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R E D A C T E D My thread with honest intention of seeking feedback and discussion was mistaken as SPAM and henceforth been clarified. I did not want to send visitors to my gallery without explaining WHAT they're seeing or WHY they're seeing the images I have created. MY TARGET AUDIENCE ARE OPEN MINDED PEOPLE, WHOM WOULD PROVIDE UNBIASED AND NEUTRAL COMMENTS. YOU WOULDN'T GO TO A LOCAL ART GALLERY WHEN THEY'RE SHOWCASING MALE IMAGES, WOULD YOU? IF YOU DO NOT FANCY SUCH IMAGES. ARTIST STATEMENT—July 14, 2011 DEFIANCE is my 2010 personal project showing defiance towards my conservative and sexually-repressive Burmese culture. A collection of images that the norm considers “questionable and explicit,” I am creating stylized images paying tribute to the masculine form. The project is a duet, exploring homoeroticized display of the elusive and sexualized beauty of the male form. Defiance is my personal sojourn on blurred boundaries, challenging the status quo images of the fine-art male nudes. By earning trust and confidence from my subjects, I gain access to their private sanctum, where they permit me to photograph their sexual-self, leaving nothing to my imagination. I am ready to showcase a sensitive and personal project I've been working since February 2010. Dec 11 11 09:22 am Link DISCLAIMER: The images contain artistic nudity showcasing exquisite photography containing male nudity in its purest and erotic form. My photography and retouching has caught up with growing an additional backbone to challenge the status quo images of fine-art male nudes. A personal project I started during February 2010 because I wanted to explore sexuality from my perspective as a recent and openly homosexual photographer. Growing up in a conservative Burmese culture, where topics of sexuality was taboo—I grew up feeling remorsed, embarrassed, and ashamed of how I felt towards men. Before I show image excerpts, there are certain clarifications and guidelines I want to introduce: (1) I want to express DEFIANCE towards my Burmese upbringing and culture. (2) I want to directly challenge the status-quo images of fine-art male nudes, mostly comprising of Caucasian male models in what the society and in the LGBT community considers, "the beauty standard." (3) I realized I was shooting myself in the foot with my rule towards only accepting Non-Caucasian male subject volunteers. The Black/African-American, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander male volunteers I found don't want to volunteer due to their personal beliefs and cultural backgrounds. My project was expected to have a stalemate due to lack of subjects. (4) Everyone photographed in DEFIANCE was a volunteer—the majority made their trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles without any expectations or reimbursements. (5) Volunteers during 2010—2011 interim have NEVER modeled nude before. They were curious (just like me) and wanted to explore the nude modeling genre. (6) The project opened my eyes (and heart) to people whom otherwise I would never associate personally or professionally. Dec 11 11 09:33 am Link GALLERY LINK: http://ronaldnztan.com/#/defiance Site is optimized for 1920 X 1080 HD display resolutions. An chain icon for preventing the menu from sliding out and to re-engage menu is on the right side, click and un-click. Dec 11 11 09:52 am Link  Moderator Note!The OP is asking for feedback on his project and will reflect that in his opening statement shortly. Dec 11 11 02:51 pm Link Hi Rik, Thank you for re-opening this thread. I am glad I was able to sort out the mistaken post as SPAM. Please know that my intentions were honest and I wasn't spamming. Rik Austin wrote: Dec 11 11 03:43 pm Link Wow. I just looked through the gallery, and I am amazed. I really wish I were articulate enough to really voice everything that I feel about it. This project is exquisite, and all of the hard work that you put into it shows. I really love the commentary from you and the models. It shows such an openness. I really look forward to seeing just how far you can take this! Dec 11 11 09:15 pm Link Hi Shon, Thanks for the comment. I'd like to read what ever that's on your mind. Think of this post as a gallery showing my work and I happen to be standing in front of it. You (and anyone for that matter) are welcomed to comment directly or privately via a message. The images are made with care—I used my learnt photography and advanced dodging and burning skills to manipulate with great accuracy and precision the highlights and shadows so that I am taking command and leading the orchestral interplay and intimacy between light and shadow. Shon D.- Homme wrote: Dec 11 11 09:34 pm Link Bump Dec 12 11 09:11 am Link Nice work, of course. I would suggest toning it down a bit if you want to appeal to a wider audience than gay males though. Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com Dec 12 11 09:16 am Link Enlightening project with excellent imagery. Ronald Tan is fantastic with his craft and vision. Dec 12 11 09:16 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Your expertise shows. I'm blown away by the subject matter, your technique, and the depth of this project. For some reason, the man with the tattoos has photos that strike me the most, but I love them all. If I were you, I would absolutely NOT tone anything down to sell out. That just feeds into the idea that only gay men can enjoy male nudes. I also really like the idea of using more men of colors, that's really ESPECIALLY defiant. Please try to include as many of them as you can! :-) Dec 12 11 09:21 am Link Stefano Brunesci wrote: Not sure if the point of all projects is to appeal to the widest possible audience. Sometimes it's about saying what you think is right, despite the reaction of the majority Dec 12 11 09:35 am Link Part of the reason why I started this project is mainly for myself—I am SICK and tired of seeing the same old same old white models being photographed in sorts of the the photography spectrum. I feel like a "sell out" already because if I had originally stuck to simply NO WHITE MALE MODELS in DEFIANCE, my project would not have gone anywhere. It would have been an unfortunate stalemate. I have been told from prominent artists that my project has artistic value and merit—in other words, more than just a picture book full of penises. I am directly challenging the status quo fine-art male images. I am borrowing visual standards established from high-fashion men's magazines and applying the "shiny" looks to these sexualized and provocative images of men in pure photography combined with stylized retouching. Dec 12 11 10:01 am Link [Redacted] Hi Stefano, I don't plan to tone down anything, if at all. The point of artists' projects is to directly challenge something in society. For me, I have a problem with white models (people) being the "beauty standard" both in mainstream and the gay sub-culture. When I look on sites like Amazon.com and browse their fine-art photo books, I see a lot of books dedicated, prominently feature white models. Throw in a few "men of color" as niche or "fetish" topics. Part of DEFIANCE is to break that status quo. Photograph men of color in otherwise utterly suggestive and more provocateur. I know minorities have to work TWICE as hard as their Caucasian counterparts to receive recognition and acknowledgement. Stefano Brunesci wrote: Dec 12 11 10:06 am Link I'm not a gay male and it appeals to me  It's a great project and excellent execution. You can be very proud!Dec 12 11 10:15 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: We should brainstorm and try to figure out how to get more models of color to be in this project. Dec 12 11 10:26 am Link Agreed! But remember that my project is a volunteering effort, I want to keep it that way. I currently have seventeen subjects (some came back to SF from LA more than once just to volunteer). Shon D.- Femme wrote: Dec 12 11 10:30 am Link Thank you Valerie. I truly have summoned up courage and backbone to openly announce and reveal my personal project. I've shared my project with others and I know it has been talked about on the web. Google: "Ronald Tan Personal Project Defiance". I want to share and express my defiance to more audience (while respecting personal viewpoints) of people. Isserley wrote: Dec 12 11 10:37 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: You should keep going Ronald. Don't tone back what you want to do. There's no prize for "I wanted to do something but didn't because some people might not like it". Good work d Dec 12 11 10:55 am Link Don't worry. I've compromised and the images I've uploaded is only the tip of the iceberg. Part of my project's manifest is TRUST. During my project's second year, I have earned TRUST and CONFIDENCE from subjects and they have granted permission to be photographed leaving nothing to my imagination. I am not going to share these images just yet, because I don't want to send a "in your face" presentation and message. I want to respect my subjects and present them in a proper manner and not throw everything out for exhibition. I want to slowly win the minds and hearts of my audience. D0127H wrote: Dec 12 11 11:48 am Link I don't typically care for male nudes, but some of yours are really spectacular. You've managed to nicely showcase the male form without making the penis the focal point of every shot...which is quite difficult to do. Great project, I think you're accomplishing your goal so far. Dec 12 11 09:21 pm Link Hi Melissa, Thank you for your comment. Part of DEFIANCE's multifaceted goals is trying to change minds and hearts about the subject matter. Some of the subjects (volunteers) have been changed since they contributed to my project. This is based on their direct feedback which I provided as captions on the image. My question to you this, since being introduced to DEFIANCE, does your experience and perspective on male nudes have been positively altered? You wrote, "I don't typically care for male nudes...." May I engage you in a direct enquiry? Please reply here or privately if you wish. MelissaAnn wrote: Dec 12 11 10:04 pm Link Bold, raw, and daring. Beautifully photographed and I love the different cultural backgrounds. That's one thing I try to implement in my work, is to show a variety of models. I especially like Sukh. You rarely find indian models to do nudes. Great technique as well. It shows that is not all about a great looking model posing seductively but also taking the time out to photograph them beautifully and well thought out. I know this project was a rewarding journey for you, Ronald. Keep it coming! ~Gregory Dec 13 11 08:26 am Link Thank you Gregory. I have invited other photographers I know and hopefully they'll comment on the project when convenient for them. RE: Sukh. It was a lucky find, he's considered my project muse, because he nourished the idea with me. I had already met Sukh back in 2008 and we kept in touch since. Because I find darker skinned men beautiful, I wanted them to be the focal point and thesis of my project. It is slow growing project because I did not want the significance and meaningful experience of photographing nudes to wear