Richard Yates Photography

A Few Great Men!!

I recently had the opportunity to photograph some Amazing Men!

This was one of those "Epiphany" photo shoots that will forever change the way I photograph.

Words simply cannot describe the magic and chemistry that went on that day. I'm not even going to try!

Here are a few of the "Magical" shots that I was allowed to capture. More will follow at a later date so I'll end this by simply saying....

Enjoy!

Facebook strikes again!

So I was warned by a friend that the latest image I posted on FB wouldn't last long.
I mentioned that the images that were taken down before in the past only happened on my Personal page and not the Fan page so apparently the person reporting was not a fan.

I was wrong.

I think I also now know what the main problem is. While I now have my personal page looked down completely that is not the case with the fan page. I have that open so those who are not fans can become so by seeing the image. I don't want to change that as I reach more people that way.

Facebook has now given me a final warning and blocked my uploading images for 30 days!

It's time now to bring back the blog and find time to redesign the webpage to include all my works. Hopefully I'll have time soon to do this.

Here are two of the images that were reported as offensive. The first is the image I posted last night!

Enjoy!

Artistic or Offensive?

So I recently posted the below image on Facebook and someone reported it as being, in their eyes, as offensive.

I'm the first person to believe that people can judge for themselves what is and what is not offensive to them. We are, after all, individuals and can decide things for ourselves.

At first I was mad, then confused. Why? I just wish the person would step forth and simply tell me why they thought it was offensive! Why hide? Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm about as open as they come even to negative feedback. I love criticism good or bad. It's hearing both sides that make me a better photographer.

Why was this considered offensive? Is it because he is naked? Yes, he is naked but it's not like you can see his "privates". You can actually see a whole lot more in some paintings hanging in an at museum. How is this different from a cover of Rolling Stone or Vanity Fair? I was careful to NOT show the "privates" as that I can believe to be offensive to some. This is just a human body, tastefully done! It doesn't depict a lewd act or show an erection or even a little butt crack! It's confusing to me and I hope to create a thoughtful and inspiring adult conversation about this on Facebook.

I'm not perfect! I don't have all the answers and never will, I welcome my friends and even non friends to openly and honestly communicate with me regarding ANY of my images.

I value your opinion. I may not agree with it but I certainly won't discount it, in fact, I may even end up agreeing with you! It's happened!

For those of you who don't find this offensive, as always....

Enjoy!

Closing one door but opening another!

It's been about a month since my last post. I apologize for that. It's been an Amazing Spring, Summer and Fall and an incredibly busy one at that! I needed a bit of a break as we near the end of the year.

Over the next 6 months ( wow why does winter need to be so long) I'll have far fewer outdoor shoots and will be concentrating more on in-studio work and trying out some new lighting techniques. Keep your eye out for some exciting new work!

Until then here are some shots you may have already seen and some I know that you haven't!

I am so very fortunate to have had the pleasure in photographing so many truly amazing men!

I couldn't have done it without any of you and am so very thankful for the incredible friendships I have made along the way!

As always...Enjoy!

Mark

So this is Mark!

I wanna be a Cowboy! How often did we say that in our childhoods?

Mark has been photographed many times before in the past by other photographers so when he stated he wanted to work with me I was more than a bit ecstatic!

We chatted many times prior to the shoot and discussed what type/look he wanted for his images. I'm not sure which of us came up with the "Cowboy" but I am so happy we did this. I've wanted to do this type of shoot before but I was always concerned it would look cheesy or staged. That was something I did NOT want to happen. This was going to be a challenge!

Since he is not new to doing photo shoots I had to make sure that not only was it done right but that I also gave him something he could be proud of! His only request was to see if it would be possible for him to be photographed with a Horse!As it happens I knew just the place to go for his shoot as my Partner Steven and my Sister Teresa have connections to stables! This was going to be good!

Mark is one of those rare individuals. You meet him once and you instantly like him. Meet him a second time and you feel like you have been friends for years! Mark is...The list of positive things that I could say to describe Mark would be too long here. Trust me when I say that if you ever get the opportunity to meet him you will walk away a better person for it! I know I have! Many many times!

Enjoy!

Joshua

So this is Joshua,

Handsome, killer body, infectious smile and simply an overall Amazing Man who also knows when to be serious and when to have a good time! An exceptional, healthy balance we all should strive for!

Josh has done this before in the past and it shows! He instinctively knew what to do and when I gave him direction he was spot on!

While he has been photographed before, he expressed his excitement to be photographed in his Leather Gear and to have that happen outside. Two things that he really hasn't done before on shoots.

We had a blast and I'll be photographing him again in the future! No doubt about that!

Enjoy!