Page created April 2, 2004

I don't make many images featuring models' backs.  I really like backs, but typically during a sitting, we are talking quite a bit, and it's hard to talk with someone whose back is towards you.  Here's another tip for anyone wanting to photograph people, whether it's fine art nudes or portraits:  I hate pictures of people with empty, blank stares on their faces; the best way to avoid that is to engage the model's brain through conversation.  

This time was an exception -- Lydia & I had worked together often enough to reach that point where we are comfortable with each other without conversation, and our moods were introspective.  We worked quietly; Lydia required minimal direction, and as a result, we made some of the best back pictures I've ever made. 

Technical note:  There is a hair light in these pictures -- a lamp behind the model pointed back towards the camera position; Lydia's body hides the light from the camera.  Enjoy.

 

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You've probably noticed that I've applied a sepia-like toning to these images.  Actually, this toning was applied electronically using Jasc's Paint Shop Pro ("colorize"; hue 23; saturation 75).  Here is an example of a "before" & "after" image.  What do you think?  Are the images improved with the toning?

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 (Without the "sepia toning")

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 (With the "sepia toning")

 

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Below are two images that are favorites from this sitting:

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Here is the color digital proof exposure I did before we made the black & white image directly above.  It's interesting to look at.

I'm still a big, big believer in the power (and yes, superiority) of B&W photography over color photography.  Yes, the digital camera has lots of uses, including proofing the lighting, as I do here, but to me, the color image doesn't have the impact of the B&W one.

This is a great example of the contribution of that hair light, positioned behind Lydia.  For most of these back images, Lydia posed with her eyes tightly closed.

What do you think?

  

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Moving on...

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I love the look of Lydia's waist in this picture, above.

 

Once again, Lydia was a pure joy to work with, and I'm very glad that we eventually dropped the fetish poses and included some of these artistic pictures of Lydia's back.  Don't get me wrong -- I enjoy the fetish images that she & I have made together, and I hope we'll do more in the future, but I'm really, really happy with the images you see here on this page, too.

 

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