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Peter D2

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The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all. What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
 
I just want to know why you picked this particular shot.

What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:

1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes not smiling (no teeth)

2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
 
Yes, it could well seem that way. A picture like this one probably needs some explanation. The kid was having a lot of fun and they had a very good relationship. It looks weird especially since the head is underwater. I'm putting together an exhibition on people and animals by the coast. By your response, I should leave this one out?!
Benny_HK said:
What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:
1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes
not smiling (no teeth)
2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head
in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at
all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will
do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the understanding. As you know what was happening before and after the shot, I think you would probably see the picture differently.

I have only the picture to go by (lacking the context) and I have probably over-react a bit.

Cheers,

Benny
Peter D2 said:
Benny_HK said:
What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:
1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes
not smiling (no teeth)
2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head
in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at
all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will
do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Benny,

That's very understandable. Maybe twenty years ago it would have created so many questions. But I'm wondering whether in amongst many other seascape shots, it would just appear quirky. I'm not trying to be controversial for the sake of it, just guaging responses.

Thanks for any feedback. Its all good.
Benny_HK said:
I have only the picture to go by (lacking the context) and I have
probably over-react a bit.

Cheers,

Benny
Peter D2 said:
Benny_HK said:
What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:
1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes
not smiling (no teeth)
2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head
in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at
all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will
do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Looks more like a murder than dad and son having fun....I wouldn't use this pic for an exhibit
Benny_HK said:
I have only the picture to go by (lacking the context) and I have
probably over-react a bit.

Cheers,

Benny
Peter D2 said:
Benny_HK said:
What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:
1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes
not smiling (no teeth)
2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head
in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at
all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will
do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Louis Markoya said:
Benny_HK said:
I have only the picture to go by (lacking the context) and I have
probably over-react a bit.

Cheers,

Benny
Peter D2 said:
Benny_HK said:
What do you try to tell the viewers with these in the picture:
1) A man with a stern look in his face, sun glass covering eyes
not smiling (no teeth)
2) kid is totally naked with legs struggling and kicking and head
in the water(blurred legs)

And you said this is playing and the picture doesn't tell that at
all. If you show this to a NSW policeman what do you think he will
do?

Benny
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
--
Other than the obvious child abuse and kiddie porn issues, a great shot.

Robert Williams
NAPP
PBase Supporter
http://www.pbase.com/robert8194
 
Peter, I don't know what you call this in the land of OZ, but in America they call this child abuse. Even from an artistic perspective, there is little to recommend this image.

Regards,
J. Roberts
 
Perhaps it is partly a locality issue...

Coming from Australia I would have never reacted so strongly to this image. Yes, I guess it could be read that way, but I've seen enough people being dunked to realise that is what's happening here.

I guess the nudity makes people slightly more nervous than usual, but I guess that's what you have to put up with shooting at Bondi. Perhaps leave this one out of the exhibit just to be safe - hardly the type of thing you want to be known for.
J. Roberts said:
Peter, I don't know what you call this in the land of OZ, but in
America they call this child abuse. Even from an artistic
perspective, there is little to recommend this image.

Regards,
J. Roberts
Click to expand...
 
Mark, it is true that Americans are way more uptight about nudity than are the Aussies. I know Bondi rather well, because I used to live in Manley. However, the image posted can be read or misread so many ways that it is better left out of any exhibit.

Regards,
J. roberts
 
Peter,

It's too bad that we Americans are so up-tight about this type of photo. I have to admit, I had the same initial reaction to the photo. This would not have been the case 40 years ago. There are so many weird things going on today, that are exploited by the media, that we all get conditioned to react this way.

I believe 40 years ago this photo would have received a much different reaction.

--
Lawrence
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
 
This is a great shot .... to bring to Child Protective Services ... so they can have a long conversation with the father on appropriate play.

The bottom line is that no one viewing this picture can put it in the context that you described. They only see a moment captured in time. That moment appears to be a pornographic image of a grown man murdering a naked child. And why would you want to add that to a show ?

My - off topic - two cents
Peter D2 said:
The afternoon of this shot was very pleasant indeed. Beatiful
lighting and nice atmosphere at the north end of Bondi beach – late
summer. I spoke to the guy in the photo and told him I'd taken a
series of shots of him playing with his kid. He didn't mind at all.
What do others think?
http://www.peterdamodigital.com/pages/dunk.html
Click to expand...
--
.
 
Thanks for all the feedback from everyone. I guess if there was a hint of a smile with the father it would ease the situation somewhat. Robert, if you had beent there that afternoon, you may well have reacted as did the many others who were there – not bat an eye. It only really had my attention becuse of the lighting in the afternoon. Otherwise, noone could care less. So I'd have to say its all very contextual and even though, you might have the context explained, its still not the same as being there.

