Good Bad Girl

I am so curious, what is your opinion on censorship?

Yesterday, I posted this picture (uncensored) in black and white. Within minutes, I received a message from a friend who said I should take the picture down because I’m “too good of a girl.” Does posting this picture make me a bad girl?
Truth is, I feel very disconnected from the girl in my photos. Yes, technically that girl is me, but the camera sees me differently; when I look back at my photos I hardly recognize myself. I just see a beautiful picture which I share as art. You may not know this, I produce and style my own photography. I do my own hair and makeup, generally very minimally because I prefer a natural look, and I do all the editing and post production making my photos not simply a picture of me, but very much a part of me. But, like I said, the camera sees me differently. Some of my photos are provocative indeed, but they aren’t just naked, they are expressive. And because it doesn’t feel like me, I never feel exposed. Should I? Have I crossed a line between tasteful nudity and pornography?
In college I took a course on photography, my final project was all nudes. In high school I took a live model drawing class, again, all nudes. I love photography. I love the female body especially, and I am proud of the art I have been able to create with my body.
In my opinion, Americans are a little uptight. My Brazilian mom used to dance around the house naked all the time; nudity was a non-issue in our home and I wasn’t raised to be ashamed of my body. Should I be? Should I hide me? I want to continue sharing my passion with my friends more than anything. But I have way more “friends” that look at my pictures than choose to like or comment on them, and this makes me feel bad. So, I think I’m going to stop for while. I’m the first person to support my friends, like, share, comment and promote their businesses, and not receiving the same in return is weighing heavily on my heart. A penny for your thoughts…

To Shop Or Not To Shop?

CURIOUS: WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON PHOTOSHOP?

With Photoshop getting a negative rep from celebs using it to completely distort the reality of what they really look like…

CLICK TO READ: Mariah Carey/Terry Richardson Photoshop debacle

It’s easy to forget that Photoshop can be used for good! Here is a picture I took with my friend AJG FILMPRODUCTIONS. We were just goofing around in in his apartment after dark with no professional lighting, and barely any light at all, but with the magic of Photoshop I was able transform the image giving the look of a professional studio shot without any alterations done to my face, skin or body (I am sure another editor would have taken in my stomach and blurred the creases under my eyes, but I love this photograph, imperfections and all!)

In my opinion, if there is a place for photo editing (and I believe there is), and this would be it! I definitely consider editing to be an art and I love playing with pictures! But, I’m so curious. What are your thoughts? To shop or not to shop?

Together in Health!
xob