"The Swank Photo Buffs and the Louche Guy 'in the Buff'"

I was at a photo opening at a place that doubled as a high class and

well known photo gallery, photographed these women with this very

louche looking guy in the foreground at first, and later talked with him

and learned his profession (Adult film star). Later, I introduced him

briefly to these women subjects, and they took it from there, and to my

delight I recorded the encounter. Your ratings and critiques are invited

and most welcome. If you rate or critique harshly please submit a

helpful and constructive comment; thank you for sharing your

photographic knowledge to help improve my photography. [The women

guests were ostensibly very swank, and the guy was an unexpected

guest, but apparently, presented some interest to the women subjects.

All names withheld, as they seem inconsequential (for now). Thanks!

Enjoy! John

I had originally thought I might not post this at all, but in view of recent criticism that I posted a photo that I was criticized for because the prior post seemed to certain female critics to 'objectify' a woman as a 'sex object' this seemed the perfect time to post my riposte.

Here, the man is a 'sex object' and not at any 'porno fair'; instead at a swank gallery opening with cocktails, many society members, some photo glitterati, and others of society 'rank' even though he does work in the 'adult industry' which in this major city (unnamed) employs a substantial number of individuals, possibly including anybody's 'neighbor next door'.

I prefer not to have to explain further, but if pressed, I can.  (Gallery name withheld.)

john

John (Crosley)

According to the PN count (at least one of two counts which are contradictory), this is my posted photo no. 1,500.

I had not known that when I posted it, and did not make the decision to post it until immediately prior to its posting -- its order of posting was not preplanned and was made 'ad hoc'.

john

John (Crosley)

'Louche' is defined as 'disreputable, but somehow desirable in some way' by at least one on-line source.

That is the meaning in which it is used here.

However, the man was quite nice to speak to during my brief encounter with him, before I introduced him to these women, telling them very briefly of his 'profession'.

john

John (Crosley)

Such a great capture. Very nice expressions here. Great one. Regards

I sat on this because of excessive noise for a long time, then Giuseppe Pasquale helped me work it up, and later he has disappeared, much to my great unhappiness (If anybody knows of his whereabouts, please contact me here or by e-mail).

But I could not post his rendition, and it was only for my personal edification; I did not then know how to use 'filters' that did 'smoothing' for 'high noise' artifacts. 

I have known that now for about nine months, and this has been worked up for that long, but I was in no hurry to post it and just wondered whether to save it or post it.

Sometimes things must be 'just right'.

Today was 'just right'.

Thanks for the compliment.

This is Crosley at his finest, I think.

For me it's an 'instant Crosley classic'.

[i hope in others' views also, as I'm very proud of this very humorous and telling photo].

Note, for now there are no names attached as for now I feel they seem irrelevant.  Right now it feels that 'the photo's the thing' regardless of who's depicted, and that's the way I wish it to be.

john

John (Crosley)

His face is like the 'Joker' - this makes the shot much more than a funny something. Also her eyes on you. A keeper. My compliment! Ciao Axel

congratulations to #1500! Right decision to share - it's just a great scene and the background story adds quite some zest :-)

Gazes are are just perfect - you definitely captured the decisive moment. Rework is successful - except one technicality: the right lady's face and hair somehow looks s a bit too artificial (maybe a bit too high detail contrast).

Best regards, Wolfgang

P.S.: I also miss Giuseppe...

Score two for you on being 'helpful' with your comments.

I had not considered him as the 'Joker' from the Batman series, but there indeed is a resemblance.

In fact, this man says he's part or all Hawaiian, though I suspect 'mixed blood'.

He certainly is fit.

I also learned something new from his exhibition there which I since have confirmed by quizzing women friends and others:  women often are turned on by flexed and 'washboard' abs (abdominal muscles which are highly visible, from flexing and lack of body fat, for the aid of foreign members who may not understand the term).

'Washboard abs' resemble the old fashioned washboards used long ago by housewives on which they scrubbed clothes before the advent of modern clothes washers -- ribbed' affairs of metal on a framework usually over which to roll and beat their wet and soapy clothes clean.

Must be something about women and rubbing washboards that I've captured here.

Or maybe the washboard was designed after a slender, well-muscled male's abdominal muscles (my entirely original thought)?

