Very artistic Boy. I really like it. It is a shot that stirs emotion with the blood and needles and is softened by the satin bows. Great work!

Amazing shot boy. You don't post often enough.

You got my attention.... squeamish.... excellent!

creative.. yet disturbing... clear shots..

Creative and well-shot, but a little too gruesome for my taste.

I like it too!

Something to welcome in 2008, indeed. I am old, this is not at all my style preference, but that being said, the creativity and composition of this photo is excellent and it's emotional and thought provoking. Show us more.

Creative...I think not, if any young kids or young adult view this photo...what do think goes into thier minds...DRUG USE. not cool or creative. All this picture is saying is how colorful and creative drugs are......

Outstanding photograph.

i try to look at the photograph, but the it IS sick and takes away any art.

I for one love the shot for the creative and the photography aspect. Guess what I showed my 15 year old son too! Did he say "Oh I am going to do drugs?" No. He thought it was a good and original shot. Actually his first comment was "That is cool looking. Someone would be nuts to use a needle that big for anything!" I have to agree with Code about all the bleeding hearts in the world. Hey lets go back to raising our kids and telling them what is right and what is wrong. Also be able to discpline them ourselves. I don't shelter my kids from stuff. I do protect them. There is a difference. My sons both know drugs are bad. But the object here isn't the topic it is the photo in general. Like SG said he doesn't like it but it is a good shot. If there are kids on the net they need to be supervised. What happens if we get nude photos on here like we used to have a lot of? Then what? My thought is the shot is way better then a lot of stuff on here including every single shot I have posted myself. This is a great photograph! A lot of thought was put into the set up of this shot. A good photo stirs emotion and this one definately has.

I agree with code and penny on everything (and glad someone got on a soap box). I don't mind the subject matter (after looking at cast molds made from frozen blood and other various disturbing 'body' art in my art history class, nothing can get to me). I think it is provocative, but done well. Beautiful colors, composition and creativity. (and I can name many photographers whose photos are beautiful and studied in art and photo history but their subject matter is questioned and criticized).

Penny's made a point: if you don't like it, move on. I think about blowing my brains out with all the flower shots we get here. I remedy that by not looking at them. And shoot me in the brain if one more person says "There are children on this site...". As Code said, if there are children on this site, then be a parent and monitor what they see. If a parent turns a kid loose online to look at anything they want, then there's a much bigger problem than this photo. I'm an adult. I want to see whatever I choose. And screw me, if you're gonna post, get a friggin' screen name. The one thing I love about Boy's shots (aside from the phenomenal craftsmanship) is that they're a hair twisted, thoughtful and interesting. Nope, they aren't the family at the beach, the cat on the chair or the flower in the pot. Thank God.

I am sorry MsJudi but IMHO if someone is that fragile the internet is no place for them. Or for that matter unsupervised children

Another thing I was thinking about. If there are unsupervised kids on the internet I doubt that Photographica is at the top of thier lists to surf. They can get way more racey stuff way more easily on other sites. Here they have a lot of as Smalls says flower and puppies to look through to find anything bad.

I didn't realize that this was my great great aunt's stomping ground. Never really noticed the parental guidance disclaimer. The photo in question is easily the best photograph posted since I joined a few short months ago. Funny, I never found the urge to jab myself with anything after seeing it. My initial thought was "Good God, why don't I have an imagination like that?!" It takes some nerve to dismiss this as just another bit of offensive psudo-porn. (I'll know offensive when I see it). I'm pretty sure that Boy didn't invent iv drug users, maybe this is just a small report on society as he sees it. A sound bite you might call it. If there is some type of moral police department lurking here that I was never aware of, it's probably time to go.

This shot has a right to be posted, just like all of you good or bad shots do. But it should have come with a warning at least. Awhile back someone posted shots of road kill...they more than likely did it just to get a reaction from all here. But is that not what photography is about in a way? To get a reaction. I know Boys work and he is very talented, he always pushes the edge. It's up to the individual to accept what he or anyone has to say thru their shots. Pictures do mean something and some shots can hurt or do harm, just as well.... they can bring a smile to ones heart.... this does not bring a smile to my heart, and the subject matter ...for me..... over shadows by far the photography quality...I don't like it.

Chef why don't you sign in that way you could have corrected it.

We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance can't hurt. Really cool shot.

I agree with above, the blue signifies death to me. Very creative and thoughtprovoking. And no, we're not that impressionable, but I do think maybe some shots should come with a warning, to keep those who are sensitive happy.

Good comment Charlie. That is a comment coming from a teenager! Chef I guess I do not understand your last comment. The part about the warning....do you mean that is a bad idea? Or are you saying it doesn't work? It isn't a bad idea. But if you are saying it doesn't work. I don't agree. It does work. We have so many new people that have not been around when the dicussion was brought up. I think I remember the last warning discussion being about nudity. This post IMHO does not need a warning. Also once again...Chef why don't you sign in?

Penny, if you read my first comment you would have read that I thought it *should* have come with a warning. So if I thought that, it must mean I also think the warning can work for those who choose to heed it. My seconed comment was to joust with code...he laughed at the use of the warning...saying *"So if there was a warning on this post, it would have been less offensive. Please..."* No...duh! The warning doesn't change the content...of course....but it is a nice thing to do. Or are we just not nice anymore?

I personaly don't think its very good, to vote for it only because it stirs emotion, to me is as bad as not voting for it because of subject matter. You're right. In the future, I'll limit my votes to pictures that are visually pleasing, and mentally dull. Again, you are right: good photography doesn't and shouldn't stimulate the mind.

Well in my opinion, this is an excellent photograph of a meticulously thought out and executed idea. Which is precisely why I voted for it. Not because I knew it would stir the pot.

Don't they usually use tranquilizer guns to inject gorillas?

Only when we're trying to come down, Aaron!