph them (a suggestion I had from a wonderful email a famous fine art photographer sent me). I think that going back would allow a deeper photographs with more impact, once you build that relationship you can get to another level with that person. I think one of the reasons many of the photographs on APUG that deal with family are exceptional is because of the long personal history the photographer has with his subject.

I put an email the photographer (Jock Sturges) mentioned earlier sent me about my website on my blog a while back, here is the link in case anyone is interested. He talks about art/photography and my work(ignore that part). He makes some great points that I think can help any developing photographer.

http://gerryyaum.blogspot.com/2008/02/jock-sturges-review-of-gerryyaumcom.html

 

[gr82bart]

Should I stop posting the images? Am I offending people on the site?

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.

Why do you care if you offend someone? Honestly, you would not be taking these images if you did, right?

Regards, Art.

 

[2F/2F]

IMO, the only reason you should stop publishing is if you simply do not think the work is worthy, or perhaps if you don't want to spoil a more focused publishing effort farther down the line. 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, but you don't see me bitching to the shooters about it. I just throw it in the recycling bin. They need to just suck it up and hit the "back" button on their browser...or go live in China.

 

[gerryyaum]

Why do you care if you offend someone? Honestly, you would not be taking these images if you did, right?
-----

Well said, thicker skin required, point taken. I think I was concerned about people that were long time members being put off by the work. Your right thou you do the work because you think it is important and let other opinions fall where they will.

 

[gerryyaum]

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.

your right, great points. I will work on the steel will and cajones thingy.

thanks for the email..really enjoyed it...this is a great site..access to opinions on photography/art where I am are limited. APUG allows me to hear what others as passionate about photography as I am feel.

 

[Uhner]

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.

 

[ChrisC]

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 PITA p) why shouldn't the images they take challenge us too?

 

[gerryyaum]

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 think subject matter is a key point, it would probably make a good post onsite. Subject matter I think is the main reason people are interested in the work.

I think about certain photographers and how important their subject matter was to their photographs.

generalizing here a tad:

Robert Mapplethorpe (gay sex scene of New York)
Ansel Adams (Yosemite)
August Sander (German people portraits/types)
Nobuyoshi Araki (Japanese Erotica)
Jock Sturges (Naturists)

Etc

 

[gerryyaum]

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 PITA p) why shouldn't the images they take challenge us too?

hmm re-suscribing! I have to talk to management about getting my cut!
Thanks for your comments.

 

[arigram]

No, don't stop.
It was not you, or your photos that offended that person.
It that person that was offended by your photos.
Its his/her problem, his/her responsibility to deal with it and can't deny us your photography.
If she/he doesn't like it, don't look at it.
Don't listen to those immature, close minded, neurotic, shallow people Gerry.
APUG is full of them. Don't pay them any attention.
All who have posted nudes and controversial subjects have had to deal with them in the past.
We, all the rest, worth it.

My message to that person: Go see a shrink to deal with your problem. You have no right to deny someone to show their photography.

 

[Shangheye]

Good God! Where would Mary Ellen mark be, if a few people were squeemish about the hard truth? I can't comment on the reasons of the members discomfort, but I can speak for myself. Sometimes the measure of a great image is not how beautiful it is, but how hard it slaps you in the face. There is nothing gratuitous about your work. In most cases it does not even attempt to be portrayed as art...e.g. your commentary on hard shadows etc. It is a truth piece of documentary work, that requires not only photographic skill, but also inter-personal skills. You have generated trust in the vunerable, and that is a testament to you as an individual. I salute you.

Give me your work any day, over a lith rose........no offence to those with lith roses...

Kal

 

[Anton Lukoszevieze]

Hey, keep posting. Offensive? No way, striking, interesting, arresting, beautiful, necessary, etc. Yeh, go for it.

 

[CCOS]

Stop posting? no way they are realy good pictures that show another view of the world, love there expression and the style.
Good forbid if our pictures shoud be "correct" to all of the people there are looking in here.

Jesper

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

In a word: No. It's your right, but your consideration and your question should be applauded; it shows how sincere you are about your work.
I believe you're trying to show something important, and I also think you're successful. You show the dark side of the world, something 'normal' people like me may not be subjected to - and for that I thank you.
I constantly battle with trying to disregard the status of people and their material possessions when I am in front of them, and I try to focus on what they do - one human to another. That describes, I think, their true worth. The important lesson is that everybody is a human being, and you reinforce that.
Somebody mentioned that it would be interesting to hear a few qualifying comments - reasons to why you do this work - because I think it would give it more depth and meaning, and possibly an understanding among those that need a justification for viewing it.

Oh, and thank you by the way. I can't go to the galleries at work anymore, thanks to you, and that's a good thing. I get more work done.

- Thomas

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

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.

 

[Vonder]

Truly a thousand words...

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.

Is needed to explain a photograph, or series.

 

[Toffle]

If you don't stop posting these, we're going to have to start calling you an artist.

Seriously, you've found a subject that you can document in a way that forces us to look at "unpretty" things. Yes, it may tend towards the controversial, but I don't think that should be a deciding factor in whether you should do the work or share it here. I'm pretty sure I don't like to look at the work of Witkin, but it's hard not to look at them.

Cheers,

 

[SuzanneR]

Keep posting. Your work is interesting, and I'm pleased you've decided to share it here.

And for those at work, we tried to create a system to make it easier for folks to "hide" certain "Not Safe for Work" images, but the whole thing became too onerous.

I think the system we have in place works pretty well for those who may not want to view certain types of images, especially the sidebar thumbnails, whether nudes, ladyboys, rocks, trees... whatever!

 

[Stephen Frizza]

lots of us have posted images which offend some one or another... take a look at the penis gate affair or the homeless man issue just recently.
debate is good....however I would be intrested to see you move on from this topic and show what other work you are doing?

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[AutumnJazz]

I wasn't offended, so snap away.

 

[naeroscatu]

Remarkable work, which is all I can say. It opens our minds, broadens our understanding of the world we live in. Your pictures along with the statements you posted in this thread should be published IMHO. I'm also checking APUG from work but only do the forum reading; I open the pictures when I'm home. There are ways to avoid problems at work just use your common sense. Thank you for sharing your work here and by all means keep posting.