Appropriate or inappropriate censorship?

molested_cow · Sep 6, 2016

I am facing a question that I've never had to think about before.

I came back from a trip to Cebu, Philippines. The people are great, love to have their photos taken especially the children. I was on this small island off the coast of Cebu that has a fishing village. The kids all loved it when I took photos of them, giggling and making funny faces at the camera. However some of them were running around without pants. Boys and girls. It's natural to them because it's their parents won't have to worry about soiled pants ( I know this because my parents lived through those times and told us stories). So I have a few photos of them which I think are great because of their genuine smiles, but they are butt naked. So I am not sure if I should "censor" their private parts before sharing.

In a big way, I don't want to because I think it means a lot to me to present the photo, and the subject matter in its most natural state. The fact that they weren't wearing pants is also an important information that I want to convey through the photos. I also think that by adding a "black rectangle" or any form of censorship will distract the photo's original intent and drive it towards negativity.

On the other hand, I know many will freak out at exposed children's private parts on the internet, and although I don't live in the US, I still fear the possible "FBI knocking on my door" thing. So what do you say?

PersistentNomad · Sep 6, 2016

Some sites have rules about nudity in general, boy or girl, sexual or otherwise. So, obviously be respectful of any such rules those sites may have.
From an artistic standpoint, I wouldn't censor if it were me. For very public, non-discerning internet postings, I may find the ones that are great photos but don't show anything too explicitly to prevent them from being construed (or pirated for use as) child porn. For more private postings, or for postings to a more discerning and educated audience, I would share what I thought were the best photos.
But again, this is what I would do with them if they were my photos. You should do what you feel comfortable with.

KmH · Sep 6, 2016

I bet TPF, and most other US based online photography forum web sites, would have significant issues with photos of nude below the waist children being posted on their web site.

However, showing those same photos in a gallery setting would be a different kettle of fish.

SD Photography · Sep 13, 2016

Remember the last week's now about censorship ok Facebook of that running girl of napalm bombing Vietnam. Naked little girl running and afraid from the bomb rain. It was an excellent picture history of what really happened down their but still some places don't want it because of the small nudity part. But as known now Facebook removed the censorship and allowed it to again be posted around because of it historical perspective.

Sent fra min SM-G930F via Tapatalk

smoke665 · Sep 13, 2016

Tough call. The only thing to remember is that once posted on the internet it's there forever and control of the image is gone. As a couple of previous posters said, more private postings or gallery viewings might be more appropriate.

pixmedic · Sep 13, 2016

quite the conundrum indeed...
were it me (and it isn't) I would err on the side of caution and simply not post them to a public forum.
not that I want to own up to how old I actually am.....but....as a child of the 70's, my parents and grandparents had plenty of pictures in their photo albums of me, my siblings, and my cousins all running around our back yard naked, right up until we were school age i believe.
in kiddie pools, slip-n-slides (anyone remember those?) lawn sprinklers....
noone really cared about child nudity back then. it never seemed like a big deal.

nowadays however...
eh...
i wouldnt want to be the one posting pics of nude kids online....even in an artistic form.

JoeW · Sep 13, 2016

Several thoughts. First, let me start by staying I'm no lawyer...nor do I play one on TV. So I'm going to try and avoid speculating about the law and what is legal or not (at least in great detail).

Second, it's not about what is legal in the Philippines, it's what is legal here in the states. So a photo that may be fine in Cebu may lead to charges in Memphis. Do you have releases from the parents for any of those kids? I'm guessing not. Again, in the Philippines that wouldn't matter I'm guessing but here, if someone is offended, they can make a lot of trouble for you.

Third, if I were the photographer, I would hate to take some lovely, innocent, non-sexual work that ends up in the personal collection of some pedophile or kiddie porn collector. And once your work goes public (uncensored), I'm sure there are some in that category who will copy it and collect it. I know that's not your intention, I know that's not the situation. But how would you feel knowing that someone had exploited your work for that purpose? I'd feel pretty icky myself.

So my advice...for frontal nudity, definitely censor. For shots from the rear...I think it depends upon the angle and composition.