Curl Up With A Good Model
March 27th, 2009
I worked primarily in black and white for many years, starting when I first worked as a newspaper photographer back in the days when newspapers only published black and white photos. About 15 years ago I found myself becoming more and more interested in color. I shot a lot of color film and was happy when digital came along and gave me back the level of control (and then some) that I had enjoyed with black and white work.
I appreciate good black and white work, but often color is a significant part of the subject matter for my work, so I seldom appreciate the occasional comments suggesting one of my photos would look better in black and white. Those comments tell me that the viewer of the photo doesn’t understand at all what I am trying to do with my work. That’s somewhat my fault, since what I’m trying to do should be apparent to a serious viewer. But often those comments come from people who are clearly not serious viewers, just thoughtless people with an unthinking preference for black and white photos.
Black and white photos are a curious artifact of the early days of the medium. Everyone working to develop the medium of photography was trying to find a way to record the colors of the image. And they succeeded early on. Color photography has been possible almost since the beginning of photography. But it was technically very difficult to make color photos in the early days. So, black and white was a poor substitute for what was desired. And the gray tonal representation of a color scene is a unique artifact of that twist in the science of photography.
But, that’s not to say that black and white photos are not beautiful things. And that sometimes black and white can be a more effective way to communicate an idea through a photo. But I don’t think black and white has any inherent virtue setting it above color photos as art or as communication. It’s just a different thing. A different way to communicate and create.
And sometimes a photo in black and white just works well and looks nice. That’s the case here. I shot this digitally in color. Athena photoshopped it and converted it to black and white for the model, Unbearable Lightness. And this is one case where I don’t mind the switch to black and white. It works and I like the result. So here it is.
And, speaking of beautiful black and white photography, tomorrow I’ll be going to the Akron Art Museum to see the Edward Weston show they have running through April 26. I hear it is an excellent show of prints actually made by Edward Weston. If you’ve never seen a Weston print up close and in person, you really should try to find a time and place to do that. If you are in the Ohio area this show in Akron could give you a good chance. It’s nothing like seeing a photo here on the web…and is really vastly different from seeing a reproduction in a book, even one with excellent reproduction.
Buy This Book
March 25th, 2009
Back to Photography
March 22nd, 2009
OK…that’s enough of politics and legal crap. Back to photography and beautiful nudes. And light. And shadow. Here’s Athena again from the Florida shoot. This was taken in weak, overcast late afternoon light. I liked what the weak sun was doing with the shadows of the balcony railing. I like the way the shadows play over Athena’s lower body. I love the beautiful pose Athena struck. I love the colors and the textures of the wall. It all came together pretty well on this shot. Thanks, Athena!
2257 Rant
March 17th, 2009
I’m mad as hell and I’m going to vent about it. The draconian, unconstitutional provisions of an extremely poorly written law go into effect tomorrow. This law violates my constitutional right to freedom of expression. I take violations of my rights very seriously.
Under The Wire
March 16th, 2009
Coming Home
March 14th, 2009
I’m on my way home from the beach. It’s hard to drive north and watch the temperature drop on the car’s thermometer. It was a great vacation. Lots of fun. But it’s time to go back home. We are stopping to visit relatives in Virginia, then will go on back to the frozen north.
I haven’t had much access to the internet, but I am able to connect now, so I did a quick laptop edit on this shot of Athena from the condo in Florida. It’s nice to have art in the place you are staying, and Athena sure added a beautiful touch to the side table in the dining room.
This is a good example of shooting with available light. Back in my photojournalism days we defined available light as any light that was available to help light the photo. I enjoy working with outdoor natural light, but also finding artificial light that happens to work well for photos. I liked what those two lamps were doing, so I put Athena into the setting.
Lots of work to do when I get home and there will be more posts coming.
Erotic Signature
March 10th, 2009
Steamy
March 4th, 2009
Florida Heat and Light
March 2nd, 2009
Well, it seems I’ve set a new record. This is the longest I’ve gone without a post since I started this blog several years ago. Sorry about that. I’ve been busy.
I just returned from a trip to Florida where I got a break from winter, did some family stuff, and also got in a bit of shooting. It was a great trip, but very busy, and I just didn’t have the time or energy to try to do any blogging while I was away.
But I’m back now, at least for a few days, so I’ll try to make a few more posts when I can. I have a lot of work to get done this week, including photographing a dance concert at Ohio University, and then some more travel coming up, so no promises that you’ll see a lot of new posts in the near future. But I’ll try.
This is Athena clothed in light and shadow in the Florida sun. Obviously the sun isn’t the only source of heat down there.
More From Dirty Detroit
February 18th, 2009
I didn’t take any photos at the Dirty Show itself this year, so here’s another from the motel before we all left for the show. That’s _G_ and blueriverdream reflecting on their situation dimly through a dirty mirror.
It’s a busy time for me, still. I know I keep saying that, but it continues to be true. I’m working on the annual taxes puzzle and I’ve been doing some shooting and I’m trying to catch up on things I’ve promised to people before I take off this weekend for some time in Florida. I’ve had it with winter and I’m looking forward to getting good and warm down south, especially with snow in the forecast again for here in Ohio.
So, my next post will be from a condo in Florida. Now if I can just figure out everything I need to pack and load into the truck…
