You know, I get a lot of crap from a lot of people regarding the pictures I take at the bar. Its quite interesting that I get this kind of feedback, considering its a service I provide entierly on my own… The bar hired me to do their website, and to keep it updated, which I do to the best of my ability. (Hey, I can’t post information I don’t have) but to keep people interested and coming back, and because people like it, I do pictures. Some questions bother me more than others. Recently I recieved and email that was NOT a bother, because it had to do with someones legitimate concern. Things that do bother me are people telling me I put stupid pictures on, or complaining about what I put on, or what I don’t put on.
To help answer some questions to anyone who reads this or knows someone who reads this or reads this and knows someone who has asked these kinds of questions, I’ll post My response to this email here. Minus the name of the individual who sent it, of course.
The original e-mail I received basically said this (I’ll paraphrase):
This is an email to ask you what you have against me? Whenever I look at the site, I see people who perform a lot more than I do, and I’m not on there. I feel like I’ve earned the right to have more pictures of me on the site and don’t feel that I’m being treated with the respect that i deserve. I’m not the only person who thinks this, and people e-mail me asking why I don’t have more pictures online. If there is there something I’ve done than please bring it to me.
My Response:
Oh my gosh! I’d like begin by eradicating any assumption that I have something against you (or anyone else). You’re not the first to address me regarding an issue of this nature. Patrons also frequently query the absence of their own photos on the site. Personally, if I had execration of any capacity toward any individual, I would address them on it forthwith. It is because of this that I appreciate greatly your coming to me directly concerning this issue, as it forestalls any further bone of contention that might emerge from you or others you would have discussed it with. Trust me, enough people seem to have unfounded or misguided problems with me (especially about the pictures) for one reason or another. I appreciate any measures, intentional or otherwise to prevent such things.
There are a few things that make it easy to get on the site. One of the most common criticisms I repeatedly receive is that I only put the same few people on the site, over and over. There is logical rationale behind both their criticism, and my reasons for consistently putting the same individuals photos online: They are the people I have pictures of. The very best way to get online: come up and say hello! I’m a pretty shy individual in the direction of people I don’t know. I know this may seem the contrary when you see me at SoCo, as I talk to lots and lots of people. Just about every single one of those people initiated the first conversation we had. I’m very unlikely to approach anyone I do not know. This is a definite drawback for someone taking pictures at a bar, and trust me I’ve come a long way with it. (If you’d been around when I first started coming out to Columbia… whoo!) So basically, if people don’t talk to me first… at least a few times, I’m unlikely to talk to them and I’m extremely unlikely to attempt to initiate any sort of social interaction. Its not me trying to be rude, or ignoring them, its simply a matter of my own pavlovian social deficiency. Once people do talk to me though, I talk to them all the time… especially if they don’t seem annoyed by my being around.
Next I’d like to address the question of which pictures are put online. When I decide what pictures to put online, the intention is almost entirely artistic. That is to say, my adjudication of the images I take has a lot to do with what makes for a creative photograph. This is a reason that individuals frequently request removal of pictures that they consider to be less that an appropriate photographic representation. Just because they think its a bad shot, doesn’t necessarily mean that I will think so. Perhaps the framing is particularly good, or the lighting, or the overall composition, or maybe the subject has a different or interesting look about them.
For example: quite often in the pictures I take of you, your eyes are closed. As a performer, I definitely consider you to be very facially expressive. Its part of your performances that adds a lot to your persona and makes for fine performances. After all… the biggest part of portraying a character is facial expression and body language. However, as a photographer you don’t under most circumstances usually look for eyes to be closed when choosing a picture. Performances are the most difficult thing to shoot. I’m SO happy when people ask me to take their picture when they’re NOT performing, because its SOOOO much easier to get good shots of them.
The depth at which performers generally stand in relation to the audience has a lot to do with what makes a good picture also. Unfortunately, what makes an easier shot isn’t necessarily in parallel with what makes a good performance. Because of SoCo’s elevated stage, the further back a performer stands, the easier it is to get a picture of them that ISN’T coming from beneath them. 1. This doesn’t make for particularly attractive photographs of ANYONE and 2. usually when that kind of stance is used its to bring an aggressiveness or a masculinity into the photo… neither of which are particularly appropriate for pictures of Female Impersonators. The depth on the stage also determines whether I get a picture from the side, or from the front, etc. I think you spend a lot of time on the front of the most main part of the stage, or on the runway. If you notice, most of the pictures I have of people actually performing (that aren’t from below) they’re usually around the middle depth of the main part of the stage, and a reasonable distance away from the camera. This necessary distance for picture taking could also be accomplished by my getting up and moving around the front of the stage when taking pictures, however though this usually makes for much better photographs, its distracting to the both the audience and to the performer. Plus, my inane shyness really makes me try to avoid things like getting up in front of a bar full of people and blocking their view of the show.
In the future, I’ll do my very best to try to get eyes-open shots that are from an appropriate distance. I’ll also try to single you out in the crowd for some pictures, though if it isn’t met with kindness, I wouldn’t expect it to happen frequently. Again, not bitchiness… I’m just not attempting to be where I’m not wanted. Spread the word through all of the rest of the performers as well! One of the things I’m told most frequently of my own personality (when people finally talk to me.) is that people are surprised how nice I am. I’m probably told three or four times a week that people always thought I looked mean, or bitch, or that they were afraid to talk to me. I’m always amused by this, as I’m probably one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet (especially in Mid-Missouri!) but saddened by it as well because I know people are put off by the shyness of others. They very frequently mistake it for an attitude or that people think they’re too good for people, etc.
Anyway, I hope the time I took in responding to your question helps to show you both that I have nothing against you, and that I’m more than willing to work with everyone to get better pictures, etc for the site. Its all about promotion right? Promotion of the bar, promotion of performers, promotion of self, etc. Basically, I just want to put forth a product that best reflects what I can do and that everyone enjoys, and is happy with. The best way for that to happen: Well, like anything else… the more people involved… the better. Thank you again for bringing this to me, and feel free to continue to bring any questions, etc. to my attention! I know it can be difficult to confront people, and as I said before hear that of myself ALL the time.
Thanks, and I’ll see you out soon! Come say “hi” and we’ll take pictures!
Brett Patrick Casey :o)
There, hopefully that’ll clear some things up for some people. I do think a lot of it really is that people don’t realize I don’t have to take pictures at all. If it were to become a big issue, I would imagine they’d actually ask me to stop and only take pictures when asked… to prevent crap from being started.
Brett Patrick Casey :o)
![High Five Logos](http://www.brettsing.com/highfivecommunications.jpg"){kind=link}