It sounds like, if nothing else, the photo touched a nerve, or provoked an emotional response within you, which is what I like my photos to do.
Okay, now that this has been up for a day or two, I'll come clean, and tell you all what was going on here.
This was taken at a party. I'd not be using a flash in a bar unless I knew everyone (or at least most people) there - I figure that would be a good way to get punched out quickly! <vbg>
I know both subjects. They know each other. The one with his face to the camera, Taryn, is transgendered. He's had the hormornal treatment, but not the surgical, and currently lives his life as a male.
I'd normally not think it necessary make such information public, but for two reasons. First, Taryn has no problem with it. Second, it's kind of relevent to the image. Ever since the sex change, Taryn (who I knew before the procedure commenced) has gone out of his way to be macho. The cropped hair, the cigarette dangling out of the mouth (or in this case, thrust upward), and the general body language are all Taryn's way of proclaiming his "new-found masculinity" to the world.
This photo was an attempt to capture that. Taryn really does try to look the part of the "Tough Boy", but still comes across as "a boy", I guess due to the lack of facial hair and baby face.
I sort of thought that the photo looked ambiguous, not just due to Taryn, but due to the other fellow, Fraser's body language as well. Are they getting ready to fight? Are they getting ready to embrace? (I think they were, actually). What does that almost unreadable expression on Taryn's face mean?
So I quite purposely put the photo up without the foregoing info, just to see how people reacted. For the most part, reactions were were what I would have expected.
Now, Shel, knowing what you now know, what's your reaction to the photo? Has it changed? If so, how? Do you (or anyone else) think the photo is dishonest? I'm not sure about that last one, quite frankly. If it is dishonest, does the title contribute to (or even cause) the dishonesty?
thanks, frank
"The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true." -J. Robert Oppenheimer
From: Shel Belinkoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: PAW #6: Tough Boy Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 07:27:31 -0800
Hi Frank ...
Not sure how I feel about this one. There are moments when I like it quite a bit, even though it is somewhat disturbing, and at other moments I just want to turn off the computer. I guess that means it's a good photo ... but damn, I can't figure out why I like it and dislike it at the same time. I'll have to view it again ...
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