View Full Version : Removal of Photos
Dear Friends,
I guess some of you have noticed that I have removed all my photos from the gallery. The reason for doing so is that I received an e-mail yesterday that attacked my work in the most vile and hurting manner. I have decided not to post anymore photos for a while. I will still post lens test photos but I would need to take a break before I set up a personal website. In fact this is not the first time I encountered such treatment. I received similar e-mail when I was posting at pgallery last year. I suspect that it is the same person who did this to me and I appeal to whoever you are stop this behaviour if you are great photographer that you professed yourself to be. :mad:
Regards,
Peter
I have to say that I am shocked. I personally have enjoyed, and learned quite a bit from your work. Your images portray stories about your subject in the most respectful and educational way. Quite honestly Peter, I often have looked at a photo of yours and thought that I could be seeing it in National Geographic or some other publication. You have great photographic vision, great documentary vision. I wish I could say more, say something that would change what has happened. This is very distressing.
Todd.Hanz
07-29-2004, 16:57
Peter,
don't take 'em off based on someone elses interpretation of your work. I have enjoyed your images and always look forward to seeing more of the culture you portray in them.
If someone doesn't have the "b@lls" to publicly post how they feel about an image, choosing to hide behind thier email address instead of facing any possible scrutiny then I for one wouldn't give their opinion the time of day.
Bring 'em back Pete! I like 'em!
Todd
Peter,
if you dont mind, send me the email. I will determine the originating source and ban that domain or ip from accessing this site. Therefore, you should be ok.
Thanks.
Thank you guys for your concerns and encouragement. I am deeply touched by your kind gestures. As for the offending e-mail, I have deleted it in anger soon after I read it. It is from yahoo mail and anyone could create one just for this type of purpose. Anyway, I just want to take a break before any future project. :)
Peter, I'm with Todd regarding this situation.
Don't remove your work just because a coward sent you discouraging emails. If someone tells you your work sucks but he/she can't show that he/she can take award wining photos him/herself, then don't take it seriously.
If this person like seeing photos of nekkid chicks or super-saturated sunsets, he doesn't have to look at your documentary gallery. There are millions of sunsets and nekkid chicks photos out there.
Marc Jutras
07-29-2004, 17:41
Peter, don't let others' opinion (good or bad) get to you personally. It's their opinion, period. Besides, more people seem to love your work than the opposite.
It's too bad you have removed everything. I was planning to take some time when I have a day off to go through them all. What I've seen was of very high quality and was a superb example of photo documentary (what I want to start doing on a regular basis).
No matter what, keep on documenting the world around you.
back alley
07-29-2004, 17:48
i'm shocked and not very happy about this.
peter, it's too bad you deleted the email as i also would have liked to at least read it.
if this has happened before and it's the same 'person' as you suggest and it's not a random incident then i'm entirely disgusted with this individual.
i urge you to stay with the forum and post whatever you feel is appropriate to our gallery.
i'm not much of a critic but i do try to look at most of what's posted to make sure we are staying in a good place. your work is not offensive in any manner that i can see.
i regret this incident, especially on our birthday.
just remember peter, you are welcome here.
joe
I am most touched by all the encouragement from my friends here in RFF. I can take criticisms of my work but what really made me furious is that the person actually attacked my integrity by saying that I staged most of my documentary photos! That is the final straw! I will still take documentary photos, but I will like to take a break before posting photos on the web again. It is good that I have friends here that appreciate my work and that is the greatest joy any photogs can have. :)
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Peter
[B]Dear Friends,
I guess some of you have noticed that I have removed all my photos from the gallery. The reason for doing so is that I received an e-mail yesterday that attacked my work in the most vile and hurting manner.
Peter
Don't do that. Don't be insulted by some insecure knucklehead with no manners or class. I think that I speak for many, when I say that we very much enjoy your work. Please do not deny us the pleasure of viewing it.
Rich Silfver
07-29-2004, 18:36
No you're not leaving.
Nope.
Not letting you :)
Continue posting and should it EVER happen again forward the email to Jorge (even if it's still sent from a yahoo account, etc the I.P. address can still be traced) and have him block the ******* from coming here.
So - challenge him - post EVEN MORE photos!!!
You got a very good eye and I would feel deprived if I were not able to see more photos from you here.
So pick out some good ones and head over to the gallery and upload 10 of 'em!
:)
Todd.Hanz
07-29-2004, 19:22
Originally posted by rsilfverberg
Continue posting and should it EVER happen again forward the email to Jorge (even if it's still sent from a yahoo account, etc the I.P. address can still be traced) and have him block the ******* from coming here. :)
O.K., I have had time to cool off now, I think we should all be a little more civil here. "*******" is a little harsh, I feel scumbag is more appropriate.................... but of course that would be an insult to bags filled with scum everywhere! ******* it is! :)
Todd
Richard, I am not leaving the forum. I just want to take a break before I want to post anything on the web again. I could not understand how such behaviour exists! I really could not understand what is his/her motivation! Anyway, I would like to thank all my friends here for the support in this shameful incident. By the way Todd, I think ******* is a most appropriate term for that pr**k!!! :mad:
Peter, I am shocked to hear that someone attacked your work. I'm a fan of your documentary phtography and have enjoyed it thoroughly.
