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private photography
So, I think that most of us that are photographers, and photographers of people, take photographs they would never post here or anywhere. But photos that are probably better than most we see, because they are documents of friends, intimate moments, mundane moments, etc. How many people display their private works in public places? I am talking about everything from photos of you dressed up in drag, to masturbating, to flossing teeth, to having sex, to cooking dinner, to hanging out smoking and drinking and whatever with friends, to when the friends start getting naked, etc. What do you think? How many take these photos? Do you treasure them as much as your public artworks? Sep 10 06 12:06 am Link I treasure these photos so much more. They show the art of real life. Sep 10 06 12:08 am Link I don't. Rather, everything I make is public. I think that the only obligations of an artist are to make and show art. I might be wrong about that though. Wouldn't those photographs that you describe be mementos? -Don P.S. Now that I think about it there are two photographs that I do not show on the web. Sep 10 06 12:09 am Link D. Brian Nelson wrote: Yes. And since I am obsessed with collecting things, they are things I treasure. In fact, my boyfriend and I had a documentary evening the other night....we shared the camera, both took pictures, and now I can compare what his photos of me masturbating and orgasming look like compared to yours. I have to go into my raw files though....they are a bit dark, and i want to see details. Sep 10 06 12:12 am Link Webspinner wrote: My photography has many different levels...what I'm trying to sell, what I give away to friends/family, and what I keep for myself. Sep 10 06 12:13 am Link They are what started me on this path to photography. I've always documented since I got my hands on a 120 camera. Then a basic 35mm. I've worked in a photo lab so for a while I got increasingly crazy with my photography. I've boxes and boxes and books and books full of personal times and memories. I have one book devoted to my experience at Burning Man in 1995. Eleven years ago. I've got books devoted to when I threw break in raves (you know - the "real" kind) doing the first ever Goa Trance and Jungle mix nights in the Mission in SF. My personal photography got me into doing nature photography, which brought me to the type I do now. It's different, that's for sure, but I know that the images I take of the models who love to get topless for me and smoke and do fetish things, if they turn out lovely? Well it means in 20 years they'll have something happy to look back on. A part of their lives perhaps where they were doing fun things and meeting new people. It makes me happy when I'm shooting just friends and when I'm shooting for sites or friends or whatever... Added: I think it's also part of what makes me want to finish eventually my degree in photojournalism. It's art that's documentation. I treasure it. Sep 10 06 12:14 am Link Bravo Dr Molly.... Sep 10 06 12:16 am Link Webspinner wrote: I don't know whether it's wrong or not, but I thank you. Knowing that you understand makes me happy. Plus you reminded me of my fanatical love of this type of media documentation. Sep 10 06 12:20 am Link For me, the camera is integral. I don't separate "private" from public...everything is the same. If I like the image, if I think someone might wish to see the image, I will display it (assuming I have the requisite permission). I live for the photograph, for me, there is no other way. Sep 10 06 12:21 am Link Studio L, I have always felt the same way (expecting a print from you....) and would show my best work in galleries, whether it was unexpected documentary moments or highly designed still lives or the formal compositions of landscapes taken from a campsite a 2 hour paddle from civilization over 5 days. In many ways I am asking because while I do have things I cannot post on mm, it is of the same style of the stuff I do post on mm. My photographs capture still lives I made, spiders spinning every night outside my window, my trip to Algonquin park, and myself and my boyfriend enjoying the wilderness together. (top 4 photos are self portraits, but have to re edit them because I just got a technique for b&w conversion I discovered that totally adds to the work...you see it on my b&w still lives and the photos of my boyfriend. Sep 10 06 01:18 am Link Webspinner wrote: actually, nearly all of my work surrounds exactly what you're talking about... Sep 10 06 01:23 am Link That is why I have wanted to work with you Justin. I love your work. Too bad I won't be back in NYC for a while. Instead I am trying to convince more people to fly to Chicago and hang out with me in my bizarre world of documentary moments. And