[Leica] Women

[photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Philip F)]

Let me preface this with the statement that I'm not trying to be hurtful at 
all. Just posing some questions to the list about "proper" "street 
photography" and were we all draw the line between art, documentation and 
objectification.

I've mentioned this before on the LUG with it only to be swept aside quickly 
but didn't have my questions answered then and still I'm not having my 
questions answered now. so at the risk of castigating myself among this 
community I pose the question: "If were to take a photo of a woman's bottom 
with my Leica is it street photography?" Further: "If I were to ask that 
woman before I took the photo if i could do so, would she allow me?" Further 
still: "If I took the photo with my nearly silent digital rangefinder THEN 
told her and showed her the photo, would she approve or would I get 
slapped/arrested/have my camera confiscated or destroyed?"
Yes, i am aware that I'm asking questions of morality based upon my own 
beliefs and as much as I don't want to impress them upon anyone else, i 
strongly believe that photographers all over the world have a duty to be 
respectful in their work and respectful towards other people. I may be 
guilty of this in some very few instances but I also don't want to be 
complicit in this behavior and further validate it. The taking of photos in 
this manner actually does harm to the rights of photographers around the 
world. Making the case that this is not a social more or convention in other 
countries only serves to prove that objectification in those places is the 
norm and is acceptable. 
As English is the language of the LUG, the very nature of calling them 
"senoritas" takes away from them being women. it makes them "other" and as 
such more acceptable to objectify. It is a long established tactic of 
distancing the subject of conversation to create an other and feeds sexism, 
racism and all those other traits which we claim to be making our way past 
in the 21st century. It's a way to make her not a woman but an acceptable 
object. If there were more women on the LUG would we see as much of this? 
Would it be as accepted? If the language of the LUG were Spanish would it be 
as accepted?
Its objectification is what it is. Sorry, but the few years I've been here 
on the the LUG I've seen my fair share of very non-interactive photos from 
afar with the celebrated 85mm Sonnar or 90mm whatnot. Who are we kidding 
when talking about the "low contrast" or bokeh or whatever smokescreen we 
all put up to allow ourselves to gaze without guilt or shame on a blatant 
photo of a woman's ass? I don't want to be pushing my morals on people but 
this is not photojournalism or street photography or whatever you want to 
call it. Its borderline lecherous subversive image capture is what it is. 
All the talk of subtle tones and resolution and all that jazz are just up 
there to make us feel less dirty in our own viewing of the photo. Sometimes 
when I take/took photos of that part of women, they have often been tied up 
& suspended completely nude or almost so, but knew that I was there, hired 
to make those photos. There was a sort of pact of personal integrity and 
each other's morals that the model and I had between each other. In spite of 
the release form and legal documents, if I were to make any of them 
uncomfortable for any reason, I'm out of there. This street photography is 
not ironic or cheeky or academic or making some statement other than a woman 
has a nice bottom. That's just not the best way to pursue street photography 
if you were to ask me. 
I'm disappointed in what this esteemed community finds acceptable and while 
I'll not quit the list, I'll not  be complicit either.
Again, I'm not out to hurt anyone. Just to maybe open some eyes to what I 
view as photographic hypocrisy and lack of respect.
Phil Forrest