The Internet has a dark side -- it allows warped individuals to attack anonymously. I know it's hard, but just ignore it if you can. It surely did not come from a sane person.
As others have already said, don't stop your documentary photography because of this individual. I hope in fact that you will repost most of your work.
I am very sorry this unpleasantness has happened to you.
Gene
hoppinghippos
07-29-2004, 20:16
Hey Pete, sorry to hear about it. Just my 2 cents worth: I think its really about how you view your pics and what they mean to you. Our pics will always be loved by some and totally detested by others. maybe this weirdo has some particular strange reason for targetting you but I think maybe beneath the un-nice language and all, there's still things to learn. Did this guy point out things that if you look at your pics objectively, you would have to agree that perhaps yes it can be improved on? Or if you don't agree on what he says then why? here's where you can learn the most I feel. cuz it becomes a whole issue balancing personal ego vs personal belief, ie believing a pic is good cuz I took it vs a pic is good becuz there are things I can see and appreciate due to my experiences or knowledge of existing good BW artists and works, cuz sometimes pple criticise w/o knowing anything (I"m just talking from 1st person view for discussion, know nuts about any such stuff myself!)
In any case, when you decided to take off your pics, did you think about it, like why did you react in such a way?
hope this helps to make your experience constructive! :O)
rgds
Darrel
Peter, I have enjoyed your photographs ever since they have appeared here. Don't let some illiterate cretin who has nothing better to do than hurl insults at you cause you pain and deprive us at RFF from enjoying your work and learning from you.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Kurt M.
Hi Darrel,
I am not a person who cannot take criticism. I have the insight that there is no such thing as a 'perfect' photo as photography like art is subjective in nature. Some people will like art A and some will detest it. But you do not criticise on things using vulgarities, insulting terms and insults to a person's integrity. I would think that is too much for any person to bear. Like I said before, I deleted the photos in anger. I was not really thinking when I did it. But now after I have sufficiently calmed down, I would like to take a break from posting photos on the net. You are right about trying to rationalise the experience and do some soul searching.
:)
hoppinghippos
07-29-2004, 22:15
wow, he used vulgarities and all? that's really too much man! I guess I'd be really pissed off myself. well if you look at the response here, I'd say its clear what the general opinion is, bring back the pics soon pete!!! :O)
Sumo_du_Jour
07-29-2004, 23:17
Just adding my post of support for you Peter.
Most of what I feel about the incident has already been expressed in word in the posts so far.
I've just read this and still can't believe it...
I think all has been said, you've done a great work Peter, and at least to me you're a source of inspiration, and even it you deleted your photos here... well you didn't burn the negs right ? ;) So hope to see them and even more back soon, here or on your own gallery, art is not born to be locked in a closet ! :)
And about the email, if you think it was the same person who did something similar before... well then the mail would have been a useful tool to trace him/her. It's pretty clear that @#~$&#€|! has a serious problem.
When a criticism lays on personal injuries, well then the whole base of it becomes null.
Well, I know that you know we have all enjoyed your work Peter. We also all really look forward to seeing it again, hopefully soon.
Brian Sweeney
07-30-2004, 02:00
I have used the Internet since 1980. I went many years without joining forums such as this. I like this forum as the type of experience that you went through is taken seriously by the moderator. Whenever you post your work in a public place it will be viewed by a lot of people, and some of them will be the type of cringing little coward who likes to throw insults at you while hiding behind their computer. If they do not have the guts to put their name on the message the reply should be "Who the hell are you and why are you bothering me anyway".
If you can reclaim the Email from your trash file let Jorge trace it. If you deleted it from trash but did not compress the trash file you can probably still read it with some utilities. I like Netscape for its mail folder utilities; Wordpad can read the Trash Folder with all of its deleted messages. I think Outlook and other products are the same. Let Jorge go after them.
Peter,
I hope after some time to think about it you repost your pictures, don't feel pressured by some idiot ranting at you. Criticism is one thing but getting personal with insults etc is totally out of line :mad:
Don't let this get you down.
Thank you guys for the support. Give me some time and I will start posting again. :)
oftheherd
07-30-2004, 04:02
Just yesterday I and others were noting the friendly attitude of all forum members. I think that still holds. The person who attacked you did not do it in this forum (unfortunately, that could still happen). As pointed out, anyone with a connection to the net can make their thoughts known. The bad along with the good.
