Down on the farm
July 23rd, 2007
Gaea at Lake Cumberland
July 20th, 2007
I think I’ve managed to set a new record for not putting up a new post here. Sorry about that. I just got back last night from to photo trip to Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and Horseshoe Lake in Illinois. I haven’t had time to look through the photos yet, but took a quick glance at the Cumberland shots to make sure they had downloaded without problems and happened to see this one, so I thought I’d share it today.
Erotica?
July 14th, 2007
I don’t think my work fits into the category of “erotica” but I’m not a big fan of categories anyway. I often find myself included in group shows that emphasize the erotic. So I end up being the most “conservative” photographer in the show. I don’t have a problem with that. It’s a change from being the most “erotic” artist in a group show when I’m the only one showing figure photography.
Anyway, I keep getting asked to participate in these group shows like the one coming up in Detroit in a couple weeks. Sometimes I hesitate a bit. When I was invited to join this group the name of the organization gave me pause. But I saw that there are a lot of very fine photographers in the Midwest Society of Erotic Photographers, so I went ahead and let them add me to the membership. I do make my photos with the idea of having them be seen, and this provides just one more venue for that to happen. It’s just that the erotic is not something I’m particularly interested in as far as my photography is concerned. Sensual, yes. Beautiful, I hope so. But erotic, not so much. So I guess I’m just a change of pace when I’m in a show like this one.
So, that’s the flyer for the show that’s coming up in Detroit. I do like that photo, and it does seem to be erotic. The photos I’ll be showing there are not erotic, at least as far as I’m concerned. But they do have beautiful nude models in them. I guess that’s all it takes to be erotic for some folks. And that’s fine with me.
I’ll be there at the opening with my wife and I’d love to meet any of my blog readers who may be in the Detroit area. So I hope to see you there on July 28th.
The Waterfall
July 10th, 2007
Here’s a wider view of that wonderful waterfall in West Virginia.
Sorry posts aren’t coming more frequently, but it’s just a busy time right now. I’m still working on editing my last month and a half worth of shoots, but I’m also doing family things, getting prints matted and framed for a gallery show in Detroit at the end of the month, and, of course, I’m still doing shoots. Next week I’ll be off on another shoot for most of the week. After that my good friend from NYC, Dave Rudin, will be visiting and shooting here in Ohio for several days. So blog posts will happen as time allows.
There has been a discussion on a forum about how photographers decide what models they want to shoot. My take on that may be a bit different from some other photographers. I’ve never been much interested in what I call the “notch on the camera strap” practice of some who seem to want to shoot as many models as possible. I’m much more interested in finding a few models who really understand what I’m doing and want to be part of it. I like to work with the same model many times. It is a great help if we become friends during that process. Gaea is a great example of the kind of person I enjoy having model for me. That’s why you see her on here frequently and will be seeing her again many times, I hope.
Here’s my response in that forum thread:
“No offense to the wonderful models who make my work possible, but models are pretty much interchangeable in most of my work. I’m looking for a nude figure to add to the composition. Pretty much any reasonably attractive figure will do, within a wide range of body types/shapes.
“So, I’m looking first for someone who gets what I’m doing and wants to be part of it. Experience as a figure model helps. Other experience can be just as good. Dancers are wonderful. Often it is difficult for me to give detailed directions on posing (just try making yourself heard over a waterfall from 50 feet away), so it helps a lot if they can pose with just general direction and I don’t have to worry about what they are doing with their ankles and wrists, for example. They have to be willing to get cold and wet and dirty, get poked and stuck and bitten by various forms of nature and, of course, take the risks inherent in getting nude in somewhat public places.
“Once we get past that, I’m only willing to work with people who I enjoy being around. I’ve shot some models who were beautiful and/or very good at posing but a total pain in the ass to be around. I don’t work with them again. I often go on multi-day shoots in wilderness areas, so the model has to be someone I can get along with…preferably someone I’d call a friend.”
More from West Virginia
July 5th, 2007
Another from last month’s shoot in West Virginia. It was cold and wet and wonderful. I’m slowly starting to work my way through the last month’s shoots and will post them as I go. I made a little progress today, but tomorrow I’ll end up further behind because I’ll be doing another shoot instead of working on the old ones. Maybe next week I’ll make more headway. When I do you’ll see them here.
Happy Fourth of July
July 2nd, 2007
First Look
June 29th, 2007
Fall Colors
June 26th, 2007
Here’s Gaea adding her own unique color to the fall colors of Kentucky. This was shot a few years ago, the first time I worked with Gaea. She now lives near my studio and I’ve been working with her quite a bit lately. And her hair is no longer purple. If I ever get caught up on other stuff and get to do some editing there will be some new, more recent, photos of Gaea here. She’s worth the wait.
Still swamped
June 24th, 2007
I’m still way to busy to be spending much time on blog posts. One photo show is this Thursday. I have to get that ready tomorrow. Today I’m still working on editing my last magazine assignment, plus another order from the magazine that has come in the mean time. Seems like I’m getting further and further behind.
I have several figure shoots from the past few weeks to edit. When I finally get to that there will be some new photos here. And I have another figure shoot coming up this week.
So for now I’ll share this older photo of the lovely Amber. Amber now lives in Florida, but I have some hope that I’ll get to work with her again sometime when I’m down that way. She’s a fine model.
Wave
June 20th, 2007
Sorry about all that, but that’s why you aren’t seeing posts here every day.