off. Thank you so much and it means a lot to have received a comment from you. Gregory Prescott Photo wrote: Dec 13 11 09:02 am Link It's obviously very good photography and presentation and as such it's good to look at and appreciate. I don't feel any gay tendencies arising nor any aversion to your imagery, in fact the opposite. To me it's just good imagery of the male person. I know nothing about the Burmese culture so feel, from a personal perspective, that your work would have been better presented without all the drama of this thread. Maybe you're just elated to have broken certain personal (and cultural) taboos and I suppose I can understand that. So, what are your plans for your work? You say it's a personal project - is that the end of it? Dec 13 11 09:06 am Link Thank you very much for engaging me in commentary. I don't think "drama" is the right word, perhaps I am over analyzing it. When I studied artist projects, they have a sound thesis and purpose of the project. I felt my project required background disclosure. If I don't explain to you about my background and why I am involved, I am certain you're thinking, "Just another gay photographer shooting erotic pictures of men. Nothing special. Let's move on." Am I correct? I'd like to be respectful towards you and disagree with you that my presentation would have gone better without the "drama" as you have described. In the final form, I'll be sure to optimize and redact all textual component of my project to be concisely streamlined. You are indeed correct, sir—I feel rather proud of my project and the kind of courage I've summoned to be involved. My plan for DEFIANCE is to continually compile materials to be anthologized into a monogram book. I am blessed because ALL of my volunteers support my ultimate goal. T B O L wrote: Dec 13 11 09:28 am Link I like the variety in models, from smaller to bigger, tattooed etc etc.. I feel like it presents a story line and isn't an ad campaign of sorts but it looks like what its supposed to be. An Editorial. Great lighting and presentation as well. Dec 13 11 09:38 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: No. I've looked at and admired your work before and never once thought that to be the case. The erotic nature of these doesn't change that, at least for me. I don't consider whether you're gay or not. Dec 13 11 09:46 am Link This is funny. I am just pulling your leg now, but it never crossed your mind that I might be cheering for the other team? I only have a single female model and it is simple beauty up the chest only. :-) T B O L wrote: Dec 13 11 09:50 am Link Thank you Blake. I'll have to (ultimately) arrange the photographs to have some sort of narrative going. DAVfoto wrote: Dec 13 11 09:55 am Link Ronald, it's exciting to see you continue to stretch your wings and fly. The "Defiance" series is extraordinarily beautiful and your mission statement is well spoken. I am beginning to realize I have some predjudices when it comes to nudity. There is a fine line between art and porn. I don't believe you have crossed that line. Last year I might have thought you did. I'd like to think I'm growing still as well. It's all very tastefully done, your lighting is (as always) exquisite and I like the statements made by the models themselves as well. I have one complaint, dude your website is so squirrely - I can barely navigate on it. It jumps back and forth too easily, it's hard to get a fix on the first photo's it wants to jump back to the left side menu. It was frustrating. But back to the work - congratulations on expanding your personal horizons and helping others to achieve the same. Beautiful. Dec 13 11 10:15 am Link I'll fix my site ASAP. I have received feedback that is generally a turn off from visitors regarding the sliding of the menu. There is an icon on the right side to disable the menu from sliding out when the mouse gets close to the left edge. I know...if I had to explain like this, something is wrong with the design of the site (it was a stock template I purchased). I wanted to ask your commentary, but I remember (previously) you had a biased perspective and I respected that. I am glad to read that you (as well as many others before you) have now have an open and welcoming thoughts towards male nudity. Just like the saying, "Anything can be funny in the right light." In my case, I think that a properly lit, composed, and dodged and burnt image with great accuracy and precision negates the "pornographic" notion. I am aware that my images are "it is what it is." BUT I wanted to dress it up and present it properly, formally, and respectfully to everyone involved—especially my volunteers whom subjected themselves willfully (trusting me) to be an empty canvas for me to project. Thank you SO MUCH for your comment, Lu. I am glad to read that you have become open to the idea and I hope you'll continue to evolve and be the progressive individual that you are. People in your life are lucky to have you, especially Mr. Wedge. Lucinda Wedge wrote: Dec 13 11 10:30 am Link so, it's defiant because burmese culture is sexually repressive. so any nudes would be defiant - there's nothing particularly defiant about these, as compared to any other nudes... right? it doesn't really work for me as a cohesive body of work. the ones of guys lying on couches, hardwood floors, beds etc don't seem to work with the shots of guys on white walls, or against blown out white backgrounds. some of the images definitely don't feel defiant, either. like the guy curled up in the fetal position? that seems more defeated than defiant. and there are 5 shots with guys