Kristine

[helen.HH]

Do you really feel that I should "look on and do nothing"?

Yes I do
There is lots I see that I may not be fond of here on RFF
but its a Big World and there's lots of room for Varied ways of Thinking
and shooting :angel:

No one was abused , maimed, threatened in any way...
They were just Photos...some may deem Artsy , some may not
Why rain on another One's parade ?

as for you Wife thinking them crass.... such a harsh viewpoint
but alas she has her right to view them as she will
For me, I find hustler and 'other' magazines photos crass... Certainly not Jame's work

 

[Highway 61]

James,

I carefully looked at your flickr and enjoyed some of the photos.

Cherry on the cake, that was nice to see Toronto (where I went thrice) and the streetcars atmosphere.

Strangely enough, among your many photos, this is easy for me to pick up the one I'd like to have framed on my house walls : "geneva12".

Most of them don't work out for me, though. For reasons I could explain. But - this is an interesting work, which is not vulgar.

The series with Kristine is homogen, but it (again, to my eyes) lacks of some "second degree humour".

Of course, we are not asking you to copycat Helmut N. 😉

"kristinee33" is working well. The selfie has something interesting in it, but, well... At first sight, the B&W with the Nikon L35 AF stands out of the series. After a while - not too sure any longer.

"geneva12", James, "geneva12"... 😉

Sejanus : from time to time, it's pleasant to try to say/write something else than "I don't like [this, that]". Just try this out and see by yourself.

 

[Scrambler]

The whole tattoo question is a real can of worms IMO. In my work I'm surrounded by people with them and don't mind them at all.

On a young female they seem to attract a different viewpoint to what they do on males ... which I don't get at all? 😕

Back when I was a young medical student the pithy comment was that any man with a tattoo should be tested for STDs and any woman with tattoos could be treated without testing.

That was before the explosion of tattoos made the saying wrong. And before the explosion of STDs made it at least half right again.

 

[Sparrow]

The whole tattoo question is a real can of worms IMO. In my work I'm surrounded by people with them and don't mind them at all.

On a young female they seem to attract a different viewpoint to what they do on males ... which I don't get at all? 😕

I don't like them myself, but was her motivation and what pressures lead to having it done

... a young chap in the pub has loads of them, but he's a boxer and cage-fighter so I don't bother about them

 

[Highway 61]

My objection to those pictures is that they commodify a person, make her appear something less than a human. My wife's comment was that they are crass. I am sure that many viewers would share that opinion.

Don't be sure too quickly.

As Burt Lancaster (playing the Prince Salina) says in "The Gattopardo" : there are way more much darker things inside people minds and souls, than anything you could ever see on their bodies.

As far as nobody forced Kristine to get tattoed by pressing a gun on her forehead, what's wrong ?

 

[Michael Markey]

I don't like them myself, but was her motivation and what pressures lead to having it done

... a young chap in the pub has loads of them, but he's a boxer and cage-fighter so I don't bother about them

Women want to have them now where as in our day it was maybe unusual for ladies to have them.

They are expressing their choice ...a choice that they didn`t have in the past because of societies predudices.

The worst you can say is that they`re a victim of fashion but aren`t we all.

Same goes for the model in her choice of shot ... I really don`t buy this whole Germaine Greer view of the world .

It maybe did the job in the sixties to draw peoples attention to issues but its past its sell buy date now and feels to me to be the worst type of condescension.

 

[sebastel]

lots to say without a point, so i keep silent.
i like what i see. (flickr)

s.

 

[tuanvinh2000]

I like the photos James, she looks like a fine young woman with an edge. Fit in the crowds with the Rihanna generation. I feel some photos are stronger than others (esp the BW) but overall they share the same pop art feel. Nothing offensive from my point of view.
As far as nudity, this is nothing compared to a rap video produced in the last few years.
James, if you can make some more striking composition, the set will win more points from me.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

They are expressing their choice ...a choice that they didn`t have in the past because of societies predudices.

The worst you can say is that they`re a victim of fashion but aren`t we all.