Peter, I am in a profession where it is expected that people will express their belief that I have questionable parentage, have no job knowledge, no compassion, prefer to do things that are designed to anger people, and don't wash my feet. So I guess it is easier for me to say, but I will say it. Don't let someone like that get you down. You must be and I am sure you are, above people like that. You know it isn't a perfect world. If you don't run up against the imperfections often, good for you!
But when you do have the misfortune to encounter one like that, realize that you have been accosted by an imbecilic moron without moral courage. Do you think the person was correct in their assessment of your abilities? I hope not. Consider then, why let them get you down? If they are correct in some of their assessments, it is no news to you. Ignore the vile the critique was delivered in, you don't need it to store the knowledge you already have.
And while I am at it, add me to the list of those here who admire your work. In the unlikely event you do lack confidence in your work, get over it! If you think you have room to improve, get in line. We all do. I certainly do!
Lastly, why do you think the person attacked you the way he did? Was the person looking for a reaction like you gave him? Do you want him to win that way? Do you think you are the only person in the world this person attacks? I can tell you from experience, that is unlikely unless it is someone closer to you than you think, that has taken a dislike to you.
Only you can decide how you should react to this. Maybe I am just too bull headed, but I wouldn't let someone get to me, or at least allow him to see that he had gotten to me so easily. As long as that type of person sees they can affect you, you will hear from them often. When they see they can't, most don't enjoy continueing if they can't see effects. I would suggest you don't give him any victories. I would also request you don't deprive us here of the chance to admire and learn from your photography.
Whatever you decide I know I, and I think all regulars of this forum, are with you.
Peter,
I've been reading this thread, and after getting over the initial shock I began to wonder what the person's motivation was. Given the high standard of your documentary work, I wouldn't be surprised if it was jealousy - quite a high compliment.
Please repost your pictures. Please continue to take the pictures you are moved to take.
Best wishes,
Helen
I would like to thank all the wonderful people of this forum who have given me so much encouragement. You all are right, creeps do exist but my life should not be dictated by them and I have started posting again! But it will really take some time to sort them out and upload them though! :D You all are wonderful people!!:cool:
SolaresLarrave
07-30-2004, 06:31
Glad to hear you changed your mind, Peter! Don't allow one single creep to dictate your life. As Helen said, the fact you got an attack is an indirect compliment: your work is so great this guy, instead of enjoying it, has come to envy you for it.
Not to mention that an uncalled for message attacking you personally is a serious matter. People like this ******* operate under the impression that the web is still a largely unregulated domain. Well, it may not be "regulated" in the strict sense, but there are now regulations dictating what is legal and what is not. If this is not the first time you're attacked, it means there is a pattern that you should report to Yahoo, Jorge and all possible web authorities.
In the meanwhile, keep posting! I like your work, and I wish I could churn out as many high quality images as you do! :)
Hi Francisco,
I have sent a formal complaint to Yahoo and I am still awaiting their reply. I do not want to get Jorge involve because that creep did not send the e-mail through RFF but to my personal e-mail account in MSN. I really have no idea who did it but from the viciousness of language used, that person really hate me and my work! I do not remember of offending anyone in my local photography scene and it makes the whole incident all the more mysterious. The previous attack on my work in pgallery also used similar language but came from a different e-mail account. But the similarity in language used made me suspect that it is the same person. Life is already tough enough without psychos harassing you! :mad:
back alley
07-30-2004, 19:06
found this, thought it fit...
"Photographers should follow their own judgement, and not the fads and dictates of others."
bill brandt
Originally posted by backalley photo
found this, thought it fit...
"Photographers should follow their own judgement, and not the fads and dictates of others."
bill brandt
Peter
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
Rich Silfver
07-30-2004, 21:27
Happy to see you posting again!!
Peter
I just stumbled across all this. I see you now have some pictures back in the gallery. They are great. You are a good photographer. Others may do things differently (and most often, not as well), but nobody in their right mind could possibly get upset about what you are doing. Keep going! Be happy!
John
I would like to thank all of you guys for the encouragements! This forum is really a wonderful place! :D
I only WISH my own work wrought anger. It's pretty tame stuff. Heck, love and hate are so similiar--passion, and all.
Taking your photos down only serves to encourage the person who dislikes them. The best advice I saw was to post even more photos, and completely ignore your personal "troll". Eventually, when he gets no response, he'll get bored and move on.
"People will try to rain on your parade, because they have no parade of their own." (I don't recall who this qoute is attributed to.)
hoppinghippos
08-02-2004, 19:56
Originally posted by WDG
Taking your photos down only serves to encourage the person who dislikes them. The best advice I saw was to post even more photos, and completely ignore your personal "troll". Eventually, when he gets no response, he'll get bored and move on.
"People will try to rain on your parade, because they have no parade of their own." (I don't recall who this qoute is attributed to.)
That's really good advice!! Peter, post up more!! And I love the quote!
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.