"To sleep, perchance to dream..."

As promised a couple weeks ago, here are a few shots of Charity (aka Sleep to Dream) from our recent hotel shoot. It was prompted by her "Seven Deadly Sins" project, for which she invited me to help her with "Sloth." Her concept was simply to be sleeping, surrounded by her menagerie of stuffed animals. We also expanded upon that a bit with the addition of the cobwebs and the ethereal effect of the LensBaby to give it a little more of a goth Sleeping Beauty quality.

There's kind of a humorous story that goes with this shoot, basically involving what the hotel valet and desk clerk must have presumed when I was visited by this beautiful woman carrying her large leopard-print satchel, and saying she'd only be staying an hour or so... but I'm not sure I can tell it concisely enough to make it funny, so maybe it's best left to your individual imaginations.

Expressions

Here are some more shots of Kaleidescope Eyes from last fall. After shooting the middle image, I mentioned that her expression was very sad, and she countered by asking if every nude shot had to have a seductive expression or the detached "model face." Of course, she was right, and it was obvious. When done right, going beyond those standard expressions can push the image from "art nude" into "portrait" because it adds a more personal dimension to the photo. So, when the time is right and the model is right, I try to capture a wider array of expressions, including sad and angry and happy and, like in the last shot here, mischievious. Hardly groundbreaking, but it's something I try to keep in mind when looking into the eyes of a subject.

The Great Outdoors

I have sort of a "love-hate" relationship with the outdoors, especially when it comes to photography. While I love the look of outdoor nudes, and the wide variety of settings and lighting situations that present themselves, I'm not wild about actually getting there. Maybe it's my suburban upbringing or some bad camp experiences as a kid, but I've never had much of an affinity for the outdoors. Between getting near the location, hauling gear to the actual location, the risk of passersby causing problems, and a reluctance to ask a model to do any tricky climbing or get dirty or wet (especially miles away from a shower), I've done a pretty small number of outdoor shoots. Water presents additional problems, because it's hard to tell just how polluted a stream or pond is, or what's under the surface. That, and just knowing WHERE to go. State parks can be an option, except there's usually hikers and such about. Or I suppose I could just drive to an empty spot on the map and just look for woods or a stream and hike to a secluded spot somewhere in the middle. Or ask around...

Dave Levingston is an expert on this, and seems to have a knack for finding amazing locations anyplace he travels to. Maybe I should pick his brain a bit now and do a little location scouting, before the weather warms up and spring is here again.

Here's Nia outstretched at a location she suggested, on a decidedly warmer day. Sadly, when we got to the location, the water was so filthy that there was no way for her to get in, so we had to stick to the dry land.

P.S. Blogger has been on the fritz a bit lately, so apologies if you've tried to visit and nothing was here. I think it's part of their effort to get everyone to "upgrade" to their new system. I'm dreading that move, but I guess I'll have to do it before long.

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Can't believe I almost let the day pass by without a salute to the King. I love some of his music, like a lot of it, and a lot of it is just crap, but as an icon, he's hard to beat. If it weren't for Col. Tom wringing every possible egg out of his golden goose, Elvis might still be with us today. Who knows, maybe the best thing for his legacy would have been to retire right after the '68 Comeback.

Even though I was never a rabid fan, for a while, people would always get me tacky Elvis souvenirs for birthday and Christmas gifts, I think because I once bought a tacky Elvis head lamp at a garage sale. One January 8th, I arrived at my desk and a couple co-workers had put up a big black velvet tapestry of "Vegas Elvis" -- the kind sold from mini-vans parked at abandoned gas stations -- and they had made a tape loop of the trumpet fanfare that would open his shows, and there was even a paper plate with a couple fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches wrapped in cellophane. Part of me wanted to protest -- "hey, you got the wrong guy! I'm not THAT into Elvis." But really, I was thankful that they thought enough of me to go to all the effort. Maybe that's why I like to remember his birthday every year. That, and the line from the wildly underrated movie D.C. Cab in which Gary Busey's character Dell declares "I don't work on January the eighth... cause that's Elvis' birthday."

Well, thank you, thank you very much...

The Return of Dirty Thoughts

Just a word to say that two of my entries have been accepted to the upcoming (heh, heh) Dirty Show 8, to be held Feb 9-11 plus the 14th in downtown Detroit. I had two pieces in the Dirty Show 7.5 back in September, but the February show is the really big deal. Some of the talented folks I know (and some I've just recently met) will have pieces in the show, too, and word is that a lot of national and international big shots have been invited to submit work, so who knows who I could be hanging next to?