In any case, this woman, facing, is looking straight at me, just like in my Nixon shot.  See my shot of President Nixon reaching around and touching my waist to shake a hand behind me, all taken by my camera held overhead in front of me pointed out and downward.

The photographer in front of Nixon and me there looks straight at me with this enormous grin of wonderment -- interpreted by one member as a 'knowing smile of recognition' that this then skinny kid [me] of my early '20s (maybe then I even had washboard abs -- probably did), had 'nailed the shot' of the President and the First Lady.

I think here this woman looking at me recognizes I 'nailed the shot'.

She certainly looks joyous doesn't she?

Just as does the other woman, tongue hanging out, something like from the cartoons.

I count this among my call-time best shots.

Really, all-time best, and certainly among the most humorous -- no matter who these people are, and even disregarding that this guy calls himself a 'porn star' among these glitterati at a photo show/opening regaling them with stories of  . . . . ahem . . . his day's 'work'.

I won't upset anyone by repeating his 'work' stories, but well, no matter what line of work you're in, 'work's work', and it can be tiring and upsetting as well as 'challenging'.  [don't ask!]

Don't you agree?

Axel, sometimes you say so much with so few words, I'm envious.

Thanks.

john

John (Crosley)

Several points:

This was a digital nightmare with high ISO in very dim light, and at first Giuseppe Pasquale worked up a version with 'filters' he did not tell me which, but showed me the result and sent it to me.  Of course, since it was not my work, I could  not post it.  I subsequently have some training on anti-noise filters and the use of 'smoothing' and it may either be 'hair gel' in the woman's hair or her hair style or just some 'smoothing' artifact' in order to get this almost unviewable photo viewable without being obnoxiously noisy.

Thank you for congratulations on posting No. 1500 (another PN count says I went over 1500 some time ago, but this is good enough for me, and this is an unplanned post -- just 'ad hoc'.

Just 'another post' from Mr. 'He'll post anything and surprise everybody' Crosley.

I follow my own drummer, ratings and comments often be damned, though I really do like good ratings and absolutely do love fine comments, but if there is a choice between posting an unpopular photo I like and feel deserves recognition and enduring low rates/awful comments, I'll take the latter.

I'm kinda that way very often.

Of course, I like to be liked and have my photos liked, like everyone else -- I'm not perverse.

About Giuseppe.

He is my brother, and last February he 'dropped off the face of the earth' so far as I have knowledge.  Entreaties to him have repeatedly gone unanswered.   I have feared the worse.

His work was featured in Spring/Summer in a respected photo mag in Europe but that was arranged before he disappeared.

Giuseppe, we miss you!

I miss you, and I am sure many others do, for your wonderful art, your wise and erudite counsel, and able assistance and friendship (and more).

Bro' come out of hiding if you can.

I'm sure most of the better members of this service are unaware of the mystery of your sudden disappearance.

As am I.

(Thanks Wolfgang, for letting me use this comment for a personal entreaty)

This photo was dear to me for Giuseppe's help in making sure it 'looks right' and for his tutelage in 'filters' or at least their potential - something I had been ignorant of until last year when we corresponded.

Giuseppe is extremely dear to me in ways you cannot imagine.

Thanks Wolfgang for a dear comment.

john

John (Crosley)

This is poster material.  I only wish it were in color.  But the B & W deos give it a 'Life' magazine feel.  Thanks for sharing.

Color did it no justice.

It's purely a black and white photo.

You just gave me one of the highest compliments a photo critic possibly could give, whether or not you knew it, besides the word 'priceless'.

Life Magazine was anxiously awaited at my home every week and was the standard for photojournalism when I grew up.

Possibly it is where I 'learned' photojournalism without ever having taken a camera class or a photo class or even a journalism class before I joined Associated Press, first as photographer, then quickly as a writer then editor, for several years, decades and careers ago.

This, to me, is the epitome of my craft.

I'm glad you have let me know your feelings.

Thanks so much.

john

John (Crosley)

John a great photo.

The BW tonal, the sharpness, the composition, the moment.

I like special the moment.

You name so many elements that go into making this photo what I believe is a 'success' and even 'memorable' -- at least to me it's the top of my craft.

And, especially, you note 'the moment'.

Yes, it's 'the moment'.

Not a second sooner or later, or possibly even a fraction of one second.

