*RobinJ

personally i think that you are shooting/ retouching what the model whats you to see, not, what you want to see/get from an image. Why dont you find some "plus size" models and show that they too can look amazing. You was commissioned to do work for that girl, which you complete to the best of your standards, its not your problem she thought that about herself.

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Today I finally overcame tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame, Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way with words

I was married to a size 8, she thought she was fat, you can't win !

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We will win because we believe in something

What worries me is that it has influenced my way of thinking about my own photography. Now I don't feel like an image is complete unless I've done retouching on it in some form or another.

I think you should stay true to yourself.

There is the fantasy world that appeals to some and the reality world which appeals to others. If you want to please both then you have to do everything twice with a version for each group.

I am drawn more to the reality world and get great pleasure from the raw and natural. This is what I see and touch in my reality. Bumps, blemishes, scars, and especially those magnificent curves that signify womanhood and drive men through genetic reaction to arousal and mating rituals...

It's odd and concerning that adults even consider a skeletal, childlike waif as attractive...

So no touch-ups for me, please! And lots and lots of those dangerous curves!!

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Live, Love, Laugh - Life is too short not to be Happy

I understand what you mean ... I've been thinking a lot about it myself lately. As a model I don't have a lot to say when it comes to retouching, so I've been thinking about taking up photography myself.
This guy is different though, no retouching what so ever and the pictures look absolutely amazing.
[link]

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Carpe diem

In my line of work, I've had to retouch lots of images, however when its come to my own Photography over the years I've been fairly resistant to the idea. What comes from a camera it should be what I see, if its not then its not real and just as well be 3D Render, which a lot of retouched model shots appeared to be, airbrushed dolls of themselves.

Bottom line, be true to your craft and be the best photographer you can be, anything else is a afterthought and no matter the amount of retouching you and the client may never be happy with the result.

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"It's wonderful world, with such creative people in it!" [link]

Then take a few photos without retouching

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Today I finally overcame tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame, Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way with words

Also dont forget, the type of photos you take, in a way are "what people want to see"

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Today I finally overcame tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame, Maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm in the mood to lose my way with words

You ask all the tough questions, my friend.

But I think the shorter answer is: no.

The medium length answer is:

Whenever one creates art they are essentially putting in concrete form their own sense of values, and their interpretation of reality.

As my favortie author called it - a concretezation of meta-physical value judgments.

I have to, as always, agree with her.

Everything one chooses to create and emphasize in their work is a statement of their own philosophy, even if they do not intend it to be.

To create a work that focuses on the imperfections of the body, inherently makes a statement about the artists feelings about the human body, and even the human creature in general.

To focus on the flaws might mean that you accept mankind at their most imperfect. That you might even relish in our blemishes. That you think little of man. Or perhaps that you think the glory of man is to be found in our weaknesses.

To create a work which eliminates all the flaws might send a more positive message about man kind. That our glory is found in our beauty, our strength, our form, our perfection. That the body is something to constantly improve, that the body is something to be proud of. Something to be revered.

Now I agree whole-heartedly that bombardment from the media of these perfect men and women with 1% body fat can truly impact a person's self esteem, as it seems to have with your sister. That is a serious problem. One that I certainly don't have the answer to.

But I will say this... I am sure that your sister would agree that creating work that glorifies the fat, the pimples, the flaws, the mediocrity of mankind - just to make us all feel a little better about our own flawed form - is not the answer either.

So the answer most likely lies (as answers often do) in moderation. I think touching up a photograph so that it emphasizes the qualities that the artist intends to communicate is important (if not essential in many cases). I also think that if you edit the photograph to the point that it no longer even resembles reality - that the artist is making a very specific statement with that action. And often - I think that so much editing would defeat the purpose of the shoot entirely.

Art can be the lie about the truth. But it should always contain truth.

In my art - both here on dA, and for my RL professional work - I am inventing most images entirely. So each stroke of the pen expresses my own existential view of the universe. I make women beautiful, because I believe they are. I make men strong because I believe they should be.

I don't expect young men to see my version of Superman and begin a self-destructing spiral of plastic surgery and steroid abuse. I expect the viewer to see the lie. To see the exaggeration. And to realize that art is the physical expression of an idea. It is easy to draw perfection. But that to improve one's self, and to live one's own meta-physical value judgments is the truest form of art.

So I would say that instead of becoming something which you despise, you are instead in the constant process of becoming a better artist. A better man.

Keep questioning your art. But always question it with the central axiom that art is the very expression of your being.

And the only question is: how do you feel about the female body?

Answer that truthfully, and create the art to match it, and when they tell the story of you they will tell it with pride, and anyone who listens closely will hear the sweet melody of reverence.

B

PS - the long version is available at your local book store. lol. Sorry - feeling a bit loquacious today ^^

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This is why sexy naked hotties will always defeat old stinky zombies More bounce...o.0.o...ounce for ounce