As a photographer, there may come a time when you’re handed a request that may seem out of the ordinary. That may have been the case for one photographer who just managed to get all foreign weddings at a popular Greek wedding destination banned.
A photograph recently emerged of a couple at a famous chapel on the Greek island of Rhodes which portrayed the two performing a sex act – something that is certainly frowned upon by the church. While the sex act was merely a simulated one, the result of the image could possibly lead to hundreds of other couples having their wedding plans canceled.
"We are Greek and we cherish our traditions and the sanctity of our religious sites," community leader Giorgos Eleftheriou told The Times: "We cannot allow this disgusting behavior to prevail."
The couple portrayed in the photograph, who may now be facing legal repercussions, later expressed that they hadn’t intended for such a backlash, adding that they figured the simulated act would be good for a laugh.
The image may have been inspired by the work of a professional photographer who is responsible for a similar image that recently went viral. According to online sources, he says he’s already had three requests from couples asking to take a similar picture. While the photographer ultimately could have advised against the rather immature pose, there is a good chance that he’ll gain more attention for this one image than he’d have received otherwise.
What do you think? How would you feel as the person who took this picture, knowing your photograph could have ruined the wedding plans of many others? Is this all just tasteless tomfoolery, or a brilliant marketing plan?
EDIT: Weddings have not been banned on the entire island of Rhodes, but rather on the monastery property which the image was taken.
[via Unilad]
Delted by author. Sorry
Apologies for that. I've interpreted "community leader" as a political function and assumed that the photos where taken in a random public area.
It just made my night, my beloved pet was killed by some stray dogs. RIP Tutu and it's just foolishness even though it is simulated, very offensive act wrt. such locations.
I truly can not wait for a couple like this and Michel Klooster to go to the Middle East and do this in front of a Mosque.
Exactly! None would survive!
Why would you like to offend others religion ? Ignorant !
This is not a comment of the "act" they are engaged in, but I'm not really understanding why any wedding couple would want this as a photo memory - who is your audience for this photo, your parents, ex-spouse, your future kids?
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So, only 'Liberals' get Blow Jobs in public? Get over yourself.
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Oh get over yourself. I'm a Brit and looking at the guy he looks about as far from the 'liberal elite' as you can get.
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I had thought this pic was actually taken and distributed by a friend - not the photographer. Sure it's in bad taste, but seriously Greece, calm down. I would think they would want all the tourist dollars they could get.
Really f'ing tacky.
Maybe I'm getting to old. This act is one of selfishness on the part of the man and submissiveness on the part of the woman. Marriage represents love, sharing, and equality. (I'm still a little jealous.)
give and take, man. Maybe that's the part where your age is showing? You've gotta GIVE too.
He's Sharing, and she's just taking a load off of his mind. LOL! There's Humor everywhere!
All these prude religious people all around the world, always feeling humiliated by something natural someone does, just to feel relevant for a single moment of excitement - I'm so bored of this.
It's a question of respect for the place and what it represents. If people aren't on board with that they should choose another venue. If people think that renting the venue gives them carte blanche to ignore that, well, I guess the monastery just cleared up that misconception.
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"Short of a dedication to god ...." HA! Thanks for the laugh, I just spit my coffee all over my keyboard.
It's important for me to know you think it's ok that I'm not into either credulity or superstition.
The time is given to dispelling superstition. There are no elves, faires, ghosts, unicorns or gods. Your voodoo is your own to cherish, may the non-existent gods bless you. Please just don't be spreading it to credulous adults or children.
It's not even a religious question.
No one can do that in any public grounds: forest, national parks, etc... Not allowed. It's called public indecency.
"Sin is geographical." - Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)
Well that's gotta suck :P
Yeah. It's gotta be hard
as long as you can get your hands on the problem.
Yep, you said a mouthful.
Okay guys, that's enough. It's all fun and games until someone gets their eye poked out
It will be a great piece to hang over the fireplace mantle, and it will be a nice conversation starter whenever family or friends come over .
I already thinks it's an embarrassment . It's like mutilation of dignity .
Yeah , I should have put quote marks around great and nice . My bad .
idiotic and stupid
I guess I'm old fashion, because I wouldn't want a photo of my new wife like that. My personal opinion is that this type of image, (especially for a wedding), is demeaning to women and makes the man simply look like an asshat. On the flip side, the lady and man in the photo, likely don't share my opinion, which is fine and I can respect their choice. I do find it tacky in my book...opinions...we all have them.
Oh god - is this the new planking?
It seems!
I'm waiting for the cunnilingus version! I know someone in some place is thinking "how funny! But we are going to do the other way around" :D
i think the one of the guy in the blue suit is a better photo. the first one is like a snapshot. but really, fuck that island. i'm wondering of all the haters who chimed in here, if he was doing it would you still be offended ? probably not. you might think it is in bad taste (ya, i know) but some of us don't, and that's ok. if you don't like it, don't take the pic. if it was me i would do both versions if they wanted. you never know what these couples are into. that is what makes America great. pardon me while i go sing the national anthem.
what, no group photo? the race to the bottom has no end............
Gang Bang Group Photo you mean? :D
People have been posing for "dirty" pictures for years but most photography magazines don't write about it in favor of better stories.
Does the wedding dress make it more interesting to Fstoppers than a cheerleader uniform?
Did those pictures get foreign weddings banned too?
Fstoppers can report on any dirty photo sessions they choose. The choices are endless.
The photo was taken in the courtyard of a monastery, not a church. I think you need to be aware of where you are and respect certain things, whether or not you agree with them (religion - traditions, etc.). Strange thing is that the Greek Church allowd civil ceremonies at this place which is totally opossed to its statutes. I suppose that money allows some deviations from the strict rules of the Orthodox Greek Church, but that was way out of limits...
One day, one drone pilot will have all others banned because of his behaviors... And no church or sex involved. This world getting ridiculous. One stupid act will destroy all the work done by thousand without any trouble