covering their faces with their forearms... like they're hiding. Dec 13 11 10:51 am Link This is the kind of challenge I was hoping to receive. I'll try to think carefully as I respond to you. Without going into all sort of specifics and background information on my culture and how I was brought up, yes, anything that "sexy" is frown upon in my culture. Without going off-topic, here is a June 16, 2010 article from a Burmese news site: http://www.irrawaddy.org/highlight.php?art_id=18736. I bet you all westerners are balking and getting a chuckle out of that "racy" image of Ms. Honey Oo, right? [The photo of her lying on sand bearing a bikini]. I don't want to detour too much, but it should give you an idea of how the current Burmese people's mindset are still in 2011. I want to address your comments in the following paragraphs: I am not trying "tell a story" in the traditional sense. Images don't have to be connected. The project is more about my feelings of defeat and triumph. Add in the personal feelings of my volunteers and how we both have similar growing up experiences. I'd like to try to explain my project like some people who like to collect their hunt and frame them prominently in their homes as proud displays and pride. You don't have to like it, but you should be aware of how much effort that does into taxidermy from the hunt of the animal, to cleaning of the parts and later to using chemicals as a preservative so that certain organs won't rot and are preserved long-term. Think of the images individually and not associated to a story line. CJ (model with "TRUST" tatoo). I asked him to be in the fetal position for that image because it was his first time at nudes and I saw his willful trust in me. I asked him to curl up in a fetal position as an act of trust in me. If I asked CJ to bite an apple in his mouth while patting his head and the other hand rubbing his tummy, CJ would have done that. That is the level of trust I have from my volunteers. These days, I look at the image of CJ in a fetal position and thinking "this was how I felt when I first came out of the closet." I did not know whether or not my parents would disown me. Or what my brother think of me. RE: Having models' faces covered. Remember that some images I've shared here are from the 2010-2011 session. These volunteers have NEVER modeled nude before and part of them has reservations about being involved in the project. By telling them to cover their faces, they are hiding something. Their trepidation of being discovered. How would their friends think? Finally when images of CJ showing what appears to be on the hardwood floor and his touching to feel sensual and seductive, the image signifies his carefree attitude. He does not care what others think. He grew a backbone and wanted to do it just because he could and he did. Just in the images of CJ alone, although I am not trying to create a story, I could loosely connect and associate them. Does that explain further? Please let me know how I could further assist you in explaining my project. I am not trying to accomplish anything extravagant with my project. It is simply a collection of images showcasing MY DEFIANCE. If you forbid me to have cake for the rest of my life, I am going to say, "Screw you!" I am going to go out of my way and buy myself a chocolate cake, eat it, take a picture and email to you. Next week, I could go to another pastry shop, buy a fruit cake, eat it, take another picture and send that to you. Years later, I'll have a compilation of forbidden cakes I ate with credits to the pastry shops whom helped me defy you. Phoenix Fetish wrote: Dec 13 11 11:37 am Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Well, that's fine - but when I look at the images, I don't see your personal feelings of defeat and triumph. Maybe that's what you see when you look at them, and maybe they're meaningful to the models in the same way (or more probably a different way), but that's basically irrelevant to the average viewer. They only see the image. Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: Well, that's interesting... but can you understand what I mean when I say that it seems to be the opposite of "defiant?" Dec 15 11 01:47 pm Link I could agree with you sir, that that is what ultimately is. At the same time, I want to leave things open so I'd have a chance to explain why. Like you did with your first comment. I see no point in my project if everything is understood and there is no way for me to additionally explain or directly engage with the audience. Perhaps when people see later images from the session, they'll clearly see "defiant" behavior. Phoenix Fetish wrote: Dec 15 11 02:30 pm Link BUMP! Just a few updates that due to comments on my site, aka "the sliding function was annoying," I reverted my FLASH site to its previous iteration. Henceforth, the link to the DEFIANCE gallery has been redacted to reflect the change: http://ronaldnztan.com/#/defiance. Dec 16 11 06:35 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: I interpreted the defiance in reference to you creating the work, rather than it being a portrait of defiant people... Dec 16 11 08:06 pm Link Hi Darren, I am glad you "got me." The beauty of art works like this is having bi-directional discussion. Otherwise, the images lack substance. I appreciate the fact that you took your time to understand my work—it is close and meaningful to me. D0127H wrote: Dec 16 11 08:36 pm Link Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan wrote: I agree with you Mr Tan , the world needs more diversification of the beauty standard Dec 17 11 05:00 am Link |
