The Photography Thread (cds, albums, member, quote, 2007)

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Flower Child

Here are some faces of Southeast Kansas and I think I have a few Joplin Missouri people in here too. Some of these went in the local newspaper, but most are just ones I took for myself.

Vietnam Veteran Rider


Shorty, a World War II Vet

Originally Posted by Flower Child

Biker Man & and his Lovely Biker Chick & Their Tattoos


Farm Show Patrons

Flower Child,
Once again your photos are very expressive, showing the details of your subjects and their uniqueness. I can imagine you working for National Geographic! I especially like the family portrait at the bottom. They look so All-American in a wholesome, clean-cut rural way.

I bet you'd really like the Iowa State Fair for capturing pictures of colorful Midwestern farmers and others...maybe it even beats your Four-State Farm Show, since of course "Our (Iowa) state fair is the best state fair!" YouTube - State Fair (1945)

When you take photos of your subjects, I assume you have to obtain a model release from them for your community's newspaper? What about the redneck men? Did they know you were taking their pictures? I'm curious how you handle this, because some people don't like being photographed as if they were being gawked at, while others probably don't mind at all!

Iowa also has a lot of rednecks. I think they take pride in their look, since it relates to their farm lifestyle. I see a lot of roasted farm workers near where I live. The skin cancer specialist in me is always horrified. I think their attitude is, "To hell with the sun. We're going to die anyway someday, so we might as well fry now."

Our state fair is in TWO WEEKS! I love going and seeing the throngs of different people...and the livestock animals...and riding on the double ferris wheel like I did when I was a kid! Maybe I'll take more pictures this year...

[Flower Child]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

Flower Child,
Once again your photos are very expressive, showing the details of your subjects and their uniqueness. I can imagine you working for National Geographic! I especially like the family portrait at the bottom. They look so All-American in a wholesome, clean-cut rural way.

I bet you'd really like the Iowa State Fair for capturing pictures of colorful Midwestern farmers and others...maybe it even beats your Four-State Farm Show, since of course "Our (Iowa) state fair is the best state fair!" YouTube - State Fair (1945)

When you take photos of your subjects, I assume you have to obtain a model release from them for your community's newspaper? What about the redneck men? Did they know you were taking their pictures? I'm curious how you handle this, because some people don't like being photographed as if they were being gawked at, while others probably don't mind at all!

Iowa also has a lot of rednecks. I think they take pride in their look, since it relates to their farm lifestyle. I see a lot of roasted farm workers near where I live. The skin cancer specialist in me is always horrified. I think their attitude is, "To hell with the sun. We're going to die anyway someday, so we might as well fry now."

Our state fair is in TWO WEEKS! I love going and seeing the throngs of different people...and the livestock animals...and riding on the double ferris wheel like I did when I was a kid! Maybe I'll take more pictures this year...

I tell you what Erica, that means a lot to me, thank you! I always hope people are getting that same impression I'm getting when I see all those different faces and expressions through my photography, but you never know for sure if you really capture that for other people.

I would love to be in the midst of your big fair with all those different people. I hope it will be a little cooler for your fair than it was for our farm show. It was in the hundreds here, and miserable. I'm actually suprises you like fairs because I can imagine you running around opening cages and freeing all the animals. Do take some shots for me.

Answering your question to releases, anytime I take a photo of someone that I plan to put in the newspaper, I ALWAYS approach them and get their permission and name and all that good stuff. Sometimes I run into the occasional Amish man who thinks having his picture taken is work of the devil, but most of the time everyone is pretty down with getting their mug in the paper. The only ones I posted up there that I actually used in the paper are the Vietnam Veteran Rider and the Farm Show Patron shot and I got all their information and full permission on those. All the rest I took for myself and my own collections and didn't let them know I took a nice flattering shot of their farm butts and tattoos, which I'm not planning on selling or anything.

I don't know if many people know this but a photographer has the right to take anyone's photo (as long as it is appropriate, like no secret naked pictures) without their knowledge or permission as long as you don't use them for commerical uses.

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Flower Child

I tell you what Erica, that means a lot to me, thank you! I always hope people are getting that same impression I'm getting when I see all those different faces and expressions through my photography, but you never know for sure if you really capture that for other people.

Yes, I definitely see a feeling in your pictures!

I know you joked about the red necks, etc., but the feeling I get from your photos is that you *like* these people. They may not be doing what you might be doing, but in documentating their lives you aren't meaning to ridicule them but to appreciate them. That is the feeling that comes across to me from your photos, and I feel is a very important one for photographers to have. People open up to that, I think.

I would love to be in the midst of your big fair with all those different people. I hope it will be a little cooler for your fair than it was for our farm show. It was in the hundreds here, and miserable. I'm actually suprises you like fairs because I can imagine you running around opening cages and freeing all the animals. Do take some shots for me.

Miserable in the 100s was a couple weeks ago when I was out in the field in the hot sun doing corn pollinations while wearing full sun-protection: jeans, turtleneck, blouse, fabric face cover, sunhat, sunglasses and...gloves. Yes. In 100 degree weather. THAT would have been a photo opportunity! I will never be a redneck...just very very sweaty. It is cooler now, thankfully.

Oh, I definitely go look at the animals! That is my favorite part, but sad, too. Sometimes I want to pose tricky questions for the owners...though I haven't because I don't want them to feel bad...such as, "How old are the male dairy calves when you send them to slaughter?" or, more condemning, "Where are all the male brothers of these egg-laying hens?" They'd know I was a vegan, then. They'd know I'm in on what's going on and don't approve, and they'd quickly become defensive and withdrawn. They are so proud of what they do! They "feed the world," after all, or so they believe/claim.

Mostly I just try to give backscratches to the animals who are interested, like the pigs, so that they have a little more pleasure while they are still alive. The pigs are always very curious.

I don't know if many people know this but a photographer has the right to take anyone's photo (as long as it is appropriate, like no secret naked pictures) without their knowledge or permission as long as you don't use them for commerical uses.

I didn't know we could take pictures of whomever we want! That's good to know. I always feared people would try to sue me. Sometimes I want to take photos of strangers I see, but I feel like I'm stealing from them or invading their privacy and I don't want them to get mad if they notice me. So, I had wondered how you handle this, because of course a lot of the best photos of people are the ones where they *don't* know they are being observed.