Digital Photo Gallery of Ted Szukalski
Fine art digital photography, photographic news, reviews, articles and resources.

Young Mother

(photo of young mother used for illustrative purpose only)

As reported by SMH it took Classifications Board to declare that photographs by Bill Henson are not pornography and indeed they are “mild” and safe for many children.

I wonder what damage has this issue done to Bill Henson’s career as a photographer. How many art galleries, which owned his photographs, will hang them back?

I do agree that children should stay children and sexualisation of their lives is undesired. There are too many issues with it to list or discuss here starting with simple clothing designs for children that really belong in adult only boutiques, through body image and eating disorders to teenage pregnancies. However, this does not mean, like in this case, that the society needs to pin the label of “sexualisation” on everything it finds uncomfortable.

Child’s play

Children photography is under intense scrutiny from the public and law makers in Australia. A well known photographer Bill Henson is being investigated over his nude photography of adolescent children. Police has confiscated many of his works from a number of galleries.

My understating is none of the photos contained sexual scenes and thus, I am a bit puzzled why the word pornography is used to describe them. Everyone from a suburban house wife, who has never been to art gallery to Prime Minister of Australia, who expresses views as if he never visited a gallery either, seem to have only negative comments on Bill Henson’s photographs.

What next, in this politically correct word? Will the mob take to hammers and smash down all statues of naked people (statue of David anyone?) and erase the endless number of naked bodies from classic paintings starting perhaps with Sistine Chapel?

I hope before this happens you will have time to enjoy this playful child chasing after a colourful bubble under a watchful eye of his mum.

Fire Safety Door

Ultimate technique for a street photographer is to be so inconspicuous and so obvious that no one pays you any attention as if you were invisible. Well as you can tell form this image I have failed on this occasion 100%. The girl with the cigarette was obviously uncertain of what I was doing and why. However her scrutiny did not go as far as to question me, which happens from time to time.

Photographing architecture and a photographer MG_6415

I have met a mystery photographer today in Sydney. A lady in late 40s perhaps early 50s was photographing MLC building both from the outside and the inside. She even had to explain to security what she was doing as they were concerned over the building copyrights.

I have approached her and introduced myself while showing her this photograph. She was photographing the same space as I was and I can guess she will have me in her frame positioned exactly the same as she was here. She said she likes photographing architecture and that she is an exhibited photographer but would not disclose her identity.

Will - Builder and a photographer

I must say it took me a second to convince myself to ask this huge guy to pose for a photograph. He was clearly interested in my camera and thus in the end it was a very easy task. Will did surprise me when agreeing to being photographed he answered: “Well alright, but I’m used to be on the other side of the camera”. So there you go - this smiling builder proved to be yet another fellow photographer. Thanks Will, you have been a great sport.

Jeremy - photographer - In the rain with Nikon

Today I’ve met a very cool fellow street shooter by the name of Jeremy. We stood on the opposite sides of George Street aiming for some people shots during a torrential rain that swept through Sydney around midday.

While Jeremy was aiming for people with umbrellas I found one with ease - him. These Nikon guys certainly have an advantage. Just look how cool his umbrella is.

Thanks Jeremy - you’ve been a good sport.

When you observe a photographer taking your portrait and talk to your friend at the same time you may end up with quite a funny expression on your face.