The expertise demonstrated in the photo is good. Some question the shoes. From a pure preference position I would have either had them changed or gone without.
Now for the heart of the matter. Regardless if no mal-intent is meant, we as photographers (and adults) must take on some responsibility when it comes to depicting scenes with children. The decision process used here unfortunately fails to uphold this level of responsibility. I have to agree with Bob.
Great shot. And I like the shoes. The contrast between the princess outfit and the Chucks grounds her in reality, since sneaks with a dress is distinctly something that a little girl would wear.
I would really like to know what is the overall purpose of this image? This is not to attack you personally, just wondering what is so great about handing a child a bottle of alcohol and capturing that image. I am very aware of the age limits in other countries, and I understand that in some countries there are none(I come from a country that has no limits). I would like to know the reasoning behind this...
I also echo the "well done but..." crowd. With the sad level of alcohol abuse/misuse around all of us, this is the wrong message to put out. I'm not sure where this will be used - but I feel very sad when I see a young child being used this way.. Considering I walked by a young 24 year old man w/a huge 3/4 empty bottle of wine sitting on the curb crying and talking about how screwed up his life is this morning, I have a real-life picture in my mind of where this young child could (God forbid) end up.
This is totally, totally innapropriate in my opinion.
Wish OP would remove this unless he endorses this message.
I think this photo needs a caption.
I don't know what the intended purpose of the image was, but to me I think it fulfills the saying "a picture says a thousand words".
To me, this image is satirical in nature, playing on the extremities of marketing. Youth are the number one market for everything, including alcohol, and especially cheap liquor with higher alcohol content.
Last decade, No statistics were taken for youth 12-14. Now, it's recorded at 4.2% of this age group binge drink 12 or more times per year(2003 Statistics Canada). These number increase to 30.5% in youth 15-19 and 41.4% of young adults. Remember this is people who binge drink, not casually.
I'm not sure if that was the intention of the OP but it does illustrate that point rather well. I definitely agree that it is not a "comfortable" image. The artist in me is very glad that a fellow artist would push the boundaries of society, children being one of the last vestiges of purity left. The glamour appearance very much emphasizes the image, altough I think I personally would have lit it differently to portray the sinister shot.
John, I respect your opinion and understand what this picture represents for you.. but lets not forget that it is not alcohol itself that makes you become alcoholic, it is your environment, and your decisions.
In Italy, for example, children are sometimes encouraged to drink wine, for its healthy virtues. Do the children become addicted to alcohol? Of course not, because they learn to see it as just another source of food, not some kind of refuge. Denmark has that same psychology, and openness about alcohol, I believe.
I don't think the OP had any bad intentions here..
I am sure due to the smile in the title.... Exploitation of children or "last vestage of purity left" doesn't give this dad of a 8 year old little girl a good feeling and never will...
does there have to be a reason, other than evoking emotion from those who view it? to me, this is a total success for that reason.
now, lighten up ..she's coyly holding a sealed bottle. it's not as if she's passed out, vomit on the dress, tipped glasses and an empty bottle surrounding her. if anything, it's a successful study in irony.
yea, lighten up. It's just an innocent child holding a bottle of Vodka. She doesn't have any clue of the message she is used to convey... I have a big problem with that message and the fact she's used this way. If she was of legal age, then I would have no issue. This is borderline exploitation to me and if this is okay, then what's next?
thaddeus wrote:
........now, lighten up ..she's coyly holding a sealed bottle. it's not as if she's passed out, vomit on the dress, tipped glasses and an empty bottle surrounding her......
-- michael
Not yet, anyway. Give her time. Growing up in this atmosphere will get her there pretty quickly.
C+C:Technically, very nice. Ethically, very lacking.
This is very bad. I don't care how beautiful you're little one is. Poor taste man. Maybe this would work on your wall.. who knows. Hey, it' your kid. Maybe hugging a glass bottle filled with shinny coins or tossing chocolate candies in the air. Whatever.. Good luck on this one..
Second thought.. could be used as advertisement. Maybe this could be us as a tool to remind parents about drinking. It's never to early to talk about alcohol abuse.I have to remind myself that your child is not a alcoholic and maybe you had better intentions. Explain to us please if you will..
My Dad's from Wisconsin and he said they start them out on the bottle as a babe, but this is going a little too far imo (they drink beer in Winsonson; lol).
I think the fact that the whole message of this image can change from night to day with a simple title, speaks volumes about how well it is done. Don't get me wrong, I never totally approved of the bottle in my C&C, I'm just saying, it makes you think. Isn't that something that good photography can do?
Consider the offensive titles, 'I Can't Wait', or 'Ahhh, Some Day'. Who knows what kind of sick ones would want to convey that message. Not even the liquor companies would dare.
OTOH, the same image with titles like, 'Think About Who You Influence', or, 'Get Help, For All Involved', or, 'STOP, For the Important Ones in Your Life', could be used very effectively for an anti drinking campaign.
Now I'm not saying that this is what the OP had in mind while setting up the shot. Just some thoughts.
I think it is a technically very nice image. The members of this forum are obviously very morally "strong" for lack of a better word, and that is to be commended. However, i suspect the photo does precisely what was intended.. start debate.
I don't think that the image is morally incorrect. As others have said he is not depicting a drunken child, just a child holding a bottle. Others have done, and will do, worse. It is possible that the image was meant as a comment on the level of alcoholism in society but until the original poster comments it is impossible to tell.