my boyfriend and I were photographed having sex by Melvin Moten, and I DID post it. When I still had my Lapis account active here, that is. Sep 10 06 01:41 am Link I love those type of images. I did a whole shoot of an s&m scene between two people a month or so back. I even got a full release signed by both of them they were so happy with the images I took and they loved the 5 prints. It was a great acomplishment for them to say to me "were not selling our private lives for 5 prints" changed to "we will sign what ever you want" after they saw the proofs. I recall in highschool several friends took photography and one had this amazine image that had to do with a "pipe" and even though they printed it in the darkroom in secret she could not submit it for a grade even though it was a beautuful shot.. I also was commisioned to shoot a male once who had never been shot nude before and got one wonderfull image that due to the penis rules on MM I can not post. Experimental photoworks, damn wrong profile Sep 10 06 01:53 am Link That's okay, I am really on the wrong profile all the time. Sep 10 06 01:58 am Link Iona Lynn wrote: I do that ALL the time here. It's difficult working both sides. Sent you an email btw... Sep 10 06 02:01 am Link Dr Molly Black wrote: send me one too...... Sep 10 06 02:03 am Link Quite a few..  Self Portrait with my vehicle after it overturned several times.  Flower Study#1.  Chicago Hotel Room interior. There are many, many more...mostly artistic pornographic nudes that I can't post here. Sep 10 06 04:12 am Link J n X Photography wrote: I don't doubt that you are a good cook.....but please take better food shots! Sep 10 06 09:30 am Link Webspinner wrote: ahhhh...didn't realize it was you Sep 10 06 09:41 am Link J n X Photography wrote: Ditto! Sep 10 06 10:04 am Link Damn. It is time to edit some of my postable documentary photos, I am very happy to see how many people actually LOVE photography, of all sorts. Because private photography is not just about sex examinations of self, it is about photography and examinations of everything. Now I have to go and shoot my still life in a different light. Literally. lol. And edit my documentary evening.....as well as other things. Sep 10 06 10:42 am Link I treasure all the images I take equally - and some "private" images have evolved into something I would welcome a suitable venue for Sep 10 06 11:32 am Link good. I want to keep this thread going, I truly believe that the most devoted, best photographic artists take photos of everything. Sep 10 06 12:24 pm Link i have about a bajillion shots of just stuff around my room...but i feel its too 'personal' to post online and present as any sort of 'themed' work but honestly, they are my favorite photos...simply because its private still-life and NO ONE can duplicate it...it means so much more keep up the great work everyone!!  Sep 10 06 12:33 pm Link Just going through the documentary photos I took with my bf the other night....some extraordinary stuff. More explicit in raw, but beautiful and mysterious in .jpg. I might post some on livejournal. If anyone wants me to send them some of my files, I would be more than willing to share. May take me a few days to show though, as I am supposed to be editing other things too. Sep 10 06 07:24 pm Link Everytime I pick up a camera, I'm discussing some issue with the world. Sep 10 06 07:37 pm Link I started thinking about it... all photos are private (personal) on some level. Should I be embarressed about this? or just reveal more about my inner life to the world? If I am not taking risks artisticaly and emotionaly then what am I? These are questions that should preoccupy me. A couple more that defy categories, but I love.  "New Years morning 2005" I had been up all night at some party or other and then made it back to my studio just as the sun was coming up over the horizon. I took this snap of my tripod and camera, if you look closely you can see the ocean in the background.  "Rain Drop Explosion # 2" Just a snap thru the window of my friends car.  "Terry and Jen on Lincoln Road" It was the day Richard Avedon died. I was casualy walking down Lincoln Road when I saw photographer Terry Richardson and wife Jen having dinner. I politely introduced myself and told him how I admired his work. Ended up hanging out with them for some time and eating their left over sushi. I ran into Terry again during a book signing at Art Basel several months later. I presented him with a copy of my pic and he seemed genuinely grateful and in turn had his entire entourage sign my copy of his book. From what I understand I am the only one besides publisher Benedict Taschen that has a copy autographed by Terry and all of his assistants. I am currently working on a site to host these and other pics. Sep 10 06 08:53 pm Link Sounds like everyone carries a camera around all the time.....so do I ...just never know when that interesting shot my come....even at the car wash....  