recent works Femme Dior - Rome 2009

In order to clarify my previous comment. I did just express my very own inner feelings while imagining myself being in your shoes, that I would not dare to point my camera on her, at least would have high barrier to do so. By no means I thought your idea ever were to ridicule people out there, that much I feel knowing you this far. Probably I have been reading forum discussion about this issue too much, along being rather a shy person.

if it helps Markku, I myself never read your comment as such. Besides, I know you better than that.

Thanks for your supportive remark, so thoughtfull of you.

a very well composed and brilliant image to watch.. Thanks for sharing ...6/6

Markku I perfectly understand your pov and quoted your comment to have the opportunity to clarify my own ideas on street photography. I appreciate very much your kindness and mastery and I am really happy you (and Ton - whose eye sharpness is outstanding) helped us to develop and discuss our ideas about street photography. Thank you all for the time spent and all the feedbacks. Ciao, Giuseppe

the juxtapositions are of course interesting but what pleases me the most is the tonal range

Great contrast... Well seen. Complimenti!

Giuseppe, this is very well seen and taken...like the contrast in it...grat serendipity...like your style...sorry I can't rate it yet due to your recent vote...

As the previous comments would indicate, this image is a catalyst for discussion on several levels. The one that strikes me above all is the ironic contrast between the unrealistic and unattainable look and dimensions of the mannequin and reality (the woman). The b&w further adds to that contrast. An interesting photo.

My compliments. Regards, ~~~~~~~~~~L

great photo and interesting discussion, I don't doubt about your sincere intentions while taking photos of people but Markku raised an important point that touches the law and ethics in photography and it seems to come down to a question whether or not you should have asked the woman in a photo for permission to present this shot in the Internet. The answer is rather a hard nut to crack, personally I'm for 'yes' option, not so because I feel the law would be bent if the photo had been uploaded here behind her back but because when I ask myself a question if I'd feel comfortable being the woman in the photo my answer is I wouldn't, or at least I'm not sure and I think I wouldn't like to find a similar shot of me on the Net in such a context without my nod in agreement. If she hadn't been asked for permission there's nothing left but hope she wouldn't mind seeing herself here because this is an excellent street photo, very well observed and with perfect tones. Best regards to you.

 

One of your very best short, short stories. The picture drips with irony and the contrast you have drawn between society's projection of the fashion ideal and the rather more substantial reality is eloquent. This picture has all the elements that are needed to produce an enduring and iconic image. I guarantee you, this will be understood and appreciated 100 years from now.

Reality, ambition, imaginative ideal.... reality prevails......;-))

 

Ideal timing... and execution ,Guiseppe.

and precious comments. The so called "street" photography - as Wieslaw stated so clearly - is matter of ethernal controversy and debate, more than ever today, when the Internet helps us sharing our works worldwide . I am happy so many PN "colleagues" chose this space to share their ideas. Thank you so much, Giuseppe

And questioned whether the woman might have stood more to our right -- you showed me the original captures and I saw that was not possible under the circumstances.

 

Now I also am convinced it would have not worked or not worked as well if the larger women were contained on the sides within the window frame as I had thought. As I have seen, the fact she 'breaks the frame' which might enclose her simply reinforces the fact of her overweight and emphasizes even more the contrast with the mannequin.

 

By the way, I am convinced that this is a potential Photo of the Week and if not this one, soon you will have one. It is a ratings and comment magnet, and highly rated (see mine, attached), which are desirable for Photo of the Week. and it is exquisitely well done -- all prerequisites for Photo of the Week. If possible I would nominate it myself (that shows you I am not an elf, if they still exist, because if I were, you already would have had Photo of the Week at least once).

 

I understand also that you have changed somewhat or have started morphing or extending your shooting style, and it is welcome. There was always a danger of becoming so skilled at one type of shot you might become a 'one trick pony' - so highly skilled at one sort of photo you would be afraid to take (as I do) lots and lots of chances, which is where innovation comes from, especially as I know you are a very precise and exact fellow and somewhat intolerant of fault (witness your precise post processing technique, which I cannot even approach.)

 

So although not shown here, I know your style is changing as you are challenging yourself and becoming innovative, for which I say hoorah!

 

And I'll say 'hoorah' again when a photo like this wins Photo of the Week, as you well deserve.

 

John (Crosley)

 

P.S. I forgot to mention the amazing mirroring of the hand/arm placement of the woman and the mannequin. Truely amazing street where everything works perfectly; it's the prize for all the missed chances.

 

jc

Giuseppe, I thoroughly enjoy this work. To me, it is quintessential photography - pure life.

Outstanding and I agree with both you and Ton.

Lovely girl Dior. You mean in front or in the window? Great work!

I have been here and I have enjoyed immensely both the extraordinary photo and the accompanying fine, exquisite discussion.

