Taboo Subjects?
I have documented several times my difficulty photographing people and posting them on my blog - though with the counselling and therapy I am receiving on-line, this is gradually getting easier for me.
This made me wonder whether others had taboo subjects - obviously illegal and pornographic are out, but I wonder if you have a difficulty with something that others seem to be posting routinely. This could be because of technique, opportunity, confidence or any other reason.
October 3rd, 2005 at 6:42 pm
Not really taboo, but I hardly ever do “still life” shots - this is partly due to lack of technique, and partly due to lack of equipment (or maybe that’s just an excuse for the former).
October 3rd, 2005 at 8:19 pm
I’ve thought a great deal about posting artistic nudes for quite some time. I have several ready, but still don’t know if I will post them, even though I have the realeases to do so.
October 3rd, 2005 at 9:19 pm
My most taboo (not sure that’s the word??) subject has always been strangers. My husband works for a local free press, so I have been given assignments both from The Press and when with my husband. I think the more I’m out taking photos, the easier it’s gotten for me. It also helps when he’s there to say “I’m Jon from The Press . . . blah blah blah” which helps to let me work while he chats them up. I have to say that the more I do it, the easier it has become. Practice makes perfect
I think I’ve posted the gamut of other types of shots, other than nude, and I don’t have the technique, equipment, knowledge, etc. to do it - and I don’t really care to do so (for now).
October 3rd, 2005 at 10:13 pm
David - Funily enough I hav enot done much still life either - I did buy an inexpensive roll of white paper the other day though - watch this space.
Rock - I for one would appreciate them - I am sure with your technique they will be excellent. Not sure how others would feel about it though.
Jamie - Good to hear you have found a way to combat your own difficulty with strangers.
October 4th, 2005 at 1:20 am
For me it would be despair and grief. I know there are so many historic photo journalistic shots out there of war, natural disaster, crime, etc. but I could never point a camera in a situation like that and take a picture. But that is just me. Someone needs to capture it on film.
October 4th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
I shy away from taking pictures of strangers, and everyday street scenes. I think in my head I am picturing a scene where I get confronted by people I’m trying to shoot, and this freaks me out a little, so I decide not to shoot in the first place. And also, trying to shoot everyday life without distracting the subject is rather difficult. But I plug away…trying to get more confident and less shy.
October 4th, 2005 at 4:57 pm
Kim - I agree with you - I have enought trouble taking photos of happy people
I do feel it is important sometimes that such pictures are taken for news and awareness, ut I could not envisage them on my blog.
Pat - you are in the same corner as me - I am getting a little braver though.
October 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
I guess my taboo subject would be landscapes for image content, and politics for my writing. I leave anything related to religion and politics out of my posts because there are just too many people visiting from all over the world. It could start a real war if I posted a view on world events favoring any side.
October 12th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
My taboo would be a combination of a few things already listed. I would love to be able to go into some neighborhoods in my city and feel comfortable snapping pictures of people on old porches, worn out faces, oblivious children. The real people are what interests me the most, but I am too afraid to try that. I did get bold ONE time, and ask if I could photograph a family that was fishing by the river. So mostly, I photograph the worn out buildings and the empty spaces.
June 15th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Brother! That Khloe Kardashian is wierd. I love following the Kardashian’s just because they’ve always got something crazy going on. Hope you keep writing articles about the Kardashians.