photo labs

[pocketshaver]

When you guys use film to do Not Safe For Work Photos,,, just what issues have you run into with mail order photo labs?

 

[limr]

I develop my own film, so even if I did nsfw photos, there would be no issue.

 

[Soocom1]

You need to review the policies of the lab.
But also be aware of federal law.

In the US it can be summarized here:

Citizen's Guide To U.S. Federal Law On Obscenity

 

[pocketshaver]

even if you take the standards into consideration, how has Jock Sturges stayed out of jail

 

[limr]

even if you take the standards into consideration, how has Jock Sturges stayed out of jail

By having good lawyers.

 

[limr]

And it seems he still needs them...Photographer facing statutory rape charges

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Well that certainly goes beyond photography. I had never heard of him and looked up his work. Some of it goes a little too far.

To the OP what are you photographing? I belonged to a rather nefarious organization when younger and took some photos of things being done that could bring scrutiny by law enforcement. Never had any issues from labs. It was the 70s and 80s though. People tended to mind their own business more in those times.

 

[webestang64]

The lab I work at has printed images like that. We use our best judgment, as in.....do the people look of age? No animals involved? If we think something is amiss we call the police and hand the images to them. Personally I have had to call the police only once in my 35+ career as a lab tech. Found out the nude girl was indeed 12.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't so I haven't. But I would say try to find a lab that will work with you as an artist, and if you're shooting what looks like porn expect that the police may be contacted.

Never heard of this photographer so looked him up and only found that article from a couple of years ago. It must have been dropped since. A lawyer was quoted that the woman making allegations had come to him and he sent her to the police. I think after 40 years it may have been past the limitations. It often makes me wonder if someone's initial reaction is to get a lawyer rather than go to authorities if the person may be in it to get money as much as anything, but if he did do what the woman alleged I don't know what could be done now.

I looked at some of his photos and don't find them problematic as art photos since many appear posed and the subjects seem to have known they were being photographed and presumably why - for art purposes. These would hardly have been for porno mags, they're way too tame for that in the '70s! lol This might have been acceptable on naturist beaches, etc. I would hope the parents were present or informed.

http://www.johnpaulcaponigroblob/16498/12-great-photographs-by-jock-sturges

 

[pocketshaver]

that link.... those are actually the tamest photos ive ever seen of his. EVER.

its easy to see some of those girls are WELL under 18. easily well under 15. Not to long ago high school girls got into legal trouble for sending naked pictures of themselves when under the legal age of 18.. yet he has stayed out of jail.

 

[compur]

Unfortunately, laws aren't for everyone. Old Jock must be very connected way up the food chain.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I'm not familiar with anything else of his. I don't know if releases were signed or if parents were present or gave permission or not.

I'm sure girls under 18 would have gotten in trouble for sending him photos, especially if unsolicited. If they did he must have brought it to the attention of authorities or somehow they became aware that girls sent nude photos.

But anyway, what does this have to do with you looking for a lab to develop your NSFW photos? If his are explicit or pornographic then it seems like his problem if he gets in trouble for taking inappropriate photos of underage girls. Maybe you're checking IDs and he may not be, or wasn't back in the day, I don't know.

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

Glad I read the thread through and did NOT look at the link or search his work. Perhaps if law enforcement doesn't do anything, a parent will!

 

[vintagesnaps]

Did a search... he doesn't use release forms but gets permission for specific use of photos. If permission has been withdrawn the photos are pulled from display in galleries, etc. He has gone to the same communities (where apparently there are beaches where people swim/sunbathe nude and are comfortable with the nudity) over 25 years. He seems to stay in contact with subjects and developed relationships with subjects & families. And there seem to be different cultural standards in different countries, etc.

There was apparently an FBI raid of his studio in '90, and in '98 a couple of states brought charges against a bookstore for selling one of his books; charges were later dropped.

He uses an 8x10" view camera so he would be quite noticeable setting up to take photos... and was apparently usually in a public place (or when he was at a commune back in the '60s that may have been private but I guess no one there at the time had a problem with it).

I saw nude photos but didn't find anything that seemed obscene (maybe it's out there and I just didn't find it). I don't know, the search took me to a page of photos in the Art Institute of Chicago with photos by famous photographers and many of those involved nudity including what appear to be children/adolescents (I was surprised at some of the photographers who took nude photos because that wasn't what they're known for). But I didn't see anything of concern in the photos in the collection.

I saw two stories on the evening news that were more of a concern to me than any of his photos I saw. One about a driver for a preschool and another about a coach in youth sports (I didn't catch specifically what either was suspected of doing). Those are the type situations that often seem to involve predators when it comes to children.