In poor taste.

I enjoy visiting friends in their homes and offices.

It's really a good thing to see people in places where they are most comfortable and where they feel right at home. Whenever they are at home, or at their place of work, or, in just about any familiarly comforting place, you see their best selves emerging. They are often more friendly and relaxed. When in this kind of mood, they are more easy-going, receptive, open, warm and naturally accommodating. And it's really nice to be around people who are in that kind of mood, as opposed to someone who may be tense, uncomfortable or uneasy, just because they are in unfamiliar surroundings.

Which brings us to one point: they tend to unwittingly reveal too much of who they are. Not that I mind, but, being in one's comfort zone, can literally reveal who the person really us. If they are people you like, you will like them no matter what. But if you are in the process of just getting to know them, and deciding whether you like them or not, that can be a bit tricky. One too many, I've been in a situation like that. I love it when people start to open up, to be themselves. It's an honor for me to be given the privilege of allowing me to enter and be a part of their lives. And in the interest of genuine friendship, I just turn a blind to certain harmless and minor things.

Like, at times I begin to discover that someone I'm trying to get to know and to befriend, has poor taste. I've been inside a beautifully, and yes, tastefully and elegantly appointed receiving room. It had a high ceiling and it was bright and airy. Lots of wonderful wood furniture, furnishings, accessories and little touches. But I couldn't help notice one thing that ruined the effect for me: plastic flowers on a Waterford vase. In fairness to this person, I have great respect and admiration for him. He is very successful, and he is admired and respected, and he is even loved, by people in the industry and the public. But, every time I see him, I remember the plastic flowers. It was poor taste.

And then, there was this one time, I was photographing an interior of the house of one of the most prominent political families. The entire house was just amazing. I was so impressed. And I had a great shoot because it was really, truly photogenic. At the end of the shoot, the wife of the politician, perhaps grateful for the long hours we spent working, and the consideration with which we treated their house, each gave us a nice gift. Unwrapped. I got a Louis Vuitton bag. And guess what? It was a fake Louis Vuitton bag. I don't want to seem ungrateful, but, I felt insulted. And you know what came to my mind? This lady has not only unwise political sense for dealing with counterfeits right inside their household and for the bad judgement of giving out fake gifts to people who can afford and who always buy the real thing, but also for the poor taste of a gift.

You know what they say about first impressions: it is lasting. These things happened a long time ago. And yet, I still remember them. And that's telling you something because everyone who knows me will tell you I am quite forgetful. You might think I'm hard on people. I'm not. For a photographer, I typically turn a blind eye when it comes to people I personally know. I'm very forgiving, because for all you know, I also have my own misgivings in need of forgiving. And believe me, I have a lot of them, actually.

Poor taste. Bad taste. I just seem unable to kick them into the trash can of forgetful oblivion. I really want to forget all about it. But I just couldn't.

And that brings me to my number one subject matter: Reproductions. I love Mona Lisa. I am a great fan of Leonardo da Vinci. I'm also a fan of Rembrant, Matisse, Picasso, Warhol. But every time I see a framed reproduction of their works in homes and offices hanging in fake gold-painted frames, I want to puke. Yes, their works are truly magnificent and deserves to be looked upon with admiration. But for reproductions of their works to be hanged in places of honor in our homes and offices, I find it utterly distasteful. For all intents and purposes, reproductions of artworks are fakes. If they are treated as poster prints and hanged as such, I'd be happy to see them. But to entomb them in pseudo-gilded frames, that's just too much.

Nowadays, it's easy to own an original work of art instead of fakes and reproductions. And it's even affordable. And you know what, it supports real artists and great modern art movement. What I don't understand is why do most people seem to prefer fakes and reproductions over originals? Poor taste. Bad taste. That's what it is. The owners of the huge and big houses who don't know any better have poor and bad taste. The interior decorators and designers they hire have poor and bad taste. Tell me, what other reason or justification there is to something like this.

It's so sad that most people fancy that they know what art is. And yet, the reality is, all they have is: poor taste, bad taste.

But all hope is not lost.

I'm pleasantly surprised and very delighted every time I visit homes and offices that displays good taste. Like a law office that had original framed black-and-white photographs of flowers in silver gelatin prints lining up the corridor. With a simple black unassuming frame with white mat, the photographs are a delight to behold. They are beautiful. And they are originals. And yes, the choice of the subject, the framing, the display -- it was oozing with good taste. In a bachelor's pad I visited one time, I excused myself to the bathroom. Guess what I saw hanging on the wall: a series of original black-and-white framed prints of a male nude. I stood there, inside the bathroom, for a long time. I couldn't believe my eyes! These were original fine art photo prints hanging on the wall. And did I mention that because they are original photo prints, in limited edition, and signed by the photographers, they appreciate in value? The price of these works increase over time. Isn't that a great investment? Do you think framed reproductions will appreciate in value over time? No. You know what people do with reproductions? They throw them in trash. Because that's what they are: trash. The fakes and reproductions you reverently hang and proudly show off to guests and visitors have zero value. It's time to re-educate ourselves about investing in fine art. Right now, you can easily start by acquiring original fine art photographic prints. Throw away all the fakes. And to switch to originals. It's time you develop and cultivate authentic good taste. Click here to begin.

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