So long and thanks for all the fish...

I have been totally overwhelmed by the response to yesterday's post. It has had 1255 views in less that 24 hours so the issues raised obviously touch a nerve for many of you. Thanks for the very many messages of support which have been received both publicly and privately. They highlight what I have enjoyed so much in this community and that there are many wonderful people here. I have learned so much from you.

A lot of you have asked me to stay but I do not feel that I can. All of the discussion and links can be seen in yesterday's blip and in sleepyduck's blip for today, as well as in comments on the blip preceding that. At major milestones it is customary to thank blipcentral but I hope you can forgive my omitting that on this occasion. Anyone who wishes to remain in contact with me or view my photos can find my email address and Flickr link in my profile.

It is a very sad day. Sleepyduck and I went for a walk, as is our custom on a Saturday. He did not even bring his camera. That has never happened since we joined blip and rarely in the almost four years we have been together.

I would like to leave you with an observation and a couple of thoughts. I noticed that there were few public messages of support from UK men among the comments that sleepyduck and I have received in the last two days. Why might that be? I suspect that it may be difficult for men to speak out and say that they did not find the images offensive when they see the criticisms levelled at sleepyduck. Indeed, it was hard for him to defend himself. He did not ask me to say anything or expect me to leave but I felt that it was important to do so.

Much of the discussion has centred around the ethics of taking shots of people without consent. Below is a list of a few of the greats in the history of photography whose iconic images would have been censored if this were applied to them.

Diane Arbus
Joseph McKenzie
Garry Winogrand
William Klein
Cartier Bresson
Weegee
Robert Frank

If you have a favourite photographer who takes candid shots where the subject has not consented then please write their name below.

Thanks again for all you have taught me and all the kindness and affection you have shown me.