Blasphemer or Art???

[Bluespace]

This photographer faces legal action after an erotic photo shoot at a church in Cornwall UK.

What does everyone here think? Is the photographer right or the priest?

Story here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8179635.stm

Regards

JG

 

[Hovmod]

If the choices are "blasphemy" or "art", I have to choose "art". Blasphemy is one of the silliest concepts I can think of.

However, shooting porn in a church is hardly very smart or considerate, so I'd choose "stupid" or "pointless" if they were available...

 

[Palouse]

If you have to question it then it's art! Much ado about nothing, if you ask me.

 

[pforsell]

Art.

 

[digital_don]

Church vs Photog

This photographer faces legal action after an erotic photo shoot at a church in Cornwall UK.

What does everyone here think? Is the photographer right or the priest?

Story here

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/8179635.stm

Regards

JG

You'll get endless 'votes' on who is right and who is wrong on this issue but a couple of facts are indisputable. The photog got his pics, a ton of publicity, and the church will be visited by many curiosity seekers. Personally, I wouldn't have interest in viewing the pics but I'm sure many will!

Don

 

[Fightin14]

I may believe it is art but by no way does that make it acceptable. That is not a proper place for that, it is open to the public and it is more than likely private property. I did not read the entire article because my ADD is kicking in but I assume it is private property that is open to the public so no I don't think it is right art or not.

 

[greyflash]

The images could well be art as defined by some but that is not the question in my mind. Was the place they were taken appropriate and for this I offer a resounding no and say that the Priest is correct. The church was built from donated funds as a house of worship and a degree of sanctity is expected from all who enter, whether they are believers or not. The photographer was misguided and were this a Mosque his punishment would be assured. Christianity may be a little more tolerant but that does not make the act of the photographer any less reprehensible.

 

[jonh68]

The question isn't art or blasphemy, which clouds the issue. The question is did they have permission. Take the nudity/porn angle out of it, the photographer is still in the wrong if they were just shooting a fashion shoot if they didn't get permission.

 

[general]

Trespassing

The real point is that he did not get permission to use the church.

 

[pinhead]

none of the church people thought to do anything about it when the photos where being taken? I applaud the photographers ability to get the shot. erotic shots in a church on the fly, that is real talent. the exposure, lighting, and processing is all easy stuff in photography. pulling off a unique shot against the odds is what makes the day.

as for the church, I don't know the laws but all I have to say to them is shove it. The photographer didn't hurt anyone or damage anything. as long as he has his model releases, what gives? all this talk about god welcomes all and then to turn around and scream bloody murder about someone with a constructive goal making an artistic expression? that is hypocrisy on biblical proportions.

 

[Joseph]

as for the church, I don't know the laws but all I have to say to them is shove it. The photographer didn't hurt anyone or damage anything. as long as he has his model releases, what gives?

How would you feel if a couple + cameraman went to your backyard and started shooting without your permission? :wink: Sure it's fun to watch but once the pictures go out with your house in the background, it's embarrassing to friends and relatives who might recognize the scene, don't you agree?

all this talk about god welcomes all and then to turn around and scream bloody murder about someone with a constructive goal making an artistic expression? that is hypocrisy on biblical proportions.

Well, God does welcome everyone... but he never said that you can come in and shoot pron

 

[CoolStreams]

Art or not, permission or not, there are some things that cross the line. Remove the church from the equation. Just imagine any group of people who consider a certain place their "holy grounds", i.e. it is their place of worship, it could be the burial grounds of their ancestors, etc. My point is, it doesn't matter. The fact is, they consider this place "holy". Whether you have the same belief or not, their sacred place must be respected. Therefore something like this comes across as absolutely offensive.

 

[LG100]

Seems like that, in this day and age, the photographer could have photoshopped enough changes into the end product so that the location couldn't be proven......perhaps suspected but not proven...

 

[FormulaJay]

Quite interesting that this is the same location as seen in the movie, Keeping Mum, which is about a homicidal maniac, and was rated R, by the MPAA, for language, and sexual content/nudity. The church was opened to the public and they were never asked to stop shooting. The photographer would have been required to stop photographing if asked, but now after the fact it seems quite silly to sue him.

The real issue as it seems to me, not seeing the pictures or knowing the location, is did they go where they were not allowed?

 

[FormulaJay]

Art or not, permission or not, there are some things that cross the line. Remove the church from the equation. Just imagine any group of people who consider a certain place their "holy grounds", i.e. it is their place of worship, it could be the burial grounds of their ancestors, etc. My point is, it doesn't matter. The fact is, they consider this place "holy". Whether you have the same belief or not, their sacred place must be respected. Therefore something like this comes across as absolutely offensive.

Very dangerous way of thinking. If beliefs never have to justified then, by your logic, you must respect almost any belief no matter how nonsensical.

 

[Rich Gibson]

The thread is closed because some members turned it into comments about religion.