Quote:
Originally Posted by Klondike
I guess most of these pics are posed not unposed like I said. I might have been thinking of the second pic (girl eating watermelon).
For Russians, a good time seems to often include cameras and nudity. For Americans, that is not so true and when it is, the nudity is not the same. It is more of the titillating, flashing variety as opposed to casual.
KLondike
|
I think you just hit it on the nose, Klondike.
As I was looking at these (amazing!) pics, I was thinking -- Many/most Europeans I know have a relaxed grace about them, no matter what they're doing.
On the other hand, Americans seem so much more frenzied, with a need to be always pushing something. DeTocqueville thought it was one of the things that makes us "great." And he may be right.
But in the digital, always-on info age, that translates to a nearly manic effort to appear "sexy" or to seem to be "having fun." Consequently, when somebody poses for a photo with any kind of sexy overtone, we often get overtly "sexy" body language and facial expressions. A "come hither" look turns into an outrageous vamp; and a flirty sexiness turns into a vulgar solicitation.
As we note with so many posts around here --many of them yours, yes?-- authenticity and natural-ness have a built in "sexy" quality that can never be replicated by effort. It's like trying to dramatize drama. Can't be done.
[Steps down from the lectern
] Anyway, it looks like these photos reflect the much more natural European grace, and an ensuing magnetic sexiness.
GREAT photos. Thanks for your efforts.