An Interesting Session of Portraits

Note that some images in the post and video link below might be considered Not Safe For Work (NSFW).

On Friday, August 28, I had the pleasure of doing my second session with Deanna Deadly. She is a wonderfully versatile model and performer. Prior to the session I told her that I wanted to try to do three things, natural light portraits with minimal makeup, additions to the black dress series, and some photographs with distressed makeup.

We began making photographs and worked through the first two concepts. These were fairly basic and ideas I had done with many others, well within our comfort zones. I had her do some more extreme, artistic makeup and made some photographs in that then asked her to change it so it looked messy. It wasn't easy getting it to look right but I feel she figured it out well. We again started to make pictures using light and lenses that distorted her face further and with some incredible goth music playing. Her performance abilities kicked in and she displayed very dark and strong emotions. Some of it could have been quite frightening if we weren't having so much fun creating this mood. It was somewhat uncomfortable making and editing this series. I wasn't sure that I should even share the work, that people might misunderstand the intent and what we were trying to create. I realize that I had to show these and hope it leads to some useful discussion.

Part of the reason I decided to share this was a video posted on the Maine Media Workshops' Vimeo page. The interview with Connie Imboden, the amazing instructor from the first Maine Media class I attended in 2013, contains some discussion about her fantastic work and the dark mood in many recent photographs. It is worth watching to hear her thoughts on creativity and intuitive seeing.

To see all of the photographs above, click on the right or left side of the displayed image and it will scroll.

Another Summer Class at the Maine Media Workshops

For the third year, I participated in a class at the Maine Media Workshops, in Rockport, Maine. This year's session was "The Portrait as Doorway to Creativity" with Sean Kernan. He came to photography from the theater and uses many interesting exercises to open creativity and interpersonal skills.

We had the opportunity to photograph fellow students, professional models, and a stranger of our choosing. The above image is of Michaela, the Sous Chef in the campus kitchen, my "stranger". She has a wonderful story and I feel thrilled to have had the opportunity to be the first this summer to photograph her. The ten of us in the class worked well together and were open and honest on comments on the work we produced. 

Since back I've been continuing my study of portraiture, something I hope to do even more.

To see all of the photographs above, click on the right or left side of the displayed image and it will scroll.

Upcoming Exhibits

I have had the honor of having a few photographs accepted into two local area exhibits.

Hanging now through November 14 in the Transformations Gallery at the Old Franklin School in Metuchen is Inspirational Women in History. This exhibit is an interesting mix of media and styles with images of women who inspire each artist. Each of us included a statement about our work and subjects. There will be a reception on October 11, 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

On view from August 27 through September 15 at the Barron Arts Center in Woodbridge is The Figure, A Look at our Ever Varied Humanity. This exhibit shows work by a variety of artists, again in many media, of the human figure. The reception will be August 27 from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm.

Bushwick Art Crit Group

There is an amazing event that occurs the third Wednesday of most months (not August, 2015 for example) in Bushwick, Brooklyn. The Bushwick Art Crit Group, founded by a Bushwick based artist Christopher Stout, provides a place for artists of any medium to present and discuss a sample of their work. At each session up to seven participants get nine minutes each to show as many as ten images, projected on a screen. Each can talk about these in any way they wish and the audience can ask questions or offer their thoughts, all within the time limit. I have been attending these sessions for well over a year and always enjoy the presentations.

I was honored to be able to present a selection of my Body Abstractions this past Wednesday, July 22, 2015. I have updated that folder on this site with the ten photographs I showed. I began by introducing my background as a photographer and my recent formal education. I talked about my working method and that the images, although abstract, were straight photographs of actual elements of bodies of nine different women. I mentioned that these were lighted as seen, photographed digitally, converted to B&W, and adjusted only in levels. I did point out that occasionally a set element or light would be visible and that I would remove those, but the forms themselves was not retouched.

One question came up about this photograph and what the body element is. I discussed if knowing was really important. I asked if these were abstract paintings would the subject be important? The consensus was that it would not be. I got much positive feedback and interest in the future for the project, which will continue with additional studio and outdoor sessions. In the end, this was a fabulous opportunity and one I am pleased I did.

