Three of
my last four sittings took place using natural light, usually
on location. For a large part, this was because I participated
in multiple photographer sittings, and using natural light was simply
fairer & more efficient than using studio lighting. Further,
Jessica was more comfortable using natural light -- that is her
style. Regardless, it was time for me to go back to studio lighting,
and that was my intent for this sitting.
That being said,
when Jessica arrived, we had a sunny late summer day going on, and
this window, the only one in my house facing south, yielded a sunny
patch on the wall & the floor. I've used this light a few
times before. In mid-winter, the sun is lower & sweeps
across the wall; in mid-summer, the sun is high & puddles down
just below the window. Today, in late summer, the light is still
fairly directional.
We can't resist
this gift from the sun gods. Jessica removes her clothes &
settles in our little patch of sunlight.
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Why
Do I Make Photographs?
This
is a very important question,
one I suggest that all
photographers should ponder.
Some
of you might think that I make
photographs because I like
seeing & interacting with
beautiful young nude women.
Well, yes, that is true, but
that is not the primary reason
I make photographs.
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Some of
you might think that I make photographs because I enjoy making works
of art. Well, yes, that, too, is true, but that is not the
primary reason I make photographs. |
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The
real reason I make photographs
is that it gives me
insights. I approach
photography in a cerebral way,
and when a subtle question
pops up, I ponder it, and
eventually I get an insight
into the nature of the world
or into myself.
And
that insight, that I make
photographs to gain insights,
is a new insight to me.
(Go ahead & parse that
sentence -- I dare you).
With
that in mind, here's a new way
to assess the success of a
sitting: the
more insights I get from a
sitting, the better the
sitting is for me. The
quality of the resulting
images is not as relevant as
the quality of the insights.
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So, how
did I gain this insight? I am well aware that Jessica is far
& away my favorite model. The question is "why is
that"? I think Jessica is my favorite because I gain more,
deeper, & more valuable insights when I work with her. This
sitting was no exception. |
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Okay
-- another insight:
What
is Beauty?
Look
at Jessica. She won't
like me to say this, but she's
a bit on the short side, at
times she is awkward &
other times she is graceful,
she usually dresses in college
student tom-boy clothing, she
has that big beauty mark on
her rib. Maybe her legs
are a bit short.
But
for my money, Jessica is
wildly beautiful. Her
beauty is natural, not studied
& polished &
conventional. I even
suspect that I find her more
beautiful than she does
herself. Now
why is that? She's not
willowy & tall.
She's not classic in any way,
yet I can't take my eyes off
her.
A
visitor commented that the
harder women chase beauty, the
more beauty retreats.
Jessica is so darn beautiful
in large part because she is
totally natural and totally
herself.
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So
maybe we are talking about a
level of beauty that is
different from simply physical
appearance. To me, Jessica
is beautiful even when I can't
see her (talking on the phone,
trading e-mails, or when I close
my eyes). As a
photographer, one should never
underestimate the value of
"chemistry".
Jessica & I are very
comfortable with each other, and
as such, we challenge each other
more. That is very
valuable, and that trust
contributes greatly to our
results. |
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