I think it's a very self-indulgent portrait - nothing wrong with that at all.

I've thought quite a lot about this picture and how it was received. It sure shows how divergent we are when (to some) a gun either means you are associated with violence, a fetish, or work in law-enforcement.

Although I'm not one of them, I know quite a few folks who instead of spending Saturdays playing/watching ball, they spend it in a day of competition at the gun range. They are folks in the community: business owners, doctors, tradesmen, men and women of all descriptions.

I fail to see how this composition is a symbol of sexual orientation and really find that a strange comment to leave.

I'd like to know the story also. I would hazard a guess that Dennis loves firearm competition and this describes his past-time (I see an accessory pack on his side).

So for me, it works exceptionally well.

Plenty of interest in this photo so let me share some background with you. I'll begin with how my sister and one of my closest friends reacted to the photo - since they have the context of knowing me and my personality whereas viewers here at WeeklyShot had only the photo.

One of my very best friends, a sweet lady (who incidentally is an early retiree from the CIA) and someone I go shooting with quite often, stated that her immediate reaction was to laugh - but that she was simultaneously impressed. Quite frankly, that's what I would have expected from those who know me. The reason is that I am sooo NOT intimidating in person and this particular intimidating expression and pose took a good deal of acting on my part. Every time I look at the image I'm still surprised that I managed to look as intimidating as I seem to.

Likewise, my sister stared at it for a few seconds before a goofy, slightly mischievous smile appeared across her face. She was surprised that I had managed this shot also.

On the subject of guns: Not only do I live in the U.S., but I live in Montana where guns are culturally very normal. I grew up around guns and have great memories of target shooting with my dad. And as Mark intimated, my very first experience with guns was shooting in competition. I still target shoot regularly with a large group of friends; I've trained with private instructors (usually with groups of friends) and federal firearms instructors. I have friends who continue to shoot in competition, and I've still never dated a gal who wasn't a better shot than me.

It would be hard for me to believe that there is a single member of WeeklyShot who is not Internet savvy and is not exposed to cultural differences around the world every day. I knew when I posted this photo that it was culturally specific to where I live. I expected viewers to be mature enough to understand that and to be able to view the photo as an attempt at producing quality photography and to leave comments accordingly - in the spirit of the WeeklyShot philosophy of users providing open, honest, and respectful critiques - and not to level insults. The majority of you did so and I thank you.

Some specific responses follow:

To earnshavian: Thanks for the compliment regarding the execution of the photo. I thought about the "cheese" factor and concluded that there was just no way to entirely eliminate it. There is definitely a bit of cheesiness to the photo - but well-executed. ;-)

To jmeagher: I did reduce a lot of the contrast in the image in the conversion to b&w. I then added a very mild brownish tone and used curves to return some of the contrast. I debated how much to add and agree that I was probably a bit too conservative.

To tommyblue: I actually had a remote. :-)

To zorilla: I'll try to use a more current object next time. I'm always the last to know . . . ;-)

And to everyone else, thank you for your kind and constructive comments!

Thanks because I was left a bit confused about what you were trying to say as a self portrait as it seemed so at odds with the yellowstone walking majestic vistas self I so appreciate, and was actually going to email you a 'hey what's the deal?' Thanks.

after reading the above,
i guess my question is:
if you are not intimidating
and don't perceive yourself to be
then why is this a self portrait?
it might be a successful photograph
it might make a statement
but is it you?

To Cool Daddio: You're welcome for the explanation. I am very much the yellowstone-walking-majestic-vistas-self. :-)

To neene: You comment that it might be a successful photograph and then ask "but is it me?" Well, "photographer" is a great deal of who I am right now and I have produced a successful photograph (which is a kind thing for you to say). So yes, it is me. I am happy with the photograph and it was not an easy one to capture. No self-portrait can capture all of who you are, and I have captured only a very small part of me. But it is a self-portrait nonetheless. How could it not be? ;-)
And I still look at it and laugh . . .

It's not the gun that's the problem. It's the angle. You say you're from Montana. OK, you come from a gun culture. You see guns every day, but how often have you looked down the barrel of the gun.

By presenting us with an image of the barrel of the gun you lose the ability to hide behind your lame old 2nd Amendment rights.

Of course I don't believe you are an inherently violent man who goes around waving guns in people's faces, but I do believe that your desire to act out this kind of gun fantasy could well reflect an inner turmoil with your sexual identity.

Fair enough zorilla. I didn't expect that not a single person would take offense at the angle of the gun. We'll get nowhere attempting to discuss the 2nd Amendment on a photo site - and would probably get nowhere if we discussed it in person. I fully expect that you knew I would take offense at the word "lame" with regard to our rights - and I do.

Regarding the whole sexual thing, which I think it kind of weird, I acquiesce that upon publication of this image I have completely left its meaning to the divinatory genius of your interpretation.

Despite my "Or is it a macho statement, that that is how you perceive yourself...." I think the two comments regarding someones sexual orientation/ identity because they chose to use a gun in an image is a little wierd.

Using a gun in an image is always going to stir some peoples feelings, more often than not because they hate them (I do and don't understand their need in civilised society at all, but that's just me) but I hardly think that weeklyshot is the place to be throwing around statements like "but I do believe that your desire to act out this kind of gun fantasy could well reflect an inner turmoil with your sexual identity."

Maybe you have problems with guns but attacking the person in this way is, I feel, plain rude.

Really, what point does such a statement have in improving peoples photographic skills or help foster a feeling of community amongst weeklyshot users.

LB: The first time I saw the 2nd Amendment I thought it was a wonderful idea, then I realized I'd read it wrong. Apparently it's not the right to arm bears ;-)

Phototext: I'm sorry, but anybody that points a gun at someone else is performing an identical ritual to a scared monkey that tries to intimidate a potential enemy with a genital display.

This image has to be the singlemost powerful post for this theme. I was shocked when I first saw it. I was flabbergasted when I saw who it was. I would be lying if I was to say it had no effect on my opinion of the photographer because it most definitely has. I do not care for guns one bit. I wish we lived in a world where people did not like guns so much and feel it was their inalienable right to own and carry them.

But owning a gun or even advocating the right to own a gun is not the issue. The issue for me is this. Why did you choose to use an image of yourself pointing your weapon at your viewer? I won't go the route that zorilla did (inappropriate in so many ways, imo) but I am concerned that it does reflect an inner desire to be that person.

Intimidating expression. No, I don't think so Dennis. It is the gun that makes it intimidating, not the look on your face. Take the gun away and you just look angry.

I did not like looking down the barrel of your weapon when I first saw the picture. I don't like any better now. Had it been a picture of you firing the gun, that would be ok. But pointing it a person (via your camera) says something about you that I really did not like one bit. Certainly in all of your weapon training you must have been taught to NEVER point a gun at a person.