It's everything I aim for in a photo I take, when I shoot 'street' (even if there is no actual 'street' present, it's still what I term 'street' -- and if anyone wants to dispute that, that's their business).

I shoot a variety of genres and hope I do all well in all when I put forward my best, but surely this absolutely is my preferred genre, and the one I would love to be remembered for. 

 If I have my choice of shooting preferences and there are people around, this is the genre I will choose, nearly 100% of the time.

Thank you for the generous notice.

john

(Oh, and I notice the ratings under the 'new' ratings system and give them almost no notice -- gone are the ratings from familiar names who did NOT rate anonymously -- trusted names with trusted judgment whose presence next to an enthusiastic rating who could be counted on to tell me if I had achieved my goal (or not).  Change must come, and this is a change I lament, but it just makes comments like yours all the more dear.)

jc

John (Crosley)

wim,

Special notice to long absent member Giuseppe Pasquale, who, when presented with the very noisy version of this photo, undertook to use special 'filters' (he did not name them) to show me what could be done with it.

Without his demonstration, I might have consigned it to the bin of 'photos that had what it took except proper exposure and exposition' though they did capture 'the moment'.

He sent me back by drop box a small version of his workup (which I could not post), and that encouraged me to begin to work with 'filters' and especially anti-noise and smoothing filters (they're almost always together), to help work on this to make it what it is.

So, really,  much of your comment of praise must first be directed toward Giuseppe, who regrettably is not around these days to take your praise directly - let's hope that some day he will be able to acknowledge it.  His present loss is tugging at my heartstrings, especially with wonder how and why he seemed to 'drop off the face of the earth' with no mention from anyone and no word from anyone -- an uncharacteristic thing in our filial relationship.

The same advice and help has infiltrated almost all my work since then to cause my work to achieve a higher level -- old and new, as I work and rework old photos I thought once had achieved their epitome but now with 'filters' have been shown to be capable of achieving 'new heights of perfection and viewability'.

wim,

Thanks again and I'll redirect a great amount of that praise to Giuseppe, who would be most proud to accept it, even if he were to accept with characteristic modesty, being the great man of humility he is.

john

John (Crosley)

About the 'special moment':

Without the tongue sticking out - view worthy and a very worth while photo.

With the tongue sticking out -- one of my most memorable.

Who knows how long in seconds (or fractions thereof) that tongue was sticking out?

It's anybody's guess.  Perhaps it's her personal habit, or perhaps she did this once in her life and maybe even for less than a second.

We can only wonder (and marvel).

;~))

john

John (Crosley)

For me the moment is when there is perfect balance, when everything is in place.

You can get there, only near. There is always a fraction of a fraction where it is better.

This photo is very near.

I am a trifle more forgiving.

For me, that balance can be a continuum which can last depending on the situation being photographed, long for some landscapes, very, very short for some with people and expressions like this with a middle 'sweet spot'.

Here I like to think I hit that 'sweet spot' dead on'; I can imagine no time-dependent improvement to the scene, having been there.

Your view may vary slightly or even just theoretically.

Best.

john

John (Crosley)

An interesting situation! And the beautiful lines of the body of a man! :-)

Thank you for compliments on capturing this wonderful situation -- one of the best of my career with a camera, I think.

As another member said, 'poster material' (posters are large photos which kids put on walls, often university students, for decoration).  I found that hugely flattering, as such students reserve wall posters for only the best and most intriguing or emblematic.

As to your comment about the 'lines' of the man, I noted above, that until I took this photo, I was unaware of the attractiveness to females of the lines of the male abdominal muscles to so many females - however, I have learned much from quizzing female friends and other females in the interim.

Your comment seem to cement what I have learned from them -- such 'lines' are very, very attractive to women.

And when I was young I had such lines . . . but didn't know that I could show them and they were lady killers!

Sadly for my lost opportunity then.

Thanks Svetlana.

john

John (Crosley)

This is one of my best photos ever.

I might never have been able to show this photo except for Giuseppe Pasquale who showed me how.

I possibly owe my LIFE to Giuseppe as well, for a kindness he showed me at one time in the not so distant past, and I want to memorialize that, without being specific -- both him and his loving wife who made a sacrifice for me, without ever having personally met me -- brothers forever, we remain.

I hope that he (or at least word of or from him) emerges soon.

Giuseppe, we miss you!

Brother John