Yin or Yang ...

Oh dear, get ready with a mop and towel. Good shot, well done! 

Quite fun, Fabrizio! I like the masculine pose and action in a quire feminine feeling scene. A change in lighting might have emphasized the stream although it works well being this subtle.

:-( I am sorry Fabrizio, perhaps it is just how my 'heart' feels at the moment. Your work has always inspired and uplifted me, as do your words. Technically  the lighting, detail etc. is great. But the 'suggestion' makes me sad, as if you are 'crossing a line' that will only lead to work unbecoming of the man I have always revered you to be. For me your Photography has always celebrated the 'female body', and treated it with great respect. It is a 'signature' that for me made you 'stand out' from the 'rest'.

I do so want you to have a successful Career, but if images such as this are the beginning of being 'accepted', where will it  'lead'????  Please know this is only 'my opinion' and for the most part, what does 'my opinion' matter? I am nobody. Many may call me a 'prude', so be it, I do not mind. I have watched your Phototography gown and flourish. It may not be rendering the results you wish at a pace you may have been hoping for, but your captures have always been well thought out and 'oozzed CLASS'.

You can erase this, I will not mind. I have been at the 'receiving end' of Sexual Abuse, and been commanded to do things no woman should ever be asked to do...........this image takes me back to that place, it does not put the naked female body in a place of 'reverence or actually desire'. For me, a 'LINE' has been crossed, and what will your next image have to contain to 'outdo' this one?  Some may say it is 'all in fun'.  But is it necessary? This woman is 'someone's daughter', and for me, I would not like to see my 'daughter' in this 'pose', and I would hope you would not like that for yours either.

You have been a wonderful friend to me, especially with my Mom's illnesss. Encourageing and had me in your prayers. This I shall never forget. May you and yours be always blessed with good healthe and Sunny Days, I hope you will still be my 'friend' after me expressing my opinion,  Respectully yours, Gail

Absolutely wonderful!. I know we all interpret imagery vis-a-vis our individual experiences. This one reminded me of a story my mother told me. When she was a kindergarten teacher they had a little girl who wanted to be, well, a boy. She so persistently insisted on peeing like a boy, all the school personnel had to give up on trying to change her. Except for that particular quark, she was perfectly 'ok'. Funny really. Nice clean shot. Sharp, Elegant, Ironic. 7

Fun shot with great model and tones! To your friend Gail I would say, Gail, while I can certainly respect your feelings, try to understand that a photographer begins to feel stale if he he remains locked inside a box.

It is, and has always been, the very nature of photographers/artists to push the envelope, always trying new things (even though there's really nothing new under the sun!), to experiment and grow. Our cameras, or brushes, or clay would remain on the shelf collecting dust if we didn't.

Instead of clinging to your unfortunate experiences and your uncomfortable place, I would encourage you try and break your mold... to step along with your friend Fabrizio and look for new horizons yourself. It's harder work, but it's worth it!

Best to both of you!

Michael

I would like to say that I am not clinging to these unfortunate past experiences, and this 'sad place'. I am just saying that, 'where does one go from here'. And now that you mention it, how far does one 'push the envelope'???

I understand all about 'pushing the envelope', trying new things. And yes, I need to broaden my 'horizons'. But I have looked at your Portfolio and you seem to be occupied inside 'one big envelope'. And that is fine for you, if it is what satisfys the photographer/artist within and keeps your 'clay damp'.

Fabrizio has become a very good friend and support over the past few years. His work and the quality thereof has always inspired me. He has always tried his best to display 'sensuality' in a very 'upscale' and beautiful manner. It is just this shot that made me uncomfortable. I have a healthy outlook on sexuality due to having the where with all to get Post Traumatic Shock Therapy.....literally saved my life.  So that is not the real problem.

I question now, how far my friend  feels he has to 'push the envelope', and will this 'shot' actually be a BONUS to his Portfolio. We can say many things are 'artistic' or 'art'........but on this Photo site I guess it doesn't matter. What matters I suppose at the 'end of the day' is, as long as the Photographer feels good about what he has posted.  If that is how Fabrizio feels, then that is fine with me.  This just seemed a big departure from the man I 'thought I knew'.....but he remains my friend, I just shall not post a comment under photos such as this again, 'smiles all round, everyone will be happy'. Keep up the good work Fabrizio, Gail

For Gail,

At the expense of turning Fabrizio's post into an off-the-subject forum, I'll just say this and be gone.

1) Thank you for your keen observations regarding my port! I have, over the years, tried very hard to narrow my focus down to one or two genres to explore in. According to your remark, I have succeeded!

2) To quote you... "What matters I suppose at the 'end of the day' is, as long as the Photographer feels good about what he has posted. If that is how Fabrizio feels, then that is fine with me."

Yes! That is EXACTLY the point, but it WASN'T fine with you! You scolded him because he strayed out of what YOUR defined parameters are, and then questioned his ethics - feeling you could do so because he is a "friend." The biggest problem with that is that there are no defined parameters of what is and what isn't art. I was talking with a guy the other day who believes that as soon as a person takes their clothes off for a photo, it automatically is porn at that point!

Where does he go from here? Anywhere he wants to! And he should... whether you wish to support him as a friend or not.

I sincerely apologise, I should not have commented at all and had the sense to write to you about how I felt. I did not intend to hurt your feelings or 'judge' this compositon. My deepest apologies, Gail

Excellent provocative work!

Caro Fabrizio, io ho visto e rivisto questa foto molte volte e mi dispiace per qualcuno ma la trovo fantastica. Ottima l'idea provocatoria,...... non voglio parlare di tecnica perchè da questa foto c'è solo da imparare,,taglio,luci, post tutto insomma direi perfetta. 

Non capisco perchè ha tirato su l' 'arrabbiatura' di qualcuno. Immagino che non non era nei tuoi propositi, non vedo niente di particolarmente tragico in questa foto, e poi la modella in question , portrebbe anche non essere una donna.... e poi finalmente qualche bella immagine pulita e diversa dalle altre.

Una cosa mi fa 'incazzare' (SI PUò DIRE???) questa foto ha 4.61, ma stiamo scherzando???? ci sono delle foto inguardabili che hanno sopra il 5  foto mediocre che hanno 6..... questo mi fa incazzare...purtroppo non posso mettere più di 7 . ma questo tuo lavoro sarà per me ispirazione su qualche idea da sviluppare in futuro.

Grazie per aver condiviso questo tuo progetto.