And what might the thickness of one's glasses have to do with a person's mental state? If thick glasses may indicate mental problems, perhaps a blind person should be institutionalized or given a lobotomy, as their mental problems may be far greater, and people wearing contact lenses might just need a mild sedative. But it's good that you think of this, that the photo makes you think and wonder about what's going on with this person.
Is street photography art? Well, I suppose you might want to start by defining street photography. But, IMO, by any sense of the definition, it certainly is, just as much as a close-up of a flower petal. The fact that you're uncomfortable with the photo in question, is, in my estimation, a very good thing. Of all the things a photo should do, making you uncomfortable, making you think, making you, perhaps, look inside yourself, instead of just at a pleasant image on an exhibitor's wall, is one of them. Regardless of anything else, that makes the photo (any photo) a success. If you're uncomfortable with the photo (as opposed to just not liking it for whatever reason), perhaps it's touching something inside of you that needs to be touched, brought to the surface, and looked at more closely. Does every photo have to have a redeeming message? Maybe this one does and you just don't see it. Maybe you're right, and it doesn't. Maybe, as has been suggested here, it just stands by itself, and YOU are the message. You said it in your sig line ... you've gotta find the way yourself <vbg> shel Butch Black wrote: > I'm uncomfortable with it, it begs too many questions. The coke bottle > eyeglasses makes me wonder if there is an underlying medical problem, or > possibly a mental problem. > > This also brings up the whole question: is street photography "art" and if > so does that give the photographer the right to shoot Carte Blanc just > because it is art. What comes to mind is the W.P.A. photographs from some of > the noted early 20th century photographers. They showed miserable > conditions, but often showed a quiet dignity that went with it. I see more > shock value then anything in that photo. Yes it is a representation of life, > the statistics on obesity in the US are staggering. I don't see any > redeeming message to offset the shock value in the photograph. But this is > personal taste. I don't like Howard Stern or Jerry Springer's TV shows > either. > > Butch > > Each man had only one genuine vocation - to find the way to himself. > > Hermann Hesse (Demian)
