Photos of Pregnancy

[sly]

I couldn't find a thread that seemed appropriate for pregnancy photos. This is not exactly a portrait.

There must be others who do some LF pregnancy stuff. Let's see some.

Taken with Korona 8x10 on HP4+. Printed on Ilford MGWT, thiocarbamide toner.

[sly]

I found another one from a couple of years ago. This was taken with my Crown Graphic and printed on Ilford MGWT.

[Kevin Crisp]

I know there is a market for a photos like this, but I have to say the first time I saw one I wondered who would really want one. And what they would do with it if they did. I don't mean to put down anyone who takes these for pay to satisfy the apparent wide demand, or anyone who executes the idea well, which clearly has been done here.

To me, this is the cliche that stepped up right behind the one that involved the contrasty, muscled father of the newborn, cradling his little baby in his hands or arms. It was striking the very first time I saw it done, interesting the next couple times I saw it, but after about the 10th time, it definitely became an "oh one of those" kind of picture.

Even an "oh one of those" picture can have special significance to the parties in it, or who hired someone to make it. But a third trimester thread of them for general consideration?

[sly]

Well thanks Kevin. You have very thoroughly put me in my place. You find photos of pregnant bellies yawn-inducing. They couldn't possibly be of interest to anyone outside the family. Seen one seen them all.

How about photos of Yosemite, or Bodie, or Point Lobos; photos of trees, or flowers, or cottony misty water; photos of bridges, or skyscapers, or guys with lived-in faces?There is some very samey stuff on this site. There are lots of photo cliches. Those who are learning try to emulate the work of others. Those with some proficiency work at finding their own voice. The masters of the art and craft have a vision, their work is astounding no matter how trite the subject matter might seem. I'm still working at getting some proficiency.

I like the pregnant figure. I photograph lots of pregnant women. I'd like to see how other photographers approach the fecund female shape. I would much rather look at a photo of a pregnant woman than the T&A "portraits" that skirt soft-core porn. Much as I dislike those titillating photographs, I'd never think of suggesting they don't belong here. I just move past the ones I don't like to see if the next photograph will be one that will inspire me.

P.S. Kevin - don't ever visit my webpage. It's got lots and lots of pregnant women, and even worse - babies!

[Kevin Crisp]

Sly: I got your personal message through the forum and have responded to it, privately. I did not realize that my reply to your post was in fact responding to something you had posted publicly on the forum. Apparently it is possible to use the private message function to point out to someone that you have posted something of an "oh yeah?" nature that you want them to look at.

I am not going to get into a public back and forth with you, for reasons I think I covered already.

I wish you continued success with your work. And I do find babies much more interesting after they are born, so no warning was necessary.

[cowanw]

Seems to me that the same artistic considerations of nudes, i.e. gradations of light, textures, form apply here. I like them and there is nothing to say because Weston or Stieglitz did nudes, that a different photographer can't find something different to say. Perhaps it is a question of what do individuals see beauty in.
Regards
Bill

[BrianShaw]

I didn't know that this genre was so contraversial!

I like them. I must admit, though, that Kevin has a point when he says that the compositions sometimes are repetative. But having been on the "other side" of pregnancy I somehow see the individuality in most of these types of images.

My admiration goes to women who are confident enough to be photographed in the full glory of a pregnant body. It is a very memorable part of the life experience!

[Harold_4074]

Those who are learning try to emulate the work of others.

As we say in the Deep South, "Amen to that."

There are an awful lot of folks who can't do it as well, but somehow think that they could do it even better if they only wanted to.

[gandolfi]

...

To me, this is the cliche that stepped up right behind the one that involved the contrasty, muscled father of the newborn, cradling his little baby in his hands or arms. It was striking the very first time I saw it done, interesting the next couple times I saw it, but after about the 10th time, it definitely became an "oh one of those" kind of picture.
...

then the challenge would be for us photographers, to try and make images beyond that clichee? Like all other "well documented" topics....

I do understand you, but I don't understand, why so many photographers doesn't seem to see other things than "the usual", when making a clichee topic.

(pregnancy/nudes(!!)/birds/roses(!!!!!) and so on).

I have made a LOT of pregnancy images - I like the challenge, and the beauty of the mother(s) to be...

some examples:

[Diane Maher]

They are well done. I think they look painful. But I am not a mother.