Sep 11 06 12:25 am Link Webspinner wrote: hmmm....maybe I need to get more interesting friends than I already have... Sep 11 06 12:38 am Link This one is especially interesting. Like most of us addicted to capturing our experience on film and media, I have images of virtually everything of my life's experience. Many women have come to me over the years for intimate images with the understanding that, even though I hold the model release, I will respect (and have thus far in my life) how the images are used although it is stated and restated that the model release means exactly what it says, I own the rights and may do whatever I want save intentially cause damage as described in the release. Many images were taken without the knowledge of the object as in a street shot. Some memories and momentos I want to remain private while others represent significant life experience and I have them hanging in a prominent place although I rarely post them online. Fore me there is a fuzzy line between imagery as a part of my business and income vs personal artistry, voyeristic life capture or experimentation. I have far too many negatives and raw media filled with images I would not be proud to post because of a general and continous learning curve as we move from film to digital capture and camera to camera, darkroom to photoshop. Sep 11 06 12:54 am Link Sometimes I stop taking pictures for a few minutes. Then I get figity again and pick up my camera. Sep 11 06 08:41 am Link Fotogene wrote: Those can be great moments, too. When I first bought my Mamiya 645 I did a couple of rolls like that to sort of "get my bearings" with the camera. here are a couple results: Sep 11 06 10:54 am Link I should carry a camera more often, I suppose. I don't think often enough about recording my daily life, etc...concern myself more with setting up images for my artwork... Here's two snapshots from when I did carry one around...  My closest friend "getting his drink on".  My ex-girlfriend's niece. Sep 11 06 11:13 am Link Sure I have some good stuff that won't be public. When I'm taking shots of friends and family, they're not expecting their images to go out on the Great Wide Web. I have a picture of two kids that's just adorable as all get-out, one of my favorite shots ever for both asthetic and sentimental reasons, but I'll keep it private - until they get to an age where they're able to rationally consent whether it goes out or not. It'll be over a decade from now when that decision is made. Sep 11 06 11:25 am Link Okay, I posted 4 photos from a private documentary session the other night. All of my Algonquin park photos are also similiar, but more formal posing, and my experiment was with artistic nudes and not documentary of a typical night at home. I would love to hear what you guys have to say about these photos. Sep 12 06 04:06 pm Link Webspinner wrote: I just checked out your photos. I am assuming that you are making referance to the top row (man with big penis) photos on your first page? Of those, I like "taking evening pills" the best. To me it's evocative and sensual without necesarily being provocative, wich sometimes makes a photo like that cliche. It has a lot of atmosphere and for some reason I realy, realy like the fact everything is infused with a yellowish/golden glow other than the red glass in the llamas hand. Again, to me that one detail can determine the success or failure of a photo. In this case (in my humble opinion) it being a success. In general I think your portraits are incredibly strong and in particular I like "rosebuds". The subject is very strong off center and I like the llamas innocent yet knowing demeanor. Also, the photo has a blue cast to it that lends a nice feel to it. I would do away with the borders as I feel they distract from the overall composition. Anyway's you asked for feeedback and that's my two cents worth. Sep 13 06 12:52 am Link Maynard Southern wrote: Very nice work. I especily like the one of your ex-girlfriends niece. For some reason I can't help but to be reminded of Diane Arbus photo of the boy in the park with the toy hand grenade. I carry several cameras with me at all times, tucked away in a boot or a pocket. Kinda makes me feel like James Bond. Sep 13 06 02:40 am Link I carry a point and shoot around with me in case I see something cool. I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of the wife that are for personal consumption only. I would think that would be very common among photographers? Sure she looks great in that Hooters outfit we bought on ebay but is it really what we're looking for in our portfolio...lol. Sep 13 06 04:49 am Link |
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