Most readers of Blue Ridge Muse know that I spend a lot of time on the streets of Floyd on Friday nights, capturing the fans who enjoy the music in the warmer months of the year.

I’ve shot thousands of photos and filmed hours of the action on the streets.  I try to capture people have a good time.

A new reader of Muse took me to task this week because a recent set of photos and video spotlighted a young, enthusiastic teenage dancer whose actions on the street delighted fans and musicians but also displayed a little skin for brief seconds, which can happen when some dances in a short skirt.

On the fist pass after editing the video, a found a couple of scenes that, I felt, displayed too much so I deleted then. The final cut, before posted for viewing, was edited closely to avoid anything too revealing. I often edit photos and videos to remove anything that could be considered embarrassing but at least one reader felt that it was not edited tightly enough.

I’ve filmed and photographed her often on Friday night.  She’s a good dancer and has a lot of fun at what she does well.

In the past, others have questioned photos of videos or photos that show young female athletes in tight or revealing attire.  I normally remove — and delete — any images that show any hint of nudity or sexuality.

I have shot photos of nudes — both male and female — for what are considered “artful” for display or for clients.  I do not photography pornography or sexual acts or scenes.

I film and photograph many events in and around Floyd. Interestingly, the videos shot since returning to Floyd in 2004 that generated the most views on Vimeo and YouTube reports a bikini and Daisy Duke contests at Black Bear Harley Davidson:

Were these too much? That, I suppose, depends on your point of view. Both were shot for fun at a public event in Wytheville. Yes, it was spicier than some videos but it was also shows a lot of people, young and old, having a good time. Below is the street dancing video of a couple of weeks ago in downtown Floyd:

I photograph and film people.  It’s what I do.