Part of what I explore as a journalist is not passing any judgment what-so-ever on the subjects I encounter. If I think some one is doing bad things--it is likely I show them in a negative light--if I don't make that judgment I'll just show them as they are. This is important in journalism. What about fashion. I made this picture of Nikida for her portfolio and I can say that she is a very sweet girl--in this case she is playing a part to create a certain look or style. So the rub for me is---is my making images like this ok? I'm not documenting someone here, I'm making a picture that looks like someone who is living sorta hard--yet in a way that makes her sexy. I think the thing that runs true in the history of my work is that I do tend to air on the side of experimentation and not caution. Lets try it and see what it does. That last sentence is almost a mantra to me. I learned a long time ago in my development as an painter that if I was afraid to ruin my painting, I'd never make a good painting---so I've ruined many paintings en route to making a few good ones(though I admit I have not made my masterpiece yet!) A friend of mine talked to me about my pictures of smokers and it is true--by making sexy looking photos of girls smoking cigarettes might glamourize smoking. I guess I'm not anti-smoking even though I don't do it(inhaling cigarette smoke directly from a cigarette actually makes me cough and want to die there on the spot!), most of my friends for years have been smokers and though many of them have quit--some things I remember that were good--we used to go outside a lot--even when it was raining and we experienced nature--and I don't find myself doing this unless a friend is 'popping out for a smoke.' So I guess I'm stuck in my thinking--what is bad to some--others find enjoyable---so is it bad? I know there are lines that shouldn't be crossed---but who set those lines and are they straight lines or ones that waver a little? SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer--by the way this is probably my favorite picture of Nikida from the shoot!
....and he just kept right on and on and on and on and on and on...
Reply
Rita
7/27/2011 12:00:26 pm
I think you can portray an edge without advocating an unhealthy or unsafe lifestyle. The edge can be exciting. Crossing the precipice can be dangerous. Just like smoking. It may have an artistic appeal, but the bottom line is it is unhealthy, dangerous, and not really sexy. Sexy is someone who doesn't have a smoker's cough, someone who doesn't have skin discoloration from longterm smoking habit, someone whose voice hasn't dropped two octaves from breathing in the tar & nicotine. Sexy can be appearance. Sexy can be lifestyle. Edgy, hard, can be intriguing. Unhealthy is just disgusting. There, that's my soapbox on your commentary.