on the death bed

A tad over sharpened for me if I'm honest mate as theres a halo around the right food (left side!)

As an image though, its a nice idea and quite well done. If its real you definitely need to blur out the tag as much as possible though!
 
I know I'll get shot down by many here because the choice of subjects is always down to personal taste. To me, this is distasteful; there are a myriad of subjects to photograph, but a dead body (even though it’s only the feet), and you say its real in your reply above, seems to me to be beyond a reasonable choice.

Anyone who has lost a loved one or a close friend and is confronted by this image will have unpleasant memories returned to them. I liken this to photographing a car crash and showing the dead victims, something most decent people would refuse to do.

I am genuinely sorry to knock your work Tom, and no doubt you put a lot of thought and effort in doing this, but these are my personal feelings. I am expecting to be told I am wrong, that’s ok, I won’t be changing my opinion on the subject.
 
I'm sorry to say but I agree with Trev. If this was a family member of mine and I found out someone had been taking images and posting them on the internet for personal gain and comments I'd be outraged.

As said there are plenty of other things to photograph although I too am not knocking you Tom. They are my personal feelings and I won't be chaining my opinion.
 
ah no thats all good Trev, views and opinions are healthy, if we all agreed life would be boring,

the image was a documentary piece, I was only able to shoot certain parts and i felt the feet were the most respectful rather than showing a forehead for example. many people give their body to science, as here, and so willing to be looked at etc. out of context i do see what you mean tho, but as a photographer who is working towards conflict and social documentary, its all part and parcel of life and images.

as said tho i respect your views tho guys, what are your thoughts of such images as those shot in syria iraq or vietnam of death etc/ out of interest
 
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I understand what your saying Tom and accept that this was possibly taken as part of a scientific, or social excercise/study. There are specialist medical/police photographers who take such images, and much worse in the line of their occupation, but as a general rule dont publish them. Perhaps I am a little too sensitive on this subject, but I make no apologies for that.
Regarding death in war torn and troubled places etc, normally there is a warning beforehand of its on TV, but rarely have I seen close ups of a part of the body, they are most often coverd in some way, probably crudely, but covered. In those cases they are reporting an incident of some sort that is newsworthy and in some cases that justifies the images. I cant rationalise your image with the ones I mentioned just, you have shown yours as a photographic excercise rather than a news item that the world need to know about.

joxang, are you for real, of course we didnt think that, how many random dead bodies have you come across? i have never found one and hope it stays that way. Yes, its obvious the image was taken for some such purpose, but posting it as a photographic excercise is another thing.

Sorry Tom if I have stired up a hornets nest, but as you say, discussion is good.
 
I find it an interesting photo....never really thought about the fact it could be a dead person. Maybe I thought it was 'staged' and it was you or a friend. Either way doesn't bother me, but I can understand the feelings of others finding it distasteful.
As the saying goes...'Dare to be different'
 
tamphotography said:
nah stir away i love a debate.
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We can do that :)
i feel many take images that look pretty, rather than look at everything in the world around us, death is skirted around and yet its an every day thing
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Many ugly things are photographed sucessfully, urban decayfor one, and much more, some images are interesting and good to see, I enjoy viewing many of them. Perhaps death is something we skirt around because of either fear, or for emotional reasons. As I said, I am perhaps too sensitive on this subject, not so much death, its a fact of life, but images of it. Anyone who knows me will understand my sensitivity, but thats a personal thing and perhaps I shouldnt bring it into this discussion. I appreciate your openess to other peoples opinions Tom and look forward to reading other opinions.
 
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Trev4 said:
I know I'll get shot down by many here because the choice of subjects is always down to personal taste. To me, this is distasteful; there are a myriad of subjects to photograph, but a dead body (even though it’s only the feet), and you say its real in your reply above, seems to me to be beyond a reasonable choice.

Anyone who has lost a loved one or a close friend and is confronted by this image will have unpleasant memories returned to them. I liken this to photographing a car crash and showing the dead victims, something most decent people would refuse to do.

I am genuinely sorry to knock your work Tom, and no doubt you put a lot of thought and effort in doing this, but these are my personal feelings. I am expecting to be told I am wrong, that’s ok, I won’t be changing my opinion on the subject.
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Scottynoooo said:
I'm sorry to say but I agree with Trev. If this was a family member of mine and I found out someone had been taking images and posting them on the internet for personal gain and comments I'd be outraged.