Portraits

Portraits are, in and of themselves, a unique art form. Prior to the mid-1800's, when the photographic portrait became practical, they had to be painted. Multiple, long sessions were required, with the subject sitting still, to capture their likeness. Although photography made the process easier and shorter, quality portraiture is still not easy to achieve. 

I have done some portrait sessions and don't feel that they resulted in my best work. As part of my art photography, I will do some portraiture of the models I hire. Recently, a couple of these really excited me.

In March, Erica Jay was the model for a portrait lighting session I did for some of the members of the St. Veronica's Guild, a photography group that meets at Metuchen's St. Luke's Church. Prior to that we did a private session that resulted in a portrait I submitted to a group project on Facebook. At the Metuchen Junebug ArtFest last night, a woman walked by and told me she was able to feel the emotion Erica put forth. I was a bit surprised and pleased that this image could bring out that kind of feeling.

This next one, of Inna, was made near the end of another private session. She had been traveling and worked with me before heading home. The clothing had been worn as part of my Black Dress series. I had her pose on this sofa and, as I usually do, used my one Westcott Ice Light, to illuminate her. When I processed this I was immediately drawn in, again to the feeling of the moment.

One final note, there is much software advertised that will "improve" portraits. I'm not a fan of retouching, and certainly not skin smoothing. I'm not saying these don't have a place, but I limit my retouching to temporary elements like scratches and other temporary blemishes. Anything permanent, stays!

I'll be back on the sidewalk for Junebug again on June 26 and will be wandering around photographing the events of the evenings on June 1 and 19.

Summer is Here!

After a crazy winter, and a fairly short spring, summer seems to have arrived in the Northeast. This, of course, happens just as the annual Metuchen Junebug ArtFest approaches. This year I am still volunteering on the committee but am not organizing the visual artists, as in the past. On two of the weeks, June 5 and June 26, I'll be set up in front of Casablanca-Headliners at 465 Main Street. I'll have some of my abstracts and photographs of the trees along Main Street from April for sale. I'll also have some portraits and images of women in black dresses as in the folder I just added here. On the other two nights I'll be wandering the event making photographs for the group.

On July 22, postponed from the original June date and corrected from the normal third Wednesday, I will be showing some of the abstractions at the monthly Bushwick Art Crit Group session. I am very excited to have been invited to present to this group. I'll be posting a Facebook save-the-date event soon.

I look forward to seeing many of you out at these and the many more events coming up.

Exciting Times

For the first time since I started photographing models in 2008 I traveled specifically to create photographs. I have traveled to take classes where I photographed, but this was just for the pleasure of image making.

A DC based Meetup group organized an event in Phoenix, Arizona on the first of March. I flew out a day early and did some work along hiking trails about an hour east of the city with a model friend who was also participating in the event. Neither of us had even photographed with cacti before which added a fun element to the adventure.

The event was the next day at a location being built for corporate retreats and all kinds of informal parties. There were several models who I had known only through social media so it was great to meet them in person.

The day after, before flying home, I had the chance to create with two more of the models, indoors due to rain.

Since back I have continued my abstraction studies. One session was with a traveling model I had not met before.

And one I had photographed several times. Both are photographers in their own right so the sessions were particularly enjoyable. I have several more sessions coming up and will post on those results and future plans soon.

As 2015 Begins...

As 2015 begins I'm finding myself still attracted to creating the series of body abstractions I began the end of last year. I've done one session in that direction, a sample above, and have many more coming up. At the end of the month I'm going to travel to a group event that will be primarily glamour, but I've booked sessions with models with the idea of creating more of these abstractions, now in an outdoor environment. This is something else I want to work on this year so the trip will be a good test. The models are excited that we'll be creating something different.

I am also preparing entries to a number of contests and juries events. I will be showing more work at a Valentine's Day event that should be fun. I have also narrowed down my choices for my Maine Media Workshops class and expect to book that soon. All-in-all, a good start for the new year.

