Subject: Fwd:  Re: [burningcorn] One thing that wasn't too cool at B.C.

--- In burningcorn@y..., bleu <bleu@g...> wrote:
This has been discussed over and over on the Burning Man list. I, 
personally,
agree with Henry.

I feel that, right or wrong, if I'm at a public event then I know that
there's a good possibility that I'm going to end up on film which 
will most
likely find itself to the web. *Especially* if I'm naked, wearing 
some sort
of costume, or doing something even remotely interesting (like 
spinning
fire).

I'm definitely a picture-taker. I like to capture things on film 
because it
helps me remember. I put them on the web because I like to share them 
with
others. I don't feel it keeps me from participating -- my camera sat 
to the
side most of the night, and I'd go grab it occasionally to capture 
something.
I know that video cameras are by nature a little different, but if 
somebody's
passion is videotaping, I hate to see that squashed. I think it only 
becomes
an issue if there are more documenters than participators, which I 
don't
think was the case at Burning Corn. Yes, there were spectators, and 
there
always will be -- not everybody is outgoing enough to get up and get 
jiggy in
front of a bunch of strangers. Some people don't want to do that at 
all --
they're perfectly content to watch and enjoy the energy.

I do *try* and either get permission of people who are nude, or make 
sure
that they know I'm taking their picture. That's easy when I know the 
person,
but not so much so when it's a stranger. I'm sure I'm guilty of 
taking nude
photos at Burning Man or elsewhere (the Gay Parade here in Chicago 
comes to
mind) where the subject didn't realize. It's had to *not* capture 
naked
people at Burning Man, even if you're taking a picture of something 
else
entirely! Another issue is digital zoom -- anyone with a good digital 
camera
can take a close up from pretty far away without any extra equipment.

There are camps at Burning Man that put up signs saying that pictures 
are not
appreciated in their camp, and I have no problem with complying with 
that. If
a large enough number of people at an event wanted to ban cameras 
entirely,
I'd have no problem with that, either. I feel that the majority rules 
in
these situations.

Is this right? I don't know. Like I said -- I feel that if you're 
making a
spectacle of yourself, expect people to take pictures and post them 
on their
website.

Joe, I know you don't have a problem with your nakedness being posted 
because
you gave me permission to post my pictures (which came out quite 
nicely, I
might add) -- I think it's just the fact that you weren't asked that 
you have
a problem with. And, on the one hand -- it was a small event, and you 
were
easy to spot, it wouldn't have been hard to ask you. On the other 
hand, I
know you, and when I looked at the picture, it was blurred enough 
that I
wasn't positive if that was you or the other naked guy (who was also 
tall
with dark hair). So if I was the one posting the picture, I probably 
would
have felt that it was obscure enough that no one would really 
recognize you.

If you've changed your mind about my pictures, let me know because 
you're
quite recognizable in them.

:)bleu
--- End forwarded message ---