Reactions...

[Tim Mulholland]

An aspect of photography for which I strive, but don't always achieve, is an emotional reaction.  Rarely do I take a photo that evokes such a strong, negative visceral reaction on my part or others.  I was fairly certain that the photograph that I posted (Conflictions) would achieve that, and it did.  I also want you all to know that I tried very hard to accurately describe my feelings, the confliction that I was feeling, and tried EXTREMELY hard to avoid the right-to-bear-arms and protection-of-personal-property debates (and, other debates).  I was hoping that the conversation surrounding that photo might also focus on the emotions that others felt, which it mostly did...

And, thanks for the clarification, Jim - I appreciate it!  ;)

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Your reaction here discredits the power of your image. It actually moved me, so I don't understand your need to feel political when I wasn't being so.

David Dyer-Bennet wrote:

On Fri, October 2, 2009 11:40, Trevor Cunningham wrote:

  

Tim Mulholland - Conflicted: I dislike the border treatment, but the
picture + story is powerful. Even without the story, there's a tragic
nature to the image I find striking. Someone loved this person. Given
limited background, I can only imagine how the person on the other side
of the gun feels. If justified, I hope s/he had something worth
protecting.
    

Generally, you're legally justified in using deadly force in self-defense
*only* if you're reasonably in fear of death or great bodily harm (it's a
matter of state law in the US, so there are 50 answers just here).  Every
person has something "worth protecting"; that's the same sort of axiom as
your statement that somebody loved the person pictured.  All people are of
value.

When people are improperly present in other people's houses, things have
already gone fairly severely astray.

For the record, I have twice suppressed the urge to comment on
non-photographic opinions about firearms matters that people have posted
in commenting on this photo, and I feel that I'm being very very
restrained this time.  I really do not think that a discussion (never mind
a debate) on actual firearms and self-defense law issues is appropriate or
likely to be beneficial for this list.  But to achieve that (lack of
discussion), it's necessary for the exercise of restraint to be
broad-based; I probably don't have enough restraint to do it all by
myself.  Please help me!

(Also for the record, I think it's a strong photo, and the caption
information adds to it.  And it and the caption are not the parts I'm
worried about / complaining about.)

Tim!

Tim Mulholland

Illuminata Photo

Fitchburg, WI

608.628.2925

TimMulholland.com

 

Tim@...

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