Would you run this pic?

[DemoChristian]

Since it's at least arguably NSFW, I'll link it.
It's an AP shot of Nastia Liukin from last night. She is flipping and her, uh, parts are pointed directly toward the camera.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2008/olympics/2008/08/15/liukin.johnson.allaround.ap/T1_0814_nastia.jpg

I wouldn't run that. I can already hear the complaints we'd get.
I saw it on the main story on SI.com.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/08/15/liukin.johnson.allaround.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't think there is anything NSFW about it.

It's a strange shot. I don't see anything even remotely inappropriate about it.

 

[21]

Before I even clicked on this thread, I thought, 'Gotta be a gymnast shot.'

I don't know what's more painful, the people who see porn in these pictures or the people who are afraid people will see porn in these pictures.

Probably the people who see porn and run them for that reason.

 

[DemoChristian]

I'm telling you, my readers would be vocal in their objection to this shot.
If yours don't then I'm happy for you.
We had a complaint once about a pic of Michaelangelo's David, because one of the most famous statues of all time has a penis.

 

[21]

I'm telling you, my readers would be vocal in their objection to this shot.
If yours don't then I'm happy for you.
We had a complaint once about a pic of Michaelangelo's David, because one of the most famous statues of all time has a penis.

In no way was my comment directed at you....I completely understand why you raised this, it's a good question. I'm glad I don't have to make those decisions.

Just so sad that there are people who see a elite gymnast flying through the air in the middle of an impossibly death-defying triple backflip, and think, 'Crotch!'

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I wouldn't run it as a main photo, not because I believe it is offensive, but because I don't think that, visually, it tells the story.

She won the gold medal in an even that has a large element of style and grace in its scoring.

This photo is a frozen awkward moment. I checked the Associated Press photo system and there is a photo of her on the beam, gracefully arched in the middle of a flip with the Beijing 2008 logo slightly out of focus in the background.

That one, to me, tells the story much better.

Photos should be chosen as carefully as words.

I wouldn't have a problem running the other photo as a secondary.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

The tennis photos that come across the wire during any of the grand slams are 1,000,000X racier.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Before I even clicked on this thread, I thought, 'Gotta be a gymnast shot.'

I don't know what's more painful, the people who see porn in these pictures or the people who are afraid people will see porn in these pictures.

Probably the people who see porn and run them for that reason.

Again, not directed at Demo at all, but I'd be seriously worried about anyone who sees anything even remotely sexual in that pic.

 

[DemoChristian]

For the record, I think the one I linked is a beautiful shot. I'm just saying, my readership would not agree.
Sometimes we need to tell/show them things they don't like -- like if you write about a local athlete/coach getting arrested.
However, in the case of this pic, I wouldn't run it because the downside outweighs the upside.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

For the record, I think the one I linked is a beautiful shot. I'm just saying, my readership would not agree.
Sometimes we need to tell/show them things they don't like -- like if you write about a local athlete/coach getting arrested.
However, in the case of this pic, I wouldn't run it because the downside outweighs the upside.

Completely agree. One insane reader can make your life miserable.

 

[goalmouth]

Totally inappropriate, of course, because the US can't seem to shake its Puritan roots teaching how evil the human body is.

 

[Ace]

I'm telling you, my readers would be vocal in their objection to this shot.
If yours don't then I'm happy for you.
We had a complaint once about a pic of Michaelangelo's David, because one of the most famous statues of all time has a penis.

Not much of one, though.

 

[Flip Wilson]

The second picture on this thread is a much better photograph, so that's what I would have run, the "crotch shot" debate not withstanding.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I'm telling you, my readers would be vocal in their objection to this shot.
If yours don't then I'm happy for you.
We had a complaint once about a pic of Michaelangelo's David, because one of the most famous statues of all time has a penis.

Not much of one, though.

Dude was juicin'

 

[Tom Petty]

the photo sucked.

 

[Ace]

the photo sucked.

I agree. You've got to figure there are a dozen better photos of her.

 

[MGoBlue]

Nothing wrong with the photo.
About 20 years ago, had the same discussion about a Jackie-Joyner Kersee shot in the long jump. Legs spread and all. We ran it. In color. 5 columns. Not a word.

 

[Tom Petty]

and WTF is up with the buttshot photo of johnson? can anyone qualify why that thing is on the wire?

 

[BigSleeper]

I stopped listening to complaints of this nature a long time ago. If we make a legitimate mistake, then I'll listen and work to rectify the mistake. But this? **** no. I tell them to write a letter to the editor, go back to trying to get books banned and hang up.

 

[Ace]

and WTF is up with the buttshot photo of johnson? can anyone qualify why that thing is on the wire?

Boots cropped it?