Is photography sexual?
Huw said, 1715035259
It can be.
Most isn’t, even if the photographer thinks it is.
Not something I particularly try for, but not that worried if it turns out that way either.
Afrofilmviewer said, 1715035900
"Do you ever get that thing when you’re shooting and you feel like it’s quite a sexual experience?"
My POV?
No. Nature of shooting can often be quite clinical.
The end product can be considered by some as "sexy" but personally I feel there's so much artifice at play.
I also feel intention plays a big part in things.
FarmerSteve said, 1715062851
I suspect that what they were talking about was not "sexual" in the conventional sense or about arousal, but more about the range of emotions and tensions involved culminating in a release.
priceb61 said, 1715063192
Most activities can be seen as sexual or asexual. It's really up to the individual's point of view.
CalmNudes said, 1715063221
Silly question, but since I imagine people have more varied sex lives... has anyone ever had sex and thought "that was like photography" ? :-)
Gwenny said, 1715063865
noun: photography
- the art or practice of taking and processing photographs.
"Photography" is a very broad word. If i'm taking pictures pointing my camera straight down on the street to capture the bricks ; that's still photography.
Can't imagine anybody would feel and/or think that brick photography would be sexual.
I can only imagine where you took this quote from, was referring to the photography that person was asked specifically; is doing.
But if i just take it as "Is photography sexual" - hell no it isn't just by itself as is.
Theta Aeterna said, 1715064031
For me it is sexual in nature but it does not feel sexual as an action. My shoots are always full of excitement, clinical direction, food, drinks and jokes. I like to break the chain of sexuality to shoot in a cosy but efficient way.
The photographer and the model will always have an interaction to achieve sensuality. Some models can slip in and slip out quite easily. Some define/live their sensuality in that moment through the camera and the photographer. Those moments can influence the photographer’s sexuality.
Some will have perfect chemistry and that can feel extremely sexual where it can create quite the tension. For some photographers, this could evolve to perfect pictures, for others a burden.
Some fall in love with their muses and get the inspiration from that. You can see the perfect connection and admiration in those pictures.
So it is indeed sexual. Without the admiration of the beauty of the model, calling the sensuality, interacting with the eyes and motion, how would you even create something sensual?
Morph01 said, 1715065097
Afrofilmviewer said
"Do you ever get that thing when you’re shooting and you feel like it’s quite a sexual experience?"
My POV?
No. Nature of shooting can often be quite clinical.
The end product can be considered by some as "sexy" but personally I feel there's so much artifice at play.
I also feel intention plays a big part in things.
Nail, meet hammer.
Afrofilmviewer said, 1715076459
"Nail, meet hammer."
Lol. Maybe.
I can only look from my perspective, but so much of the shoot feels transactional/work to me.
I do like to work on rapport through. That improves the general intimacy of a shoot I guess.
waist.it said, 1715092056
No. I can't comment for other photographers, but when I am shooting, issues such as applying the laws of physics, managing the technology, and in the case of model shoots, communicating effectively with one's models are foremost in my mind.
I'd add that whilst I haven't conducted a survey, I'd wager that the majority of people with whom I have worked would never have done so if they felt I derived sexual gratification from photographing them.
Edited by waist.it
GDSandy Photography said, 1715092436
Huw said
Bailey was a 1960s lad. That was a different world. Not really relevant now.
Pretty much this.
The nature of relationships, photography, publication and dare I say sex itself is very different from those times.
TheChrisS said, 1715093493
It was certainly sexual for this guy :(
https://www.cambs.police.uk/news/cambridgeshire/news/2023/march/photographer-used-alarm-clock-camera-to-spy-on-women/