Why do I get unusual reactions to this picture?

To me it looks like he's cradling a bird.

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Emotion: Amusement

My mind raced to guess what type of picture would come up as I read your caption before hand. My initial and only response (aside from the technical admiration) was amusement. The models abdomen, (I surmise the model is female?) the upper left corner and the left side of the squash are the brightest areas of the image. This tends to draws my eye away from her hands. I really like the black areas they bounce my view back to the hands every time I kook for a way out of the frame. If this is part of a series, Womans take/Mans take, I wait for more! Your vision carries enough depth to keep my head swimming for many repeat visits to your posts. Keep them comming.

Thanks, Larry. I declined to burn the top edge at left, in order to keep the eye active in the frame. Otherwise a static circular movement would produce subconcious vertigo, centering on the squash/hand circle. It is actually a straight print, neg by window light. <p>Yes, the human is a woman. Gender of squash is unknown, although it has a vaguely masculine configuration and a seed bearing constitution (smiley face goes <i>here</i>... t

I think the phallic symbolism of the squash, and the way it's being held by the model, looks much like a young male performing an autoerotic act. That's why you're getting so many comments.

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Interesting picture, and well done.

Well <i>I</i> could tell the correct gender of the human, for a change :-) I think it is the gender-bending nature of the shot that makes people react. But reaction is good - better to motivate anger or giggles than have viewers pass by with no reaction.

re: Jim's interpretation... oh.<p> I guess my lack of critical distance kept me from anticipating <i>that</i> one. wow. I never even considered that the human might be interpreted as masculine. How 'bout that. Gosh. Silly me... t

Two beautiful forms presented themselves and I had a big north window and a comfortable chair. She was an artist and had no use for long nails. <p> Glad you enjoy the image, James, and it's good to hear from you... t