It's An Ugly Monday

Yes the news on Wall Street was and is not good. How bad is it, how bad will it get. Du-know? The photo to the right is actually the backside of the bronze Bull that defines Wall Street. It kind of says it all. Bottom line is greed, self centeredness, and pride. Both individual and corporate. I have no doubt that our economy will survive, there will be billions and billions of dollars lost in order to come out the other side. The money is there, the shell that it is under is unclear.

Along with the financial bad news there is another item I would like to rant on for just a minute and it has to do with the photography profession. If you are not aware a professional photographer by the name of Jill Greenburg was hired to do a photo shoot of John McCain for the Atlantic Magazine. If you do an image Google search on Jill Greenburg you will find many images of very nice photos using a unique technique that gives her photos a metallic/wet look. There are some ridiculous photos of crying children which Greenburg used in an anti-Bush image.

Here is the cover photo for the Atlantic Magazine.

Part of a professionals portrait photographers responsibility is to make the subject look as good as they can while preserving the reality and individuality of the person being photographed. Such as remove a zit, soften a wrinkle, adjust the tonality in spots but keep the birthmark, wrinkle, and color. Unless an individual is asking for more, it becomes an artistic venture without the subjects knowledge. Make it artistic that complements the person and all is well. On the other hand there is that fringe that must allow a certain hatred to reveal itself. This is the case with Ms. Greenburg.

Without speaking a word to anyone, she has shown her political hand and venomous positions regarding anything conservative. It seams to be a deep seated hatred that is unable to accept another view unless it happens to be inline with their own. Tolerance seam to be only one direction.

The following three images are some of the images that Ms Greenburg has produced in the name of portraiture.

The problem I have with this type of photography is not in the end result. That is art in some demented form. The problem I have is the photo shoot was on behalf of a client, in this case the Atlantic Magazine. While I am sure Ms. Greenburg did not release all rights to the Atlantic Magazine I do not feel it gave her permission to use the images for a personal agenda. This is crossing a moral and professional line that I can only hope the industry that has been so good the Jill Greenburg will come back and bite her in the fanny. Shame on you Jill Greenburg.

Let's call out inappropriate behavior as an industry so that others may hire true professionals. I have had the opportunity to see the good, the bad, and the ugly side of many well known individuals. I would not think to cross the line that provides them the privacy that they pay dearly.

Have a good night... Doug