russdenney01 wrote:
He is referring to my original comment about the fact that someone on my FB page implied they were pornographic in nature.
As to your question, what good can come of this?
In short, in 10, 20, or 30 years from now, I or my kids, grandkids, great grand kids etc... are going to look back at a wonderful (hopefully) portfolio of their mother/grandmother/great grandmother and realize how beautiful she is/was. The first thought in their mind will not be "how old is she?" or the like...and most of their friends will not have a portfolio of their family anywhere near as astonishing (at least that is my goal)...
And for today, I have what I feel is some of my most original and best portraiture to date in the short time I have been doing this. There is no doubt in my mind how beautiful she is inside and out...and, at least for me, these pictures only begin to convey that in photographic form.
For what it's worth, I certainly don't plan on taking it any further than this. She wanted me to take a shot with her facing away from the camera with the sheet wrapped around her exposing only her back, and I refused. ...Show more →
Oh, trust me, I know all about preserving the youth of my children through photographs (www.thefamilyphotojournalist.blogspot.com and www.growingupanerino.tumblr.com). I just don't know why you would post these shots here?
Your Hollywood example isn't really appropriate here, since a movie set with hundreds of people (including a guardian for an underage actor and probably a counselor) with a defined context (a script which is financed by a production company or studio) is a lot different than your daughter's bedroom. Just posting these without any context whatsoever (not even a caption) will definitely raise eyebrows. I also would wonder if Scorsese would have ever considered casting his own daughter in that role.
It's a shame that our social structure would find this innocuous photoset offensive - but just think about how many website aggregators might be finding "15 year old" "suggestive" "sexy" and using these photos in an inappropriate fashion. It would make my skin crawl as a parent and may have some unintended consequences for you, the photographer, who also is her father.
Were you actually looking for constructive criticism on these photos, or were you just looking to have more people see the photos due to the controversy that's being raised by mentioning her age and relationship to you ? The fact that the title of this thread references 'controversy' rather than 'criticism' suggests a ploy just to get a lot of views. To me at least, at first glance, I would have just thought she was a cute girl trying to have some sort of 'glamour' shots or something. Call me naive, but the idea of something being even remotely sexual about them, would never have crossed my mind. YOUR explanation/commentary and encouragement of discussion has made this into a very uncomfortable thread.
She is a cute girl, one you should be protecting dearly from this sort of thing rather than encouraging it.
Your Hollywood example isn't really appropriate here
Then why was that movie subject to the same scrutiny when it came out
I'm not saying that they didn't catch grief for it, I am saying that history has since made amends for the fact...it has become far less relevant with time...just as it will for these photos of my daughter...
dangod wrote:
YOUR explanation/commentary and encouragement of discussion has made this into a very uncomfortable thread.
This thread is uncomfortable...and controversial as I indicated.
If you feel I started this whole thread just to garner attention for my photos, then, by all means, feel that way.
I asked for opinions on the matter...and that is what people are offering. Am I glad they're looking at the photos, hell yes. I am a photographer - it is what I do...shame on me I guess...
The photos themselves aren't bad, but the only emotion they show is sadness, unhappiness, malaise, depression.
I'm not sure what the story behind the photos is. But I'd guess part of the story behind the photo is what is not seen in the photo that is causing her to feel this way.
If this is supposed to be controversial, it's only because what is not shown in the frame. But if something was really wrong with it, it would have been removed already.
Here is the image I caught a LOT of flack for, since we're on this topic. This was taken roughly 3 1/2 years ago when my daughter was 11 with her baby sister. I was trying to convey a sense of vulnerability and protection at the same time (over her sister). I LOVE this image and to this day, it is still one of my favorites. I love the 'Don't &^%$ with her' look on her face. It was a powerful, artistic, and emotional piece for me. Not everyone saw it that way though and it was pulled multiple times from my Facebook page and I got a warning that my page would be shut down if I violated Facebook's terms of service. Only speaking of my own daughter, but she was completely comfortable taking these photos and with me sharing it. I would never ask her to do something that made her uncomfortable. For what it's worth, I have a similar image of my oldest son holding this same baby sister, taken within a month or so of this picture. That one, ironically, did not spark any debate.
Fast forward to the present time - my daughter is now going on 15. I love taking photos of my older children with a new sibling. I did this one of the same daughter with her new baby brother this month. Even this one caugh me some flack as some told me it made her look 'too old' and that she 'looked like she might be the mother.' Some even urged me to rotate it 180 degrees because she 'looked more her age' with it rotated. I actually did rotate it for a short time but ended up preferring this version - I like the mystery and tenderness of the image. My thoughts are you can't make everyone happy, and an image that provokes thought and debate can't be a bad thing.
You did display a sense of vulnerability and in a completely tasteful manner.
I you caught grief for these images, then mine will set the place on fire!
My daughter was also completely at ease with what we were doing. Despite how desperate she looks in the photos, we were actually laughing the whole time. She's got that expression of despair nailed!
People were uncomfortable seeing the back of an 11 year old child. And I think her expression made her look older than her years. IDK, but it really got people upset...some were quite rude actually!
I just wanted to add, that people can find pictures of a person barefooted sexually appealing. Or a child fully clothed. It's disgusting, but there are always going to be people out there like that. Does that mean that we should not post any images of our children online ever in order to protect them? Some may feel that way - and that is okay. I do not let the sickness of a tiny minority of the population dictate my art or what I like to shoot and share. To each their own.
I think the big difference between Lisa's photos and the original is that Lisa was in no way sexualizing her daughter... Russ, had your daughter been wearing a t-shirt rather than implying she was nude, I think these images would have a whole different feel to them. I know having a daughter myself I could never imagine taking an image that looks like she just got done being rode hard and put away wet... no matter what "artistic meaning" I had to justify it.