One of the reasons I asked for some opinions was to see whether that particular image could be viewed in an innocent way but clearly images affect us all differently depending on our background and perhaps more significantly, the prevailing world atmosphere. It just shows you things aren't what they seem...all the time.
robert55365 said:
This is a great shot .... to bring to Child Protective Services ...
so they can have a long conversation with the father on appropriate
play.
Click to expand...
By the way, could you explain a little more about appropriate play? I'm asking because both the father and child were enjoying themselves and it was not bothering anyone else. I can appreciate that as a stand alone photo it may be suggestive of many things.
robert55365 said:
The bottom line is that no one viewing this picture can put it in
the context that you described. They only see a moment captured in
time. That moment appears to be a pornographic image of a grown man
murdering a naked child. And why would you want to add that to a
show ?
Click to expand...
That would add nothing. It is a 'broad daylight' event though. He would be better off doing that in the privacy of his own home if that's what was happening.
 
Peter, I think this is just an example of how freezing a moment in time can create a completely false impression and why we need to be responsible with how we use that ability. My dad used to play with me in the water just like that, and there was nothing painful, scary or unpleasant about it. I would splash him, he would dunk me (no more than a split second, and I knew it was coming, so I could catch breath), and have nothing but warm memories of the whole thing. No one watching in "real time" would have thought a thing of it. I see the same kind of play all the time, even now, but somehow, seeing it frozen makes it look sinister.
 
Perhaps it's because i'm from the land of soddom en gommora but you people make me laugh on such a issue.
Try to be openminded.

Al I can see is a little kid having fun with his father.

(man its hard to express yourself in a other language...)

Bye the way i'm fron Holland

Jos
 
robert said:
This is a great shot .... to bring to Child Protective Services ...
so they can have a long conversation with the father on appropriate
play.

The bottom line is that no one viewing this picture can put it in
the context that you described. They only see a moment captured in
time. That moment appears to be a pornographic image of a grown man
murdering a naked child. And why would you want to add that to a
show ?
Click to expand...
Humm, if this is your attitude to an obviously playful time with father and son, I would be interested in your attitude to the beach nudity / semi-nudity, modern world-wide television, the degree to which the attitude cleansing of political correctness is removing much of the American right to think and the role of the church in determining modern social values.

tony
 
My response was based upon how I interpret the event in the image frozen in time and without context. I did not intend it to be a social, or political, statement - though I can see that I did leave out and other monikers of levity.

Taken at face value, with no explanation of context, to me it does not appear to be an image taken in play. I think that the majority of people who have commented also find the image disturbing.

Your comment that this is "an obviously playful time with father and son" doesn't ring true for me. If I were to view the image hanging on a wall, I would not interpret it as an obviously playful time. For me, it doesn't look playful at all. That is the risk of a moment in time with no reference to context.

As for your query on my personal attitude toward beach nudity, I'm not sure why you ask .... but I feel that those who wish to to be nude should be nude, and those who do not wish to be surrounded by nudity should have that option as well. By it's nature, nudity is tied to sexuality. I can see where some people would find it more comfortable to be in clothed setting, and I can see where some people would perfer a nude setting.To some degree nudity is an issue in all societies with the degrees of acceptable nudity being dictated by local laws and other social constructs.

In brief, I don't feel that nudity is either right or wrong. It just is an option. If it can be made available for those who desire it, great. However, those who would prefer a non-nude environment should also have that option.
tony field said:
robert said:
This is a great shot .... to bring to Child Protective Services ...
so they can have a long conversation with the father on appropriate
play.

The bottom line is that no one viewing this picture can put it in
the context that you described. They only see a moment captured in
time. That moment appears to be a pornographic image of a grown man
murdering a naked child. And why would you want to add that to a
show ?
Click to expand...
Humm, if this is your attitude to an obviously playful time with
father and son, I would be interested in your attitude to the beach
nudity / semi-nudity, modern world-wide television, the degree to
which the attitude cleansing of political correctness is removing
much of the American right to think and the role of the church in
determining modern social values.

tony
Click to expand...
--
.
 
I have taken and seen a number of shots where people have asked the question "what's wrong with that person"? I know for a fact that in those photos of faces there was nothing "wrong" with the individual and it was entirely a false impression created by the 1/500sec image recorded. The person was not at all disturbed or upset. Thus it (the image) draws out impressions/attitudes/feelings/reactions from our psyche that were in no way contained in the actual event. If I purposefully wished to create an outraged response I could do it with a perfectly innocent event. Beauty and horror in this instance are in the eye of the beholder. So this really brings up the question of social responsibilty. Perhaps not in the 'Lighting forum' though. Thanks to everyone who have given any responses. I would in all likelihood get the same range of reactions from the public.
 
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