Now I have to get busy and get the hanging pieces framed and sent up there, plus get prints ready for the museum store, and figure out the logistics of attending the show. As luck would have it, the show is the same weekend as the next Collingwood group shoot AND Boyd's Fetish Ball, which I think would be fun to document, even though I'll probably be the only guy there in plaid flannel.

I think I'll wait until afterwards to post the shots that will be in the show, just to add a little bit of suspense to the proceedings. Hope to see you there!

The Big 5-0

Hit a nice little benchmark over the weekend... This image of Nikki received a Showcase on her OMP portfolio, bringing my combined total up to 50*. Thanks again, Nikki!

I gave my little treatise on the Showcase topic a few days ago, but since people like round numbers, 50 seemed like a good one to take note of. This blog is as much a journal for my own recollection as it is a way to present work to the public, so readers, I hope you'll grant me this little indulgence.

*51 if you count one that was recently deleted when a model downgraded her account. ;)

Two of a kind...

Another pair from the Collingwood shoot, this time Madalynn and Scarlett. They wanted to act out a little scene including booze, cards, guns, and butts. (Don't worry Ohio residents... she didn't actually light the cigarette.) Time was tight, so didn't have time for a wardrobe change, but I grabbed a few shots of just the two of them.

Funny how you can usually tell whether or not two models are friends or not in this kind of shot... their ease with one another is pretty evident to me.

Group Shoot Goodies

Some people have asked me if it's possible to get good images in a group shoot setting, and while it does present some challenges, it also offers a number of opportunities. Both these images are of the vivacious, curvaceous JJ Plush, done at the last Collingwood group shoot. The top pair was shot using my "portable box" -- where I set up a backdrop, a privacy curtain, and one or two studio lights. Shooting nudes out in the open is discouraged there (not to mention uncomfortable for some models), so this set-up allows me to do studio-style art nudes with the various models who are available at the event, but for whom it's not so easy to make a trip down to my studio to shoot.

The second shot illustrates the advantages of shooting at the Collingwood location... there are many beautiful architectural details and settings in the building, combined with a lot of rustic, weathered brick and stone, hardwood floors, and a variety of other goodies. This shot of JJ is in an area that's slightly "out of bounds" for shooting, but the light and details were so nice, I couldn't resist stealing a few quick frames.

From my experience, not many group shoots offer such interesting locales, but I think more organizers are keeping this in mind when setting up group events. I've written before about the "batting practice" type group shoots, which I still feel are of limited worth, but as long as the structure is that models and photographers can pair off and explore various places to shoot at the location, a group shoot can be a good way to get to work with new people, and can lead to a very productive day.

My take on Showcases

Here are three more images that received Showcases on the models' OMP portfolios in the past couple days. Thanks to the exotic Kristina (above and in yellow), and Brit - the ultimate "girl next door" - for being such wonderful models.

When I get an image Showcase on OMP, I mention it here because it is "news" of a sort -- a recognition of my work that I want to share, and they're also nice milestones for me as I follow my path. I realize a Showcase is not a Pulitzer Prize, it's not a feature in B&W Magazine, and 500 Showcases and two bucks still won't buy a gallon of gasoline. But as I discussed in my last post, it's a compliment. It's someone at OMP taking a moment to say "in my opinion, this image deserves a closer look." That someone looks at hundreds (thousands?) of images a day, and when an image breaks through the clutter, they take note. It may be that the model looks particularly good, or something about the execution stands out, or that particular someone has a thing for busty redheads or slim blondes. But every form of recognition has its own set of criteria, and by nature, artistic recognition is largely subjective and personal (and potentially influenced by interpersonal politics) -- whether it's someone leaving a comment on a blog, or an editor at ArtForum Magazine, or someone purchasing a print. Ultimately, the process is human -- flawed and imperfect, but it is what it is.

I also recognize that OMP is a business, and that informs their choices, too. They showcase images they believe will help attract new members, and to help photographers attract interest from models and vice versa, in an effort to make them feel they're getting value for being a member. It is far easier for me to book models now than a year ago, primarily because my work is improving, but I think the various Showcases do add a certain appeal.

I don't agree with their choices 100% of the time -- the images they DON'T choose as well as images they do -- but overall, I'd say the gallery of showcase images on any given day is a pretty impressive selection of work. So, I'll continue to do the best work I know how to do, include my favorite shots in my OMP portfolio, and if they get a Showcase, great. If not, my portfolio still has a batch of my favorite shots, which is what it's all about anyway, right?

This just in... Two more Showcases have popped up from Sativa's portfolio, including a shot with Nikki sportin' the other pair of boots. This was such a fun shoot! Thanks Sativa and Nikki!

