The fine line

[andreasphotography]

Is There a line??, you see to have a line one has to be in the place to take the image,
we no longer take images for ourselves after all any one now with a camera seems to think they are a photographer,
we now take pictures for the approval of others, Long gone is the family photo album and in comes flickr and other sites where one can get comments that make them feel good

I have forgotten how many times i have heard the words "oh they will love that on the net"

My father was a photographer from 1940,s through to the 1970,s he was one of 3 in our town now i am one of 2,366 in the same town

life changes the digital camera is instant, some times you dont have time to think will this picture have the correct impact,

The line is one the photographer sets for themselves, the line gets finer the more we try and get respect or noticed by those on the net

I draw a line at nudes, i wont do it, full stop but some photographers excel on it,
I draw aline at posting SP,s in no clothing with a range of sex toys in the image, but again some people love doing it
I dont think the line is about photographer its about when do you put a full stop to getting nticed

[frank231160]

Photography has long been an art and a skill which matures with time and experience, I don't see the problem with wanting to get noticed in fact given the crap job I have I am glad that my photography sets me apart in my daily life. The amount of cameras available to everyone these days us photographers have to lift are game to a new level in order to be set apart from the happy snapper. It sounds to me like you have a problem with enthusiasts wanting to get praise from their peers, Who Doesn't ? Thats the whole point of sites like this to gain approval for your art and to learn from others otherwise whats the point of the site in the first place.
Bottom line is child porn is not art and will never be perceived as such and I would probably be right in saying that anyone behind the camera of a questionable child image is most likely not thinking of the technical merits of the images they are taking. Which is why it annoys me that enthusiast photographers constantly have to defend themselves against accusations and need to second guess themselves, just in case they might get it wrong. It makes me sick that some ignorant scum low life can make comments about me without knowing me as I have pointed out elsewhere on this thread, and not because I am some sort of perv but because I own a camera.

[andreasphotography]

Frank Thats interesting being a woman photographer I work alot with kids, also i notice when i am out and about with male photographer friends I can get away with candid shots of kids playing on a beach or park where as my male friends just WONT point a camera towards a child, why ? because of this perceived view that any male taking a picture of a random child is a pedophile

This is so wrong, to me what better wasy to capture the whole innocent childhood life then a sneaky photo,

I didnt know it was that hard for men to be out and about with a camera,

On the other hand though its not easy for us women either, I personally draw aline at nude photography because i do a lot of child and family portraits so the two dont really go together, but alot of males do seem to think i am interested in their personally bits

also as a hobby i like landscapes and seascapes but have got to the point where i hate going out alone as i feel threatened and frightens when i am alone with all my kit, and on a few occassions i have been really glad of another males presence

It shouldnt be like this,
sorry if i came across a bit snotty about photographers but with doing weddings and things i have noticed a decline this year and had a few cancellations as Uncle Tom will take our wedding pictures for free then the tears when they come to me later and ask if there is anything i can do with the images

some aspects of taking picture require that you know your camera inside out and that you can judge light conditions and know when to use fill flash or a reflector this is the aspect that annoys me with novice camera uses

I agree people need to learn but before shooting important weddings one should go on a course with a more qualified photographer

[phaedsys]

Originally Posted by littlethunder

Photography has a fine line and some people are willing to take chances in crossing it. I think of Will McBride for example. Great photographer no questions about it. However, he is one who crossed the line when he published the book "Show Me." Which later was deemed "kiddie porn."
.

Curiously
http://www.amazon.com/Show-Me-Pictur.../dp/0312722753
But apparently not available from Amazon UK.

It is worth reading the 12 customer comments. Just where do you draw the line? It depends where you are standing and that is asynchronous and independent to where the viewer is. Also "the line" is neither straight not the same width all the way along and moves on it's own over time.....

[phaedsys]

Originally Posted by BenBirchall

Here's a pretty hardcore line...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...d-America.html

This picture was discussed at length in another place and the result was most thought it hypocritical that those complaining were mostly americans who were quite happy to see the US military killing "rag heads" ..... remember al the cheering an jubilant scenes of Americans watching the cameras tracking bombs and missiles into their targets in Iraq and Afghanistan?

[BobtheTog]

I'm an avid follower of "the big picture" on the boston.com website.
For those that do not know of the website, check it out as there is some fantastic photography to be seen.

Basically they cover major news stories from around the globe but the stories are told in pictures. This can quite often be of a war stricken country or a place after a natural disaster which means that quite often there can be pictures of blood and even dead bodies on occasion.

One thing they have chosen to do recently is to put a place holder where an image appears that may offend someone and they have the option whether to click on the link and show the photo.
This has been generally well recieved by people so that they have the choice whether to view the photos or not.
It all depends on where your line is whether you click on the link or not.

Either way, check out some of the other pictures on the website as some of it is outstanding!

Cheers

Bob

[pavman]

Thanks for the link some stunning images that tell some very graphic and tragic stories across the globe

[ddraver@hotmail.com]

I think the photo of the child and the vulture is a great photo and probably did lots to help the other people in the same situation and therefore well worth taking!

But for crying out loud, when you ve taken the photo go and help the poor kid!!!!

The same can apply to the papparazzi who took 2 photos of Diana after the crash - OK so that will earn you thousands, but do it and then start sorting out the problem.

I'm not a sufficiently experienced photographer to comment on kids or nudes tbh, but I have taken pictures of kids at a charity event we were running, although it was obvious I was part of the fundraising team then....

[phaedsys]

Originally Posted by ddraver@hotmail.com

I think the photo of the child and the vulture is a great photo and probably did lots to help the other people in the same situation and therefore well worth taking!

But for crying out loud, when you ve taken the photo go and help the poor kid!!!!

OK... HOW? Once you have given child some food.... though it would probably not be able to take the solid food you have. Then what? You have postponed the inevitable by 12 hours.... Are you going to look after that child (and parents and siblings ) for the next few days/weeks and get them out of the situation?

What about he other couple of dozen children in the same village? This is not an isolated incident . are you going to help all of them? How? Real help that gets them out of the mess or just something to save your conscience? "I did what I could" which means the child dies tomorrow when you aren't watching? Back home in your comfortable home you can tell others you saved a child..... (for 12 hours)

Originally Posted by ddraver@hotmail.com

The same can apply to the papparazzi who took 2 photos of Diana after the crash - OK so that will earn you thousands, but do it and then start sorting out the problem.

1 The first thing the photographers did was apply first aid (Romuald Rat was first aid trained) but within 30 seconds of the Paparazzi getting there 2 doctors and a paramedic arrived (they were travelling the opposite direction) The Papparazzi then got out of the way and behaved professionally. According to the Doctors the photographers were not in the way or distracting. Due to the nature of the accident there was only room for the doctors and the paramedic.

2 None of them earned much for the photos. Firstly the police confiscated them all except for one set that a dispatch rider collected from one photographer. The Photographs were used as evidence by both sides in the case and are the only evidence of the car before the fire brigade took the roof off.

Only 80 photographs were taken by about 8 photographers.... 10 pictures each over about 5-10 minutes is not a lot.

Originally Posted by ddraver@hotmail.com

I'm not a sufficiently experienced photographer to comment on kids or nudes tbh, but I have taken pictures of kids at a charity event we were running, although it was obvious I was part of the fundraising team then....

The laws on photographing children vary greatly from area to area and event to event. However the bigger problem is the usually ill informed and paranoid parents, officials and police.

When thinking about 'The 'Fine Line' in regards to photography two words spring to mind. Respect and Dignity!