Some thoughts for the new year

After a bit of a necessary mind clearing break, I'm back to making plans for my photography in 2015. I've booked a couple of private session and an event where I'll get to create with a number of terrific models in a fabulous location. I am solidifying a concept for a longer term project and hope to announce and begin that before the end of the month. I also hope that this first trip won't be the last for this year. There are a few other things brewing that are too early to talk about but, could be creatively interesting.

I have also started to consider which class to attend at the Maine Media Workshops for this summer, on the scholarship I received with the Precision Image Competition, sponsored by the Workshops and Zeiss. There are so many amazing possibilities!

I will also be showing work again. I have been invited to participate in another one-night pop-up gallery, this time at "To Be Continued... Bookstore, Boutique & Café" on Main Street in Metuchen. This will be 5:00 until 10:00 pm on Saturday, January 17. There are some artists participating who have never shown publicly before so it will be wonderful if there is a good turnout. I will be showing four prints from my Body Abstract series on this web site,

This has been quite a year!

At the time of year when many look back at things accomplished, I did the same.

I went back and looked at image count on the first and last exposures of 2014 and realized I made just under 25,000 photographs, not all of which were worthy of sharing! That would average roughly 68.5/day. I also discovered that the first and last private sessions with models involved the same one, Anna Catherine. The first also involved Erica Jay who I photographed last month. The record for the year goes to Inna B-G, with whom I created 8 times.

I wish everyone a very happy whichever holiday you celebrate and look forward to more creativity in 2015.

Eat, Drink, & Buy Art

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 6, the Metuchen, NJ Borough Improvement League will hold its annual Eat, Drink, & Buy Art event. I will be participating for the first time and am excited to join with the 11 other artists to present work for sale. If you find yourself in Central New Jersey between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm come by and say hello.

More Abstractions

At one point I was doing a lot of imagery that abstracted the body. With the new lenses I've begun exploring that again. Last week I wound up doing three private studio sessions. Each provided some interesting possibilities in this area.

Hex Hypoxia

Theresa Manchester

Katya Zvantseva who was 33 weeks pregnant.

Over the next two weeks I have three more sessions scheduled, the last of 2014.

More Studio Work

I continued the exploration of the new lenses with Erica Jay this past weekend. We played with some quite abstract concepts, especially with the 21mm f/2.8 lens from the Zeiss set. Photographing very close, the perspective yields results like the image above. There are many more from both recent session on my Flickr Photostream.

Next week I have three interesting sessions including two models with lots of tattoos and one who is pregnant. I'm very excited for the possibilities!

New Vision

I have started in with my new lenses, big time. Over this past weekend I photographed outdoors with all of them experimenting with options I've never had before. I'm getting used to the idea of changes lenses when I need a different perspective and using my feet to reframe instead of using the zoom ring.

I also did a session with a model in the studio. I love the versatility and control I now have plus, of course, the incredible sharpness. The perspective of the ultra-wide angle lens is fun with the body.

An amazing day

Yesterday was the most amazing day in my photography life.

Currently the PhotoPlus Expo is on at the Javitz Center in New York City. The Palm Springs Photo Festival runs a series of portfolio reviews. This year for the first time they had a day for beginning professionals. I had 5 reviews with a variety of people in the business with many good comments and suggestions. I'll be reviewing my notes and see which of those might make sense for me.

In the Zeiss booth at the 2014 PhotoPlus Expo the morning after the Maine Media Workshop/B&H Party. Photo courtesy of Zeiss.

In the evening I attended the Maine Media Workshops/B&H party. As part of this they announced the winner of the MMW/Zeiss Precision Image Competition. I was honored with that award for 2014. I can not express how incredible this is and how it validated my work, as well as the entire field of art nude photography. I can't wait until tomorrow when I get to use them for the first time.

One week to go!

One week from today will be the craziest pre-PhotoPlus Expo day ever. I am participating in the Beginning Pro Portfolio Review event sponsored by the Palm Springs Photo Festival. After that is the Maine Media Workshops/B&H reception at which they will announce the winner of the Precision Imaging Competition sponsored by the Workshops and Zeiss. I am entered in the contest where the first prize is a scholarship to a class in Maine in 2015 and a set of five Zeiss lenses. Needless to say, I'll have much to say after it is all over :-)