Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Outtake from a shoot for book cover photos. Ain't she a cutie? What a personality.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

I'll be really honest here. My first reaction was "OMG, look at that tongue!"... and I found it unappealing.

So now primed for disappointment, the next thing I saw were the stretch marks on the butt cheeks... and I found them equally unappealing.

Maybe with a smile on her face I could agree she is a cutie, but that tongue spoiled it for me. Can we see her in another photo where I can appreciate her cuteness more?

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

"stretch marks on the butt cheeks"

Ahhhh..."Houston, we have a problem."
Now John, I think it best that I perhaps drop down on the side of better judgment and make the rather broad general assumption that you are possibly clue-less. And you Mr. LA Shooter, do you really enjoy doing this form of poor social behavior?

Now John, let me help you out here. First, please note the reference to prisoner attire. Next, what you are referring to as 'stretch marks' is in reality referred to as 'marbling' by the African American community. Finally, the thing with the tongue is something to do with a condition, namely that people of low intelligence could only do a gesture like this and could not turn their tongue up into a tubular shape, thus demonstrating a lack of logical reasoning, thus 'proof' of their low intelligence. It is also an old selective 'proof' that African Americans have a similar condition towards this physiological condition and in fact has nothing to do with an evaluation of their intellectual development nor potential.

This may seem rather odd but in fact an interpretation might be to say that the woman model is 'passing', she is in fact African American. I do find the use of prison garb to be derogatory and denigrating to African Americans, but maybe that is just me being a little to brainy and well read for this community. Normally I would just let it pass but because you decided to throw the fat into the fire it behooves me to object to all this.

Some helpful detail for those reading this thinking I'm just soooo full of it, allowed me to point out to them these facts. The ten dollar bill bears the image of Hamilton, of African American decent, I guy who also 'passed'. The nations first African American First Lady was Jackie Kennedy (her grand father was Haitian and so she was African American). But the one that really strips my bark was J. Edger Hoover, an African American, cross dresser and gay man who was a pedophile; he 'passed*'.

'Passed*' is a term from the American African community of an African American decent who make a point to PASS for white. It is as derogatory as calling well off white males as 'honkies'.

Or have I now committed an Emily Litella? I think not! But I do apologize if I have. "Never mind."

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Speaking of 'passing' there was a fascinating book years ago by a honky who darkened his skin, then passed as a black man for six weeks to write a documentary book about blacks and race relations:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Like_Me

As to the tongue-endowed model in the OP, I believe she is actually a honky or a little bit of latina. But I'm not sure; it's not something I note on model releases.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

In my experience you get better photos and the model has much more fun when she has a 'storyline' to play act, even if implausible. Models love it, and vastly prefer it over being micromanaged in poses. And much more personality comes out. For example for shots like this the girl could fantasize being a smart-aleck who likes being punished, and decides to provoke the guard. (Most models, btw, are fine with being spanked within reason).

In a similar vein, the entire genre of 'damsel in distress' bondage theme photos rests on a specific scenario and/or fantasy. And as you know, most models love that sort of mild bondage w/ a plausible story line.

Try it yourself, and share your spanking and/or bondage photos here.

Note: Any such 'hands on' requires clear comms and consent from the model.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Another photo attached; grabbed at random from the series, straight from camera, no post work whatsoever. She looks scared. Play acting? Was she looking forward to being handcuffed and spanked? Is she cute to your eye?

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

No tongue = more attractive pose. No visible stretch marks (or marbling, according to Timmers) = more attractive model. So yes, getting cuter. Now put her against an interesting background or into a themed setting, as opposed to a dirty corner, and you might have a winner.

This is, as you imply, little more than a snapshot. I would NOT frame this and hang it on my wall as an example of good photographic technique or as a work of photographic art. Nor would I frame/hang a lot of what has been appearing in this forum recently.

Where have all our nude "photographers" gone????

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

The girls made us get dressed!

Hey L.A., John doesn't like your theme, girl in prison, (should have sprayed painted with flat black spray paint, Home Depot has the cheap stuff for a dollar a can) used some 3/8 EMT and put wood supports to make fake bars. Remember PLEASE! he is a literalist! Why do I have to keep going over these things with you?

Stephan G

I could say that I am sometimes amused by those who insist on "reading" into photographs the activities of the past century as being brought up to the present day sensitivities.

At what point does a model/actor cross over from being a presentation to the literal statement from the past? All models/actors put on make up to achieve the character, real or ficitional. ("Whiteface" or "Blackface", etc. for those ready to pick up banners and march in the streets.) In Shakespeare's time, men dressed and made up for the women's roles! The point is that using whatever material to bring up an image is key to bringing in that character presented. The young dressing as old and vice-versa. It is ludicrous to complain, literalist or not, for the person on stage looking like someone else. That is the purpose of the presentation. It does not necessarily follow that the model/actor is the person perceived.

As for that idiotic claim of "cultural misappropriation", it can be shown that all that is declared "cultural" is actually appropriated from somewhere and someone else, when going back in history. The drum is a very good example to research. Each and every archeological society drummed. Beating a drum now is "cultural misappropriation"?!

The one thing that I can say is that the group of shots are not my "cup of tea". But that's it. I do look at the characteristics and decide on those merits of the shots. But I make no demands because there are no demands for me to make. If anything, I can only state what I think, as in my opinion, and perhaps present what I would do differently. To make any other kinds of declarations makes me the censor to others' perceptions.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

Stephan, I agree your comments. I don't believe in censoring this section, but it would be nice to see more images that actually have photographic merit and are worthy of critique, both positive and negative. While it is only my opinion, I do not look forward to images of dildos entering, as requested by one of the members on another thread.

Let's get back to photography and leave "porn" (vaguely defined) to other sites.

Stephan G

I think to get into the folder, "porn", one would have to present age ID and rent the brown paper wrap cutters.

It is my feeling that those with the salacious* minds will not have the age ID available.

*Not all synonyms apply (I.e., "Ribald, Bawdy").

Toby

I agree completely with your comments

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

Got agree too.... standard seems to have plummeted and entered a new darker phase.

RogStrix Loc: UK

I find it quite sad that this regular contributor's topic seems to have been hijacked by others complaints about the standard in this theme.

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

Yes, he is trying to open a dialogue about his vision and ideas as part of this community only to have others agendas thrown at him. It will continue that is a sure thing. Saber rattling (referenced to Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground where in that of gate keepers) is the activity of myopic guardians of the old guard. Like the USS Enterprise size ship, it takes time to turn it onto a new course.