As said there are plenty of other things to photograph although I too am not knocking you Tom. They are my personal feelings and I won't be chaining my opinion.
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I share these views, assuming that this is of a real dead body, then unless you have the permission of the relatives to exhibit this photo on a public Internet forum I believe that you have over-stepped all boundaries of decency.
 
i have full permission gramps don't you worry, ;)

i just feel that many people take photographs of birds, flowers, boats or fields for example too easily its an easy fall back rather than ask questions, or shock or show truth of life that others don't like or fear to photograph due to it being more of a challenge, i for one can be found guilty of easy photographs, but try not to all the time as that won't push you
 
tamphotography said:
the body is anonymous so may be tricky,

on a side note, do photojournalists ask permission to show images of death in public?
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Photojournalists normally have a legitimate reason e.g. working in a war zone or some other news story.
I see no valid reason for your posting the image here and I am sure that you will have breached the protocols of the establishment where this was photographed.
 
gramps said:
Photojournalists normally have a legitimate reason e.g. working in a war zone or some other news story.
I see no valid reason for your posting the image here and I am sure that you will have breached the protocols of the establishment where this was photographed.
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why? i had permission, it is part of a piece of work so was a legitimate reason, and i am a photojournalist ;)
 
So tell us where it was taken.
 
Yes I guessed it would be that sort of answer.
 
Right, so you're a photojournalist? Why didn't you say so? That's the requisite justification for a not particularly good picture of a corpse's feet I was looking for.
 
tamphotography said:
whys that? i can't help the UK being so short I'm afraid, I'm not likely to give you the name of an establishment you are likely to complain to or about, why would i do that bud? we shall call it client confidentiality
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What difference would a complaint make, you have full permission to post it here right?
 
Probably in the minority here but I have absolutely no issue with this at all. It is not as if the body is in any way identifiable and it is an interesting take on the issue of death. To be fair, I don't see any difference between this and Gunther von Hagens except this is by no means as 'in your face'. I am intrigued as to why the deceased's feet are dirty? It doesn't appear to be lividity so it kind of begs the question as to what the deceased was up to when he died. I think as an image designed to make you reflect, it certainly achieves it's purpose. I do agree that it is definitely not to everyone's taste but I think it comes down to personal inclination.
 
I have a really hard time seeing how anyone could be upset by that photo. I've lost a bunch of family and wouldn't complain if that was my grand dad.

The guy is dead and of course there is a need for privacy and decency just as when alive. However that privacy is clearly waived when you donate your body to science - and decency was in no way violated here.

Death is natural even if messy and emotionally burdened.. But it's not doing anyone favors to make it an untouchable subject for documentation or even art.
 
vaizki said:
I have a really hard time seeing how anyone could be upset by that photo. I've lost a bunch of family and wouldn't complain if that was my grand dad.

The guy is dead and of course there is a need for privacy and decency just as when alive. However that privacy is clearly waived when you donate your body to science - and decency was in no way violated here.

Death is natural even if messy and emotionally burdened.. But it's not doing anyone favors to make it an untouchable subject for documentation or even art.
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Yes, but I don't want to see dead bad photo's of dead feet. Come to that, I don't really want to see good photos of dead feet.
 
Tom as already said that he has permission to post this.
As he is a photo-journalist, I am guessing that this is not the only place this image will get published? Right Tom?
And of course Journalists will protect their sources ;)
Let not get too hung up on the why's and wherefore's guys, thanks (y)

On a personal note, its good to see the "boundaries pushed" from time to time (y)




 
tamphotography said:
come back here when you yourself can take good photos bud, (y)
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You asked for critique, I gave it. There's no need to try and attack work you've never seen.
 
malo50 said:
You asked for critique, I gave it. There's no need to try and attack work you've never seen.
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Indeed, a little "calm" on both sides here guy's thanks (y)
 
gramps said:
Why not, O/P asked for "thoughts"?
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That was me not tamphotography that posted that;)
"thoughts" as you well know refer's to the image,
and not the location or whether or not it was taken and used legitimately .
 
gramps said:
Why not, O/P asked for "thoughts"?
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And your thoughts have been expressed so why don't we move on.

Thank you.
 
My thoughts on the image...
Technically average image of some feet.
 
Cobra said:

That was me not tamphotography that posted that;)
"thoughts" as you well know refer's to the image.
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My comments were about the image.
 
Cobra said:
Tom as already said that he has permission to post this.
As he is a photo-journalist, I am guessing that this is not the only place this image will get published? Right Tom?
And of course Journalists will protect their sources ;)
Let not get too hung up on the why's and wherefore's guys, thanks (y)

On a personal note, its good to see the "boundaries pushed" from time to time (y)
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exactly, thank you, contacts are valuable and to risk losing one isn't good for future work if ever needed.

Malo50, I've seen you flickr, I'm not too worried about the competition, tho I'm by no means a fantastic photographer, and always learning.
 
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