I am growing increasingly frustrated with the arbitrary nature of DA's violation policy. Yesterday I posted an image titled "Cry Havok". Today it was deleted by a DA staffer who deemed the image a violation of DA's rules. The picture was of Eli fully nude with his arms spread out. He wasn't touching himself or stoking himself or anything suggestive. He was just standing there naked.

Here is the complete note from DA:
The work(s) listed below have been removed by staff due to a violation of deviantART policy or because its theme or content was judged unacceptable. Your deviantART submissions must obey certain guidelines and restrictions.

I wish that the staff would at least give a definite reason as to why an image is pulled other than the extremely vague "content was judged unacceptable". What about it was objectionable?

At this point, I am having second thoughts about posting any further images on slmple principle. I am interested in knowing other artists' experiences with the DA police. I guess I could understand if Eli were masturbating or killing a small farm animal, but the most suggestive thing he was doing was stretching with his larger than usual penis dangling.

***Shortly after posting this minor rant - I recieved an additional not from the DA Staff***

Your deviation Cry Havok was reported for Prohibited Content. The report was reviewed by a member of the Staff and action was taken, deleting the deviation and marking the report as Resolved. Additionally, the following comment was provided:

A member of staff has reviewed this deviation and has determined that this content is unacceptable for submission here.

Again - I ask what was the big deal. There was nothing lewd about the straighforward shot. I've seen and archived pictures of erect penises, simulated masterbation, extreme close-ups of breats with rigid nipples as well as EXTREME close-ups of labias and vaginas - yeat somehow that isn't offensive to the finer sensibilities of the DA art Nazis.

Hey all

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I think I've just been burnt out and jaded. I am posting some disastrous images of Eli. This series was shot waaaaay bach at the end of October. I apologize for the crap lighting. I'm a pooooor photo guy without a decent light kit or flash. LOL. Had to use available light with fill flash from the camera. This shoot reminded me of how much I miss film. I used to be a master (at least in my own mind) of pushing film and the camera to get the results I wanted. I never had much doubt as to what the image was going to look like. I'm much less confident now with digital. Sometimes it really kicks my ass - as is the case with this last shoot with Eli.

Enjoy them for what they are worth, and as always thanks for your support.

Robert

Hello everyone!

Thanks for taking time to stop by my little corner of the DA universe. I'm delighted to be hear and appreciate all of your support.

I need a little advice for anyone who is interested. I have found a couple of sites that would allow me to compile some of my photography and publish it into a book. I'm thinking of doing this with a bulk of the Eli images. The question is - would it be worth it. The investment to me, other than time, is minimal - less than $30. I'm just not sure anyone would be interested in purchasing a coffee table book filled with pictures of the same model. I've thought of using DA's Print service, but their commission rate is staggering. They give an example of a base rate of $14 cost for a print with the artist setting a price of $24 for someone to purchase an image. DA then takes 50% of the amount above the base price. Bottom line is that DA would make $19 on the print and the artist would make $5. Seems a bit lopsided to me.

I would appreciate any comments.

Robert

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has taken time to stop by my little speck of the DA Universe. I appreciate each comment and "fave". I've learned a lot over the past few weeks, and look forward to growing as a photographer with each new shoot.

Shout out to anyone in the Athens or Augusta areas who might be interested in posing for me. Drop me a note here and we'll get something worked out.

Robert

I'll be the first to admit that I hate politics. I'm too altruistic to hide behind party lines and I absolutely abhore discussing most things in the political realm. I get that from working in the liberal media for 16 years and realizing that as citizens we don't know Shit from Shinola when it comes to the reality of world news. What is loosely called "news" is dolled out for us sheep in small amounts - just unough to make us aware that there is a world out there, but we never, ever get the whole story, the real story or more than a hint or microscopic portion of the truth. I guess that's because one of the first things most journalism schools teach is to always, no matter what your personal beliefs or convictions, always, always, ALWAYS take the negative slant. It's easier to say "Hey that's broken" than it is to say "I realize this is broken - here is how to fix it." It is infinitely easier to tell what is wrong with something than it is to defend what is right. Look at any editorial page in any news paper and you'll see what I mean. Good news doesn't sell. Never has and never will. By the way - I know the cure for "Global Warming". If NOAA moves its weather monitoring stations away from artificial heat sources such as air conditioner units, landing strips and incinerators, the average temp will drop enough to stop the melting of artic glaciers thereby preserving the million dollar homes along the coastline.

For those who don't know how a basic news room operates, be it print, radio or television, the environments are virtually the same...report "who, what, where, when and why" in 90 seconds or less. Some brain trust determined that the average human attention span is one minute and thirty seconds long before we start pondering such lofty things such as "What's for dinner?" or "Did I leave the iron on?".

Now, having worked in the television medium, I can tell you about a small pantheon of gods. You might know them as The Associated Press (aka The AP, or "The Wire") CNN and to a lesser extent FOX News. The AP is pretty much the Zeus or the lesser pantheon. What ever the omniscient AP says is law. It is undeniable and is as rock solid as the 10 Commandments or any CBS News Report regarding the War on Terror.

I'm sure there is a burning bush (and I don't mean the one from Texas) somewhere dictating "reality". "Genocide is ok". "Beheading civilians and sacrificing our own 'Journalists' for the 'cause' is good... and makes for excellent ratings." "Parading terrorists in their Underoos - very bad." "Defending America - Punishable by death". "Using women and children as human shields - perfectly understandable". "Strapping bombs to babies and aforementioned shields - HUZZAH! Now we're talking". Because at the end of the day - it's America's fault. Everything that is wrong with society and the planet in general is traceable back to America. At least that's what the headlines want us to believe. I'm sure that somehow the estimated 420,000 homes leveled in aftershocks over in China are somehow directly related to the collapse of the housing market in this country.

On a recent photo safari in Athens, Georgia, I came across a storefront that used two notorious dictators' images as backdrops in their display windows. At first I was humored by the irony that these assmonkeys were being used to pimp consumerism and the American dream. The more I thought about the images, and the more I have been pounded by the never-ending series of Democratic primaries and all the rhetoric the candidates blather on about, it dawned on me that based on the same blipverts the pantheon have been releasing of late regarding the two Democratic party hopefuls, that you can replace the images with Obama or Clinton and the end result is the same.

Both have said they want to limit individual freedoms and increase the size of government. Both want to sieze corporate profits and redistribute wealth to lazy asses who would rather settlef for welfare than to do an honest day's work. Hillary in particular says she wants to raid pension funds and retirement accounts taking at least 15% for the goverment coffers. Everyone who is employed will be forced to give a significant portion of their earnings to fund socialized medicine. She said so in a conversation with Anderson Cooper.

UGH! My Brain hurts. I don't even want to get started on McCain and the Republican camp. I guess it just isn't worth the effort and the all knowing AP says he's too old to be in the Oval Office.

Umm...I'm out of rant and am tired of running in circles with one foot nailed to the floor.