And, there seems to be nothing else to say...

My thanks to all contributors :)

I understand and sympathize with Wieslaw’s view, on the ethical side. The issue is that, following this view, one should conclude that this photo should have not been uploaded (assuming that Giuseppe does not have the model release), which would be a shame, as this is not just a good street photo, it is a photo that raises debate, as the comments above clearly show, therefore a worthy photo.

On the law side, one should also consider that - under Italian law - it would be de facto illegal to publish this photo without the consent of the portrayed person. Again, this would be a shame, for this photo – and many more – could not be shared and this would greatly impair our possibility to discuss, share and circulate ideas, views and concepts. If the case Nussenzweig vs. Di Corcia was heard before an Italian tribunal, an Italian judge could never have ruled that ““the courts have uniformly upheld Constitutional 1st Amendment protections, even in the face of a deeply offensive use of someone's likeness … these examples illustrate the extent to which the constitutional exceptions to privacy will be upheld, notwithstanding that the speech or art may have unintended devastating consequences on the subject, or may even be repugnant. They are, as the Court of Appeals recognized in Arrington, the price every person must be prepared to pay for in a society in which information and opinion flow freely”.

The alternative is to wander around with a camera and a ream of model release forms and, for each picture taken, approach the people portrayed saying “hi, I’ve just taken your picture, would you mind signing this form where you consent to the use of your likeness for whatever purpose I might fancy?”, an option that I personally find grotesque.

Interesting debate indeed. But I think such kind of debates arise from two peculiar aspects of contemporary western society: 1) an exaggerated emphasis on privacy and 2) the current canons of beauty - created and nourished by mass-media and marketing - and the fact that failing to conforming to these canons is often seen as a desease or a guilt. On the first issue my opinion is that once we set our foot on the public street, we shouldn't be able to appeal to any privacy on any image of ourselves. Once we are on public land, we are conscious we are open to other people's eyes, others people's judgements on our behaviour and our image. If we demanded privacy on our image, then we should demand also that the others should not share judgements on our behaviour in public, and this would obviously be absurd. It's obvious that this is true as long as the picture isn't used for profit or for discrediting purposes (which is not the case here). On the beauty issue, what I maintain is proved by this debate itself. On the contrary, I don't see anything wrong or ugly or shameful in this woman.I think we should be more open to the variety of the human form, and this should be even more true for us, sharing the passion for photography. Referring to Markku's words, I'm not seeing any brutal reality meeting the ideal vision: I'm seeing a perfectly normal and natural reality meeting a stereotyped, extreme, fake and unhealthy ideal vision.

Hey Mauro . . . you said it man - as well as it could be said!

 

as for your picture Giuseppe... first rate!

 

 

Queso è la realtà quotidiana !! complimenti molto spiritosa........ciao Paul

Giuseppe,

 

I propose that you change the title (caption) of this photo to:

 

'Femme Dior', and remove reference to time.

 

This photo is timeless and the reference to year taken would be fine for a footnote in the back of the 'coffee table book' which ultimately will be published, but at some day the caption's date will date the photo and I feel will draw attention away from its timelessness.

 

Let the viewing public guess whether it was taken 20 years ago or just the other day . . . let them look at the styles in the shop window (and on the obese woman) for clues . . . and let them be drawn into the photo. They will know soon enough.

 

This is one of those GREAT AND WONDERFUL world class photos of all time that needs no explanation whatever.

 

It is, as I have been using the term, a classic 'ironic juxtaposition' photo - a genre I absolutely love . . . . and which -- when used properly -- can have enormous impact when one shoots 'street', as you have found (witness the wonderful discussion above).

 

Food for thought, anyway, and whether or not you act on it (about removing reference to time in the caption) now or at some future time, is just something to consider (for this or other photos, even for later captioning).

 

Most of your photos are timeless.

 

When announcing a Bach, Mozart, or a Beethoven work it may be common to announce the number assigned that work by the most famous cataloger, and it may help your future 'catalog' to leave a good reference list with your work/estate, for your photography is bound for history, I think, and this is and other PN works shown are just the start of a great and wonderful catalog of the Works of Giuseppe Pasquali, to be bound for galleries and in the future to command wondrous prices, increasing year after year.

 

From a friend and brother photographer.

 

Who knows what 'timelessness' may mean to a true resident of Roma, a city that itself is a daily reminder of timelessness.

 

See ya (soon I hope).

 

john

 

John (Crosley)

Everything is said all ready. No need to repeat it. Read all the comments. Excellent.

 

Cheers; Bela

I've read all the comments and valid points were made. Legal issues aside, as a woman I can't help but to feel sad viewing this photo. Seems women become invisible, forgotten and unwanted when they reach a certain size or age. Excellent photo but a very sad commentary on society. Thank you for sharing. :)