Common Taters

Once again, here's the amazing Mandy. She posted this photo over on her Deviant Art page, along with a few others of mine. She was even bold enough to post one racy image meant for The Dirty Show that I've been undecided about posting here. I was a little surprised at the number of comments she's received over there, and just how complimentary they are. Dozens of people have tagged the images as "favorites" too. Obviously, she merits heaps of compliments, but in general people don't always take the time to do so. Way to go, Mandy.

The "currency" of most portfolio websites is the comment. A photographer or model posts an image, and members of the site can leave comments, which are almost always praise for the image and the people involved. Image commenting is pretty universal, from the more "serious" work on Deviant Art and Model Mayhem, to MySpace and Flickr, which run the gamut from cameraphone snapshots to fine art.

Some might maintain that these sorts of compliments are irrelevant to a true artist, but deep down, I believe every artist wants to be seen and appreciated. I enjoy receiving comments and compliments on my work, and knowing that it's being seen by people looking for quality. Making art is its own reward, but there is tremendous satisfaction in finding an audience to share with, and in knowing a shot has prompted someone to at least take the time to post a comment.

Under the Influence

Well, it only took 5 years... or 15 years, depending how you count, but the second season of David Lynch's groundbreaking TV series Twin Peaks is finally coming out on DVD in April. I don't normally use this blog to comment on stuff like this, but I think it merits a few words just because the show did have a pretty big influence on me. Growing up in conservative Ohio, my sensibilities of beauty and sex had been largely formed by mainstream sources such as Playboy and even the Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated. Even though I was late to the party, Lynch's Twin Peaks (as well as Blue Velvet) came along and let me in on some new ideas of art, beauty, and the (slightly) darker side of sexuality. In some ways it's a bit tame by today's standards, but at the time, it was pretty bold stuff. The influence shows up clearly in my work from time to time (like the shot of Teddie, below) but it's always there under the surface. Looking forward to taking a trip back to the White Lodge.

Did someone say Sarah Ellis?

Soon, I'll have the privilege of working again with the amazing Sarah Ellis, so watch for more of her here before long. Yes, I'm bragging a bit. And yes, I was looking for an excuse to put up a couple more nude shots of Sarah from our first shoot. So sue me.

Banned!

Well, maybe not "banned!" but this shot was deemed "inappropriate" by the folks at OneModelPlace. Apparently we're seeing just a little too much of Mandy in this image for their comfort. Or maybe it's the aggressive pose. Either way, the site wouldn't let me do anything further until I removed this image... so, I present it here and will let you decide if it's inappropriate or not. Obviously, it's their site and they're allowed to set their own standards for what's fit to be included or not, so I'm not complaining. Just observing and presenting.

Oh, and thanks Mandy!

Win some, lose some...

Got a couple more showcases on OMP with images on Iris's portfolio, which is gratifying as always. She's been posting a lot of outstanding images lately -- apparently the photographers from her recent flurry of activity are catching up and getting work to her. As Andi observed, "she's so rockstar."

So, the gains were a little bit offset by the loss of one showcase on Mandy's portfolio when she downgraded to the free membership... she's going to focus her energies more on her website, MandyFigureModel.com, so be sure to check it out.

But maybe this is a good transition for me to the next level of "photographer cool" -- where one deletes showcased images because the recognition is irrelevant. Sort of a variation on the Zen koan of "if you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!" -- "if you post an image and it showcases, delete it!" I'll keep y'all posted on my progress towards Zen mastery.

At a Christmas gift exchange, someone received the The Zen Calendar, to which I commented "wouldn't a true Zen calendar just be blank pages?" but the recipient one-upped me: "No, on a true Zen calendar, every page would just say 'NOW!' "

"...and the Fluffy goes to..."

I must say I'm extremely gratified to have received two mentions on the excellent UK photo blog Fluffytek in their "2006 Fluffy Nude Photographic Awards" post. Not to be confused with Fuzzytek (an excellent photographer in Detroit), Fluffytek is an art nude blog run by photographer Richard Bang and his model/collaborator/wife Lin. They've been mutually linked here almost since I started I&E in June, and I always enjoy seeing their work and reading their philosophical take on matters of art and photography and modeling and such. Do check them out if you haven't already.

They selected my little blog here for their Award for Best Fine-Art Nude Blog, and the above image of the amazing Mandy was Richard's pick for Best Blog Image of the Year. It's great to be recognized alongside such outstanding photographers/bloggers as Don Nelson's Hotel Room Nudes, Nad Iksodas, Feminism Without Clothes, Iris Dassault, Pretty Girl Shooter, Magic Flute Nudes, Sascha Hüttenhain, and Marcus Ranum. I'm already making room on my mantlepiece for my Fluffy Award trophies. Thanks Lin and Richard for the recognition, and all your support and encouragement.