My question is how do we know so much from those pictures. My daughter, who is now in her early forties (I was a child bridegroom 🙂 ) once said to me that the pressure to conform to what young men expect of women could be stifling at that time of her life, which is one reason why she copied her mother and married a younger man.

I think we too casually assume that consent implies a lack of coercion and the presence of information. It's a hangover from the 'sixties, which was not nice for many women either, what with Germaine Greer exorcising her own demons in public and telling other women that they had to be sexually liberated.

Nor am I implying that only women are victims. Look at how many young men feel constrained to wear the clothes and follow the behaviour of their peer group. I think that this peer pressure thing is like the appendix: proof that evolution is blind and conscienceless.

 

[paulfish4570]

james has beautiful friends in his circle, and he has come along hugely in his recording of them and their young lives.
the tattooed girl is stunning, perhaps more so because of her decision to "dress" permanently. it is unfortunate that one day, the permanent clothes will have long lost any sense of fashion.
as for young women and tattoos, each of my two daughters-in-law has a tattoo on one foot. i suspect this was more to zing their daddies than anything else ... 🙂
and my favorite flickr photo, james, is of the man on the lakeshore with the great dane. lovely use of line ...

 

[f16sunshine]

James

Love the series. Definitely a more aggressive and dare I say "Pop Culture" style than the "ludite" majority crew here at RFF can digest.
Some images are stronger than others. Your model is lively and quite animated. If I was you I would wish to collaborate with her again.

Cheers!

PS. I saw the images late last night before you pulled them down. My Favorite was the one were she is smiling directly into the lens. It's missing from the flickr set.

 

[paulfish4570]

what andy said ^

 

[jsrockit]

Such negativity on this forum lately... especially towards fellow photographers. So someone posted photos that aren't in your style... get over it. It happens every day, all day, all over the internet.

 

[Michael Markey]

My question is how do we know so much from those pictures.

Or any picture ...we could be here all day at that rate.
I liked the bw one of the girl with the camera ..
Well done ,tasteful with a touch of cheeky humour.

Whats not to like.

All the issues you raised were far from my mind , I`m afraid.
I guess though that if you look for something ,you just might find it.

It comes down to personal disposition and I`m to inclined to look for the beauty.

Its a choice.

 

[Brian Atherton]

Like a couple of others, I came late the thread, after Koven deleted his photos, intrigued by the criticisms and responses.

Looking through his Flickr and the website, I found enjoyment in a number of the photos for their edgy in-your-face style, apparently unposed, especially the black and whites. Many of the studio fashion shots I don’t so much enjoy… principally for their colour pallet and full-on flash. It is just a style or content I’m not drawn to or find empathy in.

This said I don’t find the content offensive, just not my cup of tea, and, frankly, I’m rather surprised at the kerfuffle Koven’s photos have raised.

Hey ho.

 

[helen.HH]

This said I don’t find the content offensive, just not my cup of tea, and, frankly, I’m rather surprised at the kerfuffle Koven’s photos have raised.

Hey ho.

Well you missed the original few posts directed at James directly after he posted his set of photos... Blatantly mean spirited & ugly in tone , throwing race & :sexism in the mix
They have been deleted but not sure by WHO ?

 

[Rodchenko]

So now we're discussing photos that aren't there?

I missed the posting, so I can only gather from subsequent comments the nature of the photos, and I'm a bit baffled why there was such a vehement reaction. There are photos that we like, and photos that we don't like on this forum. I tend not to comment on photos I don't like, and try to make a point of making positive comments where appropriate.

 

[f16sunshine]

Rod

Here is Mr James Ellis Flikr

The set is right at the top of his photo stream. Well worth a look. A beautiful set of images of a strong independent looking young woman and as such...apparently One of the most threatening forces in the universe to some. 😛

 

[Rodchenko]

Oh. My. Lord. The apocalypse is upon us!

I saw the camera pic in the 'Shoot The Shooter' thread, and was going to comment what a stylish and witty photo it was. Wish I had now.

Beautiful model. Nice composition. Great lighting.



Thanks f16. 🙂

 

[helen.HH]

I'm pleased to see the Fun Tongue in Cheek humour